Before it, erotic literature was dominated by men, such as D.H. Lawrence, and their narrative perspectives were male-centric, even among the few female writers. Anaïs changed this tradition by describing women's feelings and experiences from a female perspective, elevating women to the same status as men.
However, this novel was not recognized by a male-dominated society until the 1960s American sexual liberation movement brought it to prominence. Anaïs (1903–1977) began writing at age 11 and didn't stop until shortly before her death. "Delta of Venus" was published posthumously and has been adapted into a film of the same name.