“Properly Placed before the Public”: Publication and Translation of the Kinsey Reports

Abstract

The 60-year publication and translation history of the books Sexual Behavior in the Human Male (1948) and Sexual Behavior in the Human Female (1953) by Dr. Alfred C. Kinsey et al., published by the W. B. Saunders Co. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a remarkable literary and publishing success story. The two masterworks of scientific writing are, it can be argued, literature about bisexuality. Their overwhelming success should be assessed in worldwide sales figures, number of translated editions, and distribution to the adult public. A sketch of the books' print production record in English precedes a reckoning of accounts from Kinsey biographies of the translations in 13 languages of the Male and Female volume, and lifetime worldwide sales records. More than two dozen available editions, in English and translations, are catalogued with translator and publisher details and cover and title page facsimiles, illustrating Kinsey's literary accomplishments worldwide.

Keywords:

• Kinsey Reports
• Alfred Kinsey
• translations
• books
• publishing