Cultural Encyclopedia of the Breast

Breasts: the preface to this encyclopedia describes them as “two fatty protuberances on our chests”. Despite this basic physiology, they have arguably more cultural significance than any other body part, from the earliest sculptures depicting the female form to the popularity and Carry On-style jocularity of The Sun’s page three girl. They signify life, sexuality, and death: as Smith notes in the introduction, “They nourish us, they kill us”. This book is the first to look at this female body part from a socio-cultural aspect and aims to target general readers and students alike.

The introduction begins with a...