EMOTIONAL and EROTIC
(Despite the publisher's Health Warning!)
The story is a deep dive into emotional, erotic, and exploratory themes.
The dark side is tested, especially for those so inclined but afraid to yield.
In life, the journey is experienced, imagined then lived-in again.
John returns home from East Africa for family reasons, after three years as a development consultant. With no job to return to, depression sets in. His wife struggles with the realities of living at home. John discovers Yahoo Personals. He recognizes pleas for help, though often disguised. He submits an invitation about his early autobiographical writing. He wants something – a parallel universe – to offset living reality. It’s like Alice in Wonderland, falling, falling, falling… Many respond. He selects one who writes intelligently.
The Four-Part Journey
The Descent - Part 1
Part 1 describes this falling. It is an innocent start, simply searching for comfort through shared thoughts. She is divorcing, worrying about the impact on her young son. He describes his own experience as the young son, losing his mother. Eroticism is stumbled upon. She encourages him to imagine. Consequences follow.
The Descent - Part 2
Part 2 sharpens with his losing touch. His mind is now fired. It is a series of erotic vignettes. Their only connection is with the gradual descent of the mind, as each normally unrelated episode passes to the next. Many involve John directly. Each is with a willing partner, except in one case. Some are imagined from a woman’s perspective. John thought, ‘If Fanny Hill can be written by a man, why not some of this collection?’
The Ascent - Part 1
Part 1 follows John as he carries the thrills of his final imagined experience from The Descent into flesh‑and‑blood reality. The responding partner’s closing encouragement to “write more” becomes the spark that inspires their efforts to meet. Further encounters unfold — some successful, others less so — yet each one fuels his ongoing quest for something that always seems just out of reach in his everyday life. A final, glorious flurry brings matters to rest.
The Ascent - Part 2
Part 2 traces how John is drawn into an online relationship, still searching for what eludes him. Her words tantalised; her intentions clear. She sought no long‑term commitment, only the excitement of exploring the erotic and darker realms. What followed was a tempestuous experience, marked by discovery and abandonment in equal measure. He pushed himself to the brink, exhausting his emotional reserves.
Readers may enjoy both The Descent and The Ascent. In contrast, for those who, after reading, consider both to be disreputable pieces of work, four book titles are offered to vindicate the writing. Some might suggest the narrative has a Freudian undertone. If John was being offered therapy, it would have to be from a woman!
Reader Experiences
“Certainly on a par with the two 'Tropic' books by Henry Miller. A masterclass in emotional depth and raw eroticism. The Descent is a journey that stays with you long after the final page.”
Sarah J., London
★★★★★
“The influence of Anaïs Nin's Erotica is plain to see. The Ascent is a breathtaking exploration of the human spirit. Edward Lawrence has crafted a truly unique literary experience.”
Michael R., Paris
★★★★★
“Simone de Beauver's erotic life in her 'Prime' inspires. John's own intimate, journey is a modern reflection. These are the books that can change how you see the world and yourself.”
Elena V., Berlin
★★★★★
