Beauty and the East: A Book of Oriental Body Care

This fascinating story of body care and the creation of sensual ambiance focuses on customs practised in the Middle East, Africa and India and takes a humorous look at the often converse attitudes towards the body prevailing in the West.Ancient books of the East are full of the language and lore of sensuality. They praise women’s beauty and speak with a bawdy humour about the erotic arts, which included poetry, dance and rituals of beautification. In the Middle East a visit to the steam baths took the entire day and was used as an excuse for festivities, with female dancers and musicians brought in to entertain. From earliest times make-up had a magical, protective element, and many superstitions are still associated with cosmetics. The use...