Faith is now quite uncertain. I'm no longer acting-as-if.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
WHAT LAPIN IS READING
No joke. Lapin purchased the book, which was published in 1899, and is, even now, deeply engrossed. He said the title story is about Blue Ridge hillbillies. Should I believe him?
Have often wondered why those right-wing fogies who, from time to time, lament the abuse which "gay", that good, old-fashioned word of their youth, has suffered in recent years - so changed that they can no longer decently use it - are never similarly distressed by the use to the words "queer" and "faggot" are put. Can't figure it.
I found the book (no listed author) on Bookfinder.com, Susan. Surprisingly large number of copies around, very reasonably priced for a novelty title of its age, should you, or any other reader, know of someone for whom it might make a suitable present.
Another, very splashy-looking, beautifully bound book that I can recommend as a suitable birthday present for gentlemen of a certain age, is this 1897 title - a ratty copy of a secondary binding, by the way - check Bookfinder for other copies, similarly priced.
I think it must mean strange as opposed to gay. Those Blue Ridge Hillbillies could be pretty quare, as I have heard it pronounced.
ReplyDeleteOh, I see it listed as "Some Queer Americans and Other Stories" on Amazon with no Author listed. Hmm. . .
ReplyDeleteI think it must mean strange as opposed to gay.
ReplyDeleteSusan, I agree. "Gay" once had a different meaning, too.
No author? Perhaps the stories were written by different authors.
Have often wondered why those right-wing fogies who, from time to time, lament the abuse which "gay", that good, old-fashioned word of their youth, has suffered in recent years - so changed that they can no longer decently use it - are never similarly distressed by the use to the words "queer" and "faggot" are put. Can't figure it.
ReplyDeleteI found the book (no listed author) on Bookfinder.com, Susan. Surprisingly large number of copies around, very reasonably priced for a novelty title of its age, should you, or any other reader, know of someone for whom it might make a suitable present.
Another, very splashy-looking, beautifully bound book that I can recommend as a suitable birthday present for gentlemen of a certain age, is this 1897 title - a ratty copy of a secondary binding, by the way - check Bookfinder for other copies, similarly priced.
An autobiography of Sir Herbert?
ReplyDeleteHe said the title story is about Blue Ridge hillbillies. Should I believe him?
ReplyDeleteUm, I've seen Deliverance [See re riding Ned Beattie "like a pig" :-0]. I'd say "Believe him."
A biography of Queen Victoria (who seems to be an idée fixe of my posts, this evening0.
ReplyDelete"Queer Americans", I should add, is a fine example of an American publisher's binding of the period.
ReplyDeleteJCF, whatever you say.
ReplyDeleteLapin, I know the book is about Victoria. I was trying, not very successfully, I see, to make a little joke.
About Some Queer Americans, is the book written for children?
Not that I've noticed.
ReplyDeleteI live in that hillbillie country.... and, I do not for a minute believe any hillbillie ever looked like the guy on the cover... evah!
ReplyDeleteMargaret, perhaps the drawing is related to another of the queer folk stories in the book and not the Blue Ridge hillbillies. Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteNowt so queer as folk.
ReplyDeleteCathy, your comment is so much funnier in Australian.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mimi :-D
ReplyDelete"The queerest people in this country, I fancy, live down in the southern part of the Blue Ridge", Margaret. Fighting talk.
ReplyDelete