Swivia; or, the Briefless Barrister. The Extra Special Number of The Pearl

Swivia; or, the Briefless Barrister is an extremely rare work of late nineteenth-century English erotica, reprinted for the first time in over a century by Birchgrove Press. An amusing collection of interwoven tales, rhymes, songs, and jokes with an original dream sequence, Swivia focuses on the escapades of six young men and women who gather to celebrate Christmas Eve. It was first published in 1879 as the Christmas edition of the notorious Victorian clandestine periodical The Pearl: A Journal of Facetiæ and Voluptuous Reading, the first edition of which was published by William Lazenby in London from July 1879 to December 1880 (18 issues). Four volumes completed The Pearl but were published separately: Swivia; or, The Briefless Barrister. The Extra Special Number of The Pearl (1879), The Haunted House or The Revelations of Theresa Terence Being the Christmas Number of "The Pearl" (1880), The Pearl, Christmas Annual 1881 (1881), which includes The Sequel to Swivia, and The Erotic Casket Gift Book for 1882 (1882). Please note that this new edition of Swivia does not include the illustrations called for on the title page. It is based on a copy held in The British Library, which does not have them.

This edition of Swivia also includes its sequel, The Pearl. Christmas Annual 1881. Containing New Year's Day, The Sequel to Swivia, Vanessa, and other Tales, Facetiæ, Songs, &c.

An illustrated paperback edition of The Haunted House or The Revelations of Theresa Terence is available from Birchgrove Press.