Introduction
"Coming Through the Rye" by the American author, Gene Bowman was notable for its crude, but action-packed sex and its dramatic action. Highly popular in London, where it was originally published, it was soon banned from the London bookstores because of its graphic portrayals of the sex act. It has survived as a collector's item of modern erotica in libraries on the continent.
Current stories in today's papers would indicate that the types of perversion and brutality described in this story actually occur more frequently than imagined. In addition the following excerpts from a case history by the famous psychoanalyst, Dr. O. Berndorff will prove interesting: "Helen S., an attractive girl in her twenties, related the following incident, which was a factor in her neurosis. 'I was riding in a practically empty subway car, when a quite good-looking, well-dressed man got in. Suddenly, between stations he got up, showed his genitals and began masturbating right in front of me. I was frightened, but also hypnotized by the sight of his huge rigid penis as it ejaculated and some of the white sperm stained my dress. I actually became nauseated with disgust and ran out crying at the next station.' " 'Afterwards, I thought to myself that I should have grabbed his penis and slashed it with a razor blade, or cut it off entirely ... I remember that I was revolted by the animal-like look of his huge penis, and yet I was fascinated by it and secretly wondered how it would feel in my mouth, how the hot, white sperm would taste when he ejaculated ...' " The reader should find the descriptions of the various sadistic types of perversion informative and enlightening psychological knowledge. It is from this point of view that Continental Classics presents this novel in its complete and unexpurgated form. It is recommended only for the graduate student or mature adult reader.
A. L. Saunders, M.A. New York City June, 1969