This was on Monsters and Critics
Royal Watch News
Princess Margaret's erotic book
25 September 2006

Britain's Princess Margaret was given a lovers' guide on the day she ended her romance with her first love.

The late royal was given the book, titled 'The Delights of Wisdom Concerning Conjugal Love - After Which Follows The Pleasures of Insanity Concerning Scortatory Love' on October 31, 1995 - the same day she issued a statement saying she had no plans to marry her divorcé lover, Peter Townsend.

The book - which bears a typed inscription reading "To Margaret, Princess of the Realm" - is among 550 texts to be sold at an auction next month.

It is not known who gave Margaret the curiously titled book, as the message is simply signed "WM".

Rupert Powell, managing director of Bloomsbury Auction house, where the sale will be held, said: "We really do not know who WM could be. Obviously this was a date of huge significance in her life, so this is an interesting book to be giving her on that day."

Inside the hardback, Swedish author Emanuel Swedenborg reflects on subjects like "the pleasures of the flesh" and "filthiness of fornication".

The book also includes chapters on "jealousy" and "the lust of defloration".

Margaret gave up on her dream to marry the divorced army captain after being told by the government she would have to renounce her right to the throne.

She went on to marry Lord Snowdon whom she divorced in 1978.

(C) BANG Media International

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TALKBACK Responses
re: Royal Watch News, Princess Margaret's erotic book

from Coleman
25 September 2006 - 00:43:15

Actually, Conjugial Love is about as far from an 'erotic book' as you can get. It is Swedenborg's description of the ideals of a true Christian marriage and an explanation of why adultery is a sin. It also includes descriptions of marriages in heaven (Swedenborg had remarkably lucid visions of the afterlife for the last 30 years of his life). It is more book of religion than a book about sex.

from G.
26 September 2006 - 12:14:56

I would agree with Coleman that this book is more about religion than sex. It helps people work on having good marriages by helping them understand the true nature of love. Swedenborg used the word 'conjugial' (not to be confused with 'conjugal') to refer to this kind of true marriage love. One of my favorite quotes is that the states produced by this love are 'innocence, peace, tranquility, inmost friendship, complete trust, and a mutual desire of the mind and heart to do the other every good' (Conjugial Love, paragraph 180).

from Alexa
26 September 2006 - 20:33:15

I've read Conjugial Love. If you give it a hasty glance you might laugh it off as old-fashioned, but if you actually read it with an open mind and heart you might find amazing depth. Some people really want a lasting, loving marriage. Some couples want a growing ability to connect with each other on every level (spiritual, rational, emotional, physical). Some people still believe that 'happily ever after' can happen if you have the right tools and are willing to do the work. These people can discover real treasure in Conjugial Love. If you don't think our modern culture has all the answers on this subject, give it a try.

from Grant Schnarr
26 September 2006 - 21:13:52

Seriously, Swedenborg's book is one of the most moral books on sex ever written. Not sure where this idiotic description comes from. But see for yourself by getting the book Conjugial Love at www.swedenborg.com, or at Amazon.com for that matter.

from Grant Schnarr
Author of YOU CAN BELIEVE!
26 September 2006 - 21:30:27

More: A lover's guide may be taking Swedenborg's book CONJUGIAL LOVE a little too far. The book is about the ideal relationship of a man and woman in a traditional marriage relationship. Swedenborgs says that the love and friendship that can develop between a man and woman in such a commited and exclusive relationship with each other is the greatest gift God has given to the human race. This love is not dirty, but, 'pure, clean, above every other love' says Swedenborg. It's probably the most moral book you could ever read about sex and marriage. You can get it anywhere, like Amazon.com, or try Swedenborg.com.

As the author of YOU CAN BELIEVE: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW CHRISTIANITY, I am an expert in Swedenborg's teachings. Swedenborg's very ideal view of Christianity had such followers as Helen Keller, Johnny Appleseed, and Daniel Burnham. Jung and James were both Swedenborgian scholars, and the founder of Al-anon, Lois Wilson, was also a member of the New Church (Swedenborgian).

from Kendra
27 September 2006 - 03:36:49

I realize that this article on Royal Watch is not the same piece as an article titled 'Book on love and sex marked end of affair for Princess' by Lucy Bannerman of the Times, but the two articles seem to hold the same misconceptions of the text in question, 'Conjugial Love' by Emanual Swedenborg.

First, the articles magnify and entirely distort the last third of the book dealing with licentious love. Ms. Bannerman states, 'Exploring philosophical and religious themes, it [Conjugial Love] distinguishes between purity of monogamous sexual relations within marriage and the less virtuous — but no less enjoyable — 'delights of scortatory (or fornicatory) love (that) commences from the flesh.'' This statement shows Ms. Bannerman's lack of understanding for why Swedenborg addresses licentious love (scortatory love). He does NOT support fornication, he does NOT excuse licentious love, and he most certainly does NOT state that the delights from licentious love are equal to that of conjugial love. The article above by Royal Watch lists only negative topics reflected on by Swedenborg with no explanation of how he demonstates their evil. These difficult subjects are discussed at the end of the book in order to explain how and why licentious love in it's various forms is evil, and how we can become better people by recognising these tendencies in ourselves and shunning them.

Second, neither article does justice to the incredibly beautiful, hopeful teachings in 'Conjugial Love' concerning marriage. Ms. Bannerman opens with, 'As a gift to soothe a broken heart, it was an unusual choice.' In my opinion there would be no better choice than this book to soothe a broken heart. 'Conjugial Love' explores the differences in how men and women approach marriage (don't try to tell me there are not differences), how wonderful the states of engagement and betrothal are, how troubles within marriages can be overcome, and how loving marriages do not end with death but last to eternity. Though Princess Margaret may have just ended a relationship when this book was presented to her, 'Conjugial Love,' if read (which is seems it was not), would have brought her considerable comfort and hope for a future relationship--maybe even with the heavenly blessing of love truly conjugial.