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FLICK
  • Published: 14 June 2026
  • ISBN: 9780857506436
  • Imprint: Bantam
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 336
  • RRP: $65.00

FLICK

The Story of Female Pleasure

Formats & editions
Tr. Paperback
26 May 2026
Hardback
14 June 2026
EBook
28 May 2026
Audiobook
28 May 2026
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A feisty, funny romp through the history of sex and female pleasure, from one of the most exciting new media historians.

Meet the women throughout history who, quite literally, came before us.

From the host of award-winning History Hit podcast Betwixt the Sheets..

There is a common misconception that before modern day feminism, women throughout history simply lay back and thought of England or their respective place of origin; that the modern ‘sex positive’ movement is a radical break from the past. But women demanding better sex did not arrive with free love or the Rampant Rabbit. It has been a very long fight indeed.

From Ancient Mesopotamian sex goddesses to the contraceptive pill, Kate Lister takes us through history to show us how women’s sexual pleasure was controlled, understood and thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed.

FLICK is a rousing history of women enjoying sex: sex with themselves, sex with each other, and occasionally sex with men as well.
  • Published: 14 June 2026
  • ISBN: 9780857506436
  • Imprint: Bantam
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 336
  • RRP: $65.00
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About the author

Kate Lister

Dr Kate Lister is an historian, columnist, television presenter and host of the award-winning History Hit podcast Betwixt the Sheets. She has published widely in the field of sex history, and lives in the north of England.
KL

Also by Kate Lister

A Curious History of Sex
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Praise for FLICK

This eye-opening account of how women's pleasure has been controlled throught time is thought provoking and intrepid...an excellent, spiky book.

TELEGRAPH

Brilliantly researched, and joyfully written, this is a history of what sex really means for women. Finally.

DR ELEANOR JANEGA

FLICK delves into the history of women's lived experiences and sexual repression, while also making us question modern assumptions of female pleasure.

LOUISE QUICK

An absolute delight, and a must-read! Well-researched, informative and everything we have come to expect from Dr Lister.

ROSALIE GILBERT

Unique, brilliant, gripping and unforgettable

PROF KATE WILLIAMS

A deeply satisfying history

DR JULIA MARTINS

Flicking excellent . . . Kate Lister is a goddess.

DR LUCY WORSLEY

Flick is a brisk, irreverent and often darkly funny history of how we came to imagine that women should ‘lie back and think of England’ . . . What makes Flick more than a fun romp through sexual history is the way it draws the line straight to the present. Some readers may well bristle at Lister’s work here . . . But – just maybe – those are the very readers who most need to hear it.

Sarah Jones, History Extra