Dr Dabhoiwala is a Senior Fellow in History at Exeter College, University of Oxford.  The Origins of Sex, his latest book, explains how and why the Enlightenment ushered in a modern culture of sex whose principles of privacy, equality, and freedom of the individual remain distinctive to this day.

Professor Ronald Hutton, Head of the Department of Historical Studies at the University of Bristol said: "This wonderful lecture marks the start of a close new relationship with Penguin.  Penguin has made a great name for itself recently in history publishing, and we are very pleased that they are sponsoring this new annual Penguin History Lecture, one of the centrepieces of our Past Matters festival of history, to showcase its fantastic history titles.

"It's also fitting given the very close ties between Penguin and the city of Bristol.  Its founder, Allen Lane, was Bristol-born, and the firm's huge and important archive is deposited in the University library and is the focus of an exciting new exhibition at the Royal West of England Academy.  And to cap it all: our inaugural speaker, Faramerz Dabhoiwala, is also a Bristol boy."

Rebecca Sinclair, Communications Director at Penguin said: “Penguin is honoured to be partnering with the University of Bristol on the first Penguin History Lecture.  Given Allen Lane and Penguin's close association with the city and the university, it is a very fitting platform to showcase the best of historical writing starting with one of the most exciting authors on our list, Faramerz Dabhoiwala.”

The Origins of Sex: A History of the First Sexual Revolution – Thursday 22 March at 6 pm at M Shed, Princes Wharf, Wapping Road, Bristol, BS1 4RN

Admission free, but booking required in advance by visiting: The Origins of Sex registration.  The talk will be followed by a drinks reception.

The lecture is part of Past Matters, the University’s first Festival of History, a series of free public events looking at the past and the ways we understand it.