Well, that's handy! Gay Love letters

[erastes]

I've just downloaded the newest version of Semagic.

These are the improvements:

Changelog  1.7.0.1<<1.5.9.9

· Fixed image upload when HTMLTidy is enabled.
· Links with thumbnails for LJ Scrapbook.
· Music detection with Media Player Classic.
· Compatibility with Wine.
· Image upload to fotki.com (no registration)

No more gobbledegook after x bottles then.  *pats new version*  I have NO idea what all the other improvements mean however. But who cares!  Compatibility with Wine!

I bought a book yesterday "My Dear Boy" - Gay Love Letters through the centuries. And it's just to die for.  As rwday said to me today (she has a copy too) she wishes that gay detractors would read it and realise that Love is Love, no matter what.  There are letters from Marcus Aurelius, Henry James, medieval priests, Michaelangelo, Tchaikovsky,  Lord Byron, Whitman.  To name a few.

The most intriguing for me were the mysterious letters from T E Lawrence to "Sir" which refer to Ted in the third person and are very obviously a way of telling Sir how to treat "naughty Ted" on their next encounter.  NAUGHTY LAWRENCE!  *G*

My favourites, (so far, I've only been dipping in and out if you will excuse the pun) are between two "unknowns" Ralph Hall (that's him with the donkey cock on the cover) and Montague Glover who were "wartime sweethearts" and wrote to each other in the same way that other sweethearts did.  They letters are so very earnest, unliterary to the nth degree (as opposed to Byron and Hervey and the like)   Don't you wish I was there with you now darling.  I feeling so strong tonight my sweet. I would love you all night darling.  I am in the guardroom tongiht waiting to do my 4th guard my dear and I can see you all at home around the table for Xmas and I know you will miss me darling.  This is a XMASxxxxxxGIFT from your one and only darling.  You don't know how much I miss you Monty.  I love you darling so think good of me my sweetheart.

The lovely thing about these two's story is that they lived together for 30 years after the war until one of them died.  Just. *sniff*

Anyway, highly recommended - for anyone who is interested in original gay fiction, how men's minds work, epistolary fiction or just a lovely read.

 

Comments

[fleurrochard]

Awww, that letter sounds so sweet!
That book is definitely going on my wishlist.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

It's by the lovely Ricktor Norton, too, who has the most wonderful gay history resource on line. YOu won't regret it, it's a great book. men CAN be all mushy!!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

So tender. And the fact they live together for 30 years... wonderful.
BTW I give your name and you website to the author who has made is reading tonight in my bookstore: he has written an essay on gay lovers from 1850 to 1910 in Italy; he was very interested in the fact that you have partially setting Standish in Italy and says he wants absolutely reads your book. So I give him also the name of the publisher and the title of the book. Tonight, listening to him, I have learnt something I don't know: Italy was one of the first nation to abolish the law against gay love on early 1860. ciao, elisa

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Yes, I knew that.

It's always worth reading about the age of consent and the way that laws changed

Italy is 14 years old across the board, isnt it? It's 16 here, but that was only recently.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

In Italy the agreement age (età del consenso) is 14 years old, but decreases to 13 years old if between partner there isn't more than 3 years of difference, and rises to 16 years old if one of the two partners has some authority power or figure se uno dei due partner ha una qualche forma di autorità or ascendancy over the youngest partner, like teachers, ad esempio nel caso di insegnanti, catechist, tutor, educator, forest parents, partner of parents. ciao, elisa

[erastes.livejournal.com]

that's something that is often forgotten that in England, the similar thing happens. 16 is the legal age, BUT if they have sex with someone who is in a position of authority, like a teacher, vicar, care worker, etc etc, the age of consent is 18.

I had many an argument on Harry Potter fandom about this. Lots of peeople wrote 16 year old Harry having sex with Snape thinking this was OK but Harry would have needed to be 18

[alankria.livejournal.com]

Aww, that is lovely. Might have to pick that up sometime.

she wishes that gay detractors would read it and realise that Love is Love, no matter what.

Agreed. So, so agreed.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

yes - I doubt that they will ever believe it, but emotions are the same, no matter what bodies we inhabit.

[semioticwarrior.livejournal.com]

I must have that book.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

you won't regret it. I didn't bother to quote from the angsty ANGSTY OMG THE ANGST people, or the literary types. but there was even some descriptve sex later...

something for everyone!

[cheshyre]

Out of curiousity, any letters from James VI & I?
Did you know his "beloved Steenie" would sometimes sign his letters as "Your Majesty's most humble slave and dog,"

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Nod Nod. There are four. But all from James to George, none from George to James.

Gay Love Letters Through the Centuries

[dubaiyan.livejournal.com]

*bookmarks for potential buy*

[lovemefearme.livejournal.com]

Just order Standish... I am going to have to read that book, it sounds very itnresting.

Much love!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I hope you enjoy it!

Thank you!

xxx

[lovemefearme.livejournal.com]

I will! heh. I tired looking for it at the book store close to my house but they didn't have it. Now I have to wait.. Heh. I'll tell you how I enjoyed it after I get the book.

[sabethea.livejournal.com]

Oh, that sounds such a lovely book. (*shiftily looks around to make sure no one sees her being sentimental*)

I want a computer that's compatible with wine! It's not fair.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

It's delicious, am very much enjoying it. There's a lot of angst too, which is to be expected, I suppose!

[mychael-black2.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow. That's a definite one to add to my Amazon wishlist.

And congrats on Standish's showing in the P & E poll! I haven't checked it several days. LOL

[erastes.livejournal.com]

It's a lovely LOVELY read, I'm just all weepy over it.

And thank you! I don't like polls which are subject to populist vote, I have to admit - but someone put me in there, and I'm amazed that anyone voted!

xxx