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A candid and confessional cultural investigation into the kinky world of the foot fetish.
According to recent research, 1 in 7 people have fantasized about feet at some point in their lives, so why is this kink still often considered taboo? Queer writer and podcaster Adam Zmith dips a toe into the cultural and sexual history of the foot fetish—taking readers from medieval poetry to Renaissance paintings, OnlyFans to Fellow Travelers. Enlightening, erotic, and refreshingly nonjudgmental, Solemates is the rich, messy tale of our obsession with everything below the ankle—and a fascinating expose into what our desires reveal about how we view our bodies and our sexuality.
Winner: Polari First Book Prize 2022, for Deep Sniff: A History of Poppers and Queer Futures
Praise for Solemates
“Just as Zmith’s book Deep Sniff has been my go-to recommendation for anyone looking to inhale literary queer pleasure, his new treat Solemates is now my top reader suggestion for the history, artistry, and indulgence of fetishism in general, and for feet in particular. Insightful, hedonistic, exposing, and irrepressibly horny as all great sex writing should be. Press this book into your face like freshly pedicured toes or huff it like a used gym sock — whatever gets you going — just don’t miss it!” Tina Horn, author of Why Are People Into That: A Cultural Investigation of Kink
"As a sex columnist of over a decade, I make the distinction between fetishists and foot fetishists, because the guys who are into feet don't just love your little piggies; they go absolutely ape-shit for them. The touch. The smell. The visuals. Solemates will not only be a fun and sexy read for foot fetishists, but you're going to learn about the deep history of foot fetishes, and in the process, may learn a thing or two about yourselves (and your desires)." Zachary Zane, author of Boyslut: A Memoir and Manifesto
"Adam Zmith’s book, Solemates, is a delightful stroll through the history of the foot fetish. Zmith tip toes through scientific and artistic treatments of feet as erotic objects. He considers his own love of being stepped on by intimate partners and includes a variety of contemporary perspectives on how a fondness for feet continues to be a vector of social exclusion, even as it creates opportunities for community formation among foot fanatics. A unique and intriguing sexual history that will sate your curiosity whether or not you love to love feet." Tina Fetner, Professor and Chair of Sociology, McMaster University
Praise for The Log Books: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline that Listened:
“Deeply humane, deeply reflective … A beautiful, essential slice of history that you didn’t realise you were hungry for.” Kit Heyam, author of Before We Were Trans
“Among the most vivid social histories I’ve read about contemporary queer life in Britain.” Oisín McKenna, author of Evenings and Weekends
“A fantastic journey through an overlooked archive bursting with humanity and real life on every page.” Dan Snow
“Hauntingly beautiful, this is a testament to the ongoing courage and care so profound in our community. I was enchanted at every page. Completely life-changing.” Dan Glass, author of Queer Footprints
Adam Zmith is a writer and podcast producer who explores themes of history, sex, LGBTQ+ experiences, politics, art and pleasure in his work. He has won numerous British Podcast Awards, including Podcast of the Year 2024 and Best Sex and Relationships Podcast for the series Press Play, Turn On. He is also the author of The Log Books: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline That Listened (Faber, 2026) and Deep Sniff: A History of Poppers and Queer Futures (Repeater, 2021), which won the Polari First Book Prize in 2022.
Introduction: My Timeless Tradition
Chapter 1: Walk Softly and Leave Prints
Chapter 2: The Beard-Strokers
Chapter 3: A Particular and Quite Special PenisChapter 4: OnlyFeet
Conclusion: The Freak Inside