X-rated reading at the British Museum | Letter

Jill Lewis recalls her reading of erotica for research in the British Museum’s Reading Room

Regarding your article (Depraved by Daisy Dixon review – a history of dark and dangerous art, 1 July), in the early 70s, for PhD research on the French surrealist poet Paul Éluard, I requested to see Robert Benayoun’s book Erotique de Surréalisme in the Reading Room of the library at the British Museum.

I was delivered a card with the word: “FIE!” printed on it, and asked to go to the service desk. From there I was taken to a small adjacent room where an elderly, male employee brought me the book, then sat at a raised desk to “supervise” me as I read it.

I survived the reading, illuminated, and remain rather fond of the now sadly neglected but perhaps, in today’s world, much needed word “Fie!”Jill LewisNorwich

Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.