Raising Hell: The Notorious History of the Hellfire Clubs

Gentlemen (and ladies) behaving badly

“A Rake’s Progress III: The Rake at the Rose-Tavern” by William Hogarth, circa 1730s (public domain)

Hellfire clubs have been around for over 300 years. They have a reputation as dens of iniquity and riotous, orgiastic revelry. There is very little documentary evidence about the proceedings. (The first rule of Hellfire Club is apparently “You do not talk about Hellfire Club.”)