Fanny-Hill inspiration by unknown artist.

A lucky author

”Fanny Hill” is a good example of the slightly more liberated conditions for eroticism during the 18th century. The author, John Cleland, endured a financially difficult period by accepting money to write an erotic novel, which became "Fanny Hill". Cleland was taken to court, but instead of prison was given a fantastic sentence: a lifelong pension of 100 pounds per year if he promised never to write anything like "Fanny Hill" again! Cleland accepted and lived happily until the age of 82.