This is a substantial compendium of complete novellas, which purports to contain three books: 'Venus Unbound', 'Venus Remembered', and 'Venus Unmasked'. Such a description is some way short of being helpful however. 'Venus Unbound' comprises two distinct works: the quite well known 'Flossie' (sometimes subtitled 'A Venus at Fifteen'), and the very well known 'Eveline'. 'Venus Remembered' also comprises two distinct works. The first one, otherwise untitled here, was published (anonymously) by Grove Press (Venus Library) in 1972 as 'The Memoirs of Count Alexis.' The second of the two bears the name 'Caresses, and has almost certainly appeared under a different title. 'Venus Unmasked' is also a single work, one which was issued in 1970 by Grove Press under the name 'Realistic Pleasures'. So this compendium could reasonably be said to comprise a total of five distinct works. 'Flossie' tells the tale of the erotic initiation of a very willing young lady and her friend, Eva. The heroine of the classic novel 'Eveline' is rather better informed of the relevant matters, and she is keen to exercise her knowledge (not to mention her unmentionable attributes) with any well-equipped male she encounters until she finds a suitable aristocratic husband. The next story that is here called 'Venus Remembered' (Count Alexis) is a rather meandering tale of an opportunist young Russian man who grazes libidinously amongst the ladies of his acquaintance. This includes whipping scenes, and also the usual devices of nested reminiscence stories and an orgy. There is an amusing cuckolding and some interesting cross-dressing and conjunctions of all varieties. The succeeding story, 'Caresses', is the diary of a marquise, Jacqueline, whose 'education' begins with a young male teacher and then a female cousin and others. 'Venus Unmasked' is the sensual reminiscences of an ageing roué, Sir Clifford, initiated early by a complaisant older woman. The work is patchy, seemingly cobbled together, and mostly concerns a young man called Harry Staunton, although it also features numerous other characters, including Miss Birchem, a Colonel, and Mr & Mrs Spankie, whose sensual proclivities may be imagined. Sir Clifford's page becomes involved with his maternal relative as well as a number of others. This is an interesting collection of Victoriana, even though it's a bit of a jumble. ( )