This book is completely different from the 1988 Nexus book which has the same primary title but which has a slightly different subtitle. This one is put forward as being a genuine autobiography, of one Wilhelmine Schroder-Devrient. It is quite similar in content, however. The eponymous heroine witnesses her parents making love, and this stimulates her to a lifetime of erotic stimulus, which progresses surprisingly far before she loses her virginity. She reports her discovery that some lovers are stimulated by application of a rod to their posteriors, and confesses to trying the experience on her self, not being able to reconcile the pain she experienced with any form of enjoyment. However, she later describes an incident in which she is thrashed as she approaches climax while being fucked, and it appears that the experience did cause an additional stimulus. The book catalogues the string of sexual intrigues she becomes involved in, with men and women, along with her homilies on relationships. Towards the end the narrative degenerates somewhat, with a fairly large (and very inaccurate) section on how to avoid pregnancy, and finally with descriptions of necrophilia and some bestiality. This additional material may throw doubt on the veracity of the whole account, because many books of the period seem to degenerate this way, or it may simply be a result of an inexperienced writer, trying to ‘tie up loose ends’ of her experiences. ( )

This is an autobiographical erotic novel, relating the early life and loves of an internationally appreciated opera singer. It details her erotic awakening, and her quest for suitable amatory experiences amongst both sexes. There is a small flagellation component, but otherwise, the lady’s tastes prove to be quite ‘straight’, even though they are frequently indulged, with few details being omitted from this account. There is enough of painting of the operatic scene to hold the narrative together, and the book is generally entertaining and well-written. Unlike many erotic works the story told here does not describe excessive or repetitive sexual activity, which makes it all the more credible, if a little lacking in sparkle or novelty. Nevertheless, an interesting read which will please many in search of erotic stimulus. This book should not be confused with one of almost exactly the same title, the Brandon House ‘Prima Donna’ of 1967. Whereas the Nexus book is subtitled ‘The Erotic Memoirs of a Singer’, the Brandon House book uses almost the same words, but with the word ‘erotic’ omitted, and ‘opera’ inserted before ‘singer’. There exists an 1898 publication, by the Erotica Biblion Society, entitled ‘Pauline, the Prima Donna, or Memoirs of an Opera Singer’. This appears to be from the same original as the Brandon House edition, but in a different translation. There have been suggestions that the original German edition was in 1865. The book ‘Promiscuous Pauline’, published in 1971 by Luxor Press is also the same work, but with yet another translator. ( )