Sex ScandalNever has the Victorian novel appeared so perverse as it does in these pagesand never his its perversity seemed so fundamental to its accomplishment. Whether discussing George Eliots lesbian readers, Anthony Trollopes whorish heroines, or Charles Dickenss masturbating characters, William A. Cohens study explodes the decorum of mainstream nineteenth century fiction. By viewing this fiction alongside the most alarming public scandals of the day, Cohen