'Gary Leiser's book is based on an exhaustive examination and interrogation of primary texts and secondary studies. His lively coverage of prostitution and sex in the Near East coverage is both broad and probing. He ranges across a very long period that encompassed several profound political shifts and cultural transformations. His impressive command of the specialized vocabulary requisite to accurate ... Read moretranslations is apparent throughout. There is nothing comparable in the field at present, and the sheer scope of this book means it is unlikely to be superseded any time soon. The research on which it is based is thoroughly comprehensive, while its zesty style of presentation persuasively supports the author's objectives: his use of illustrative anecdotes is a highly successful means of capturing and holding the reader's attention.' - Carl F Petry, Professor of Middle East Studies and Professor of Teaching Excellence, Northwestern University, author of The Criminal Underworld in a Medieval Islamic Society and editor of The Cambridge History of Egypt Volume One: Islamic Egypt, 640-1517 Show Less