this week in links

[sea_changed]

stultiloquentia posted: Writers of historical wedding nights, I have a gift for you.

It is hilarious and horrifying and medically unsound, but also encouraging and kind of sweet in places, such as when the author explains what a clitoris is and why bridegrooms should care, and when the chapter on hymens takes pains to stress that virgins come in all shapes and sizes, and just because the bedsheets aren't a bloodbath doesn't mean the bride wasn't chaste (encouraging, I admit, for certain values of...), and, my favourite, when it is recommended that the gentleman include, in his foreplay, the recitation of a sonnet.

This is truly amazing, and I highly recommend clicking through to read the sonnet. But then in the comments rydra_wong added:

... this needs to be a challenge for assorted historical fandoms.

WHO IN YOUR CANON HAS READ THIS? WHO WOULD TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY? WHO WOULD ACTUALLY WRITE A SONNET? WHO WOULD FALL OUT OF BED LAUGHING AT THE SONNET?

Which I move that we all immediately turn into a meme, or something, because oh my god.

(Miranda's definitely read it. Thomas has definitely read it. They would take turns at the sonnet-writing and falling-out-of-bed laughing. James has never so much as heard of it, and turns an appealing shade of scarlet when they read carefully selected portions to him, though he does enjoy watching them compete to see who can compose the dirtiest couplet.)

tautline-hitch posted: a discussion of homosexuality and the navy, ca. 1789–1815

This sidling sort of accusation, the product presumably of incidental bitterness, is how Beauchamp and Bruce came to the notice of the courts, as did this lovely couple (barely petty officers, but they’re sweet)

Robert Silvers, a boatswain’s mate, and one Johnson, of the carpenter’s crew, were lying on deck together clad only in their shirts. […] Silvers was also reported to have been seen with his arm around Johnson’s neck, calling him “My Dear.” The matter eventually came to [Captain] Rodney’s attention, and he threatened to turn Silvers and Johnson ashore when the ship came to port, but […] due to lack of evidence, nothing was done.¹⁹

These interactions would never have been recorded anywhere if Africaine hadn’t been such an overall clusterfuck (in a strangely literal sense), though it seems clear not only that the crew knew about them, but that they had been reported to the captain in a somewhat official capacity and he’d decided not to pursue it.

A fully-footnoted tumblr post (be still my heart) about homosexuality in the British Navy (be stiller my heart), replete with great commentary, as seen above. (I laughed hardest at Read the room, William.) There is also an addendum with further interesting info.

Other interesting things happening on tumblr include depictions of the Leonid meteor storm of 1833, and the best dress, feat. TREES:



It's so quirky and delightful; the only thing I can think of even slightly like it is this absolutely adorable little Anna Maria Garthwaite pattern, though I don't know of any surviving pieces (or even fabric) made from it. Historical costumers, get on THIS.

Comments

[oanja]

Ooh thank you for the links! I'm always here for queer history <3

[sea_changed]

You're welcome! Definite same. :)

[fosfomifira]

That navy post is sheer perfection. I’d have given an arm an a leg for that kind of source back when I was in the Hornblower fandom. I do remember lots of discussion re the articles of war, but not these sources. And for some reason the 'uncleanliess' article never made much of an impression, though it makes sense it’d be used more often,as the burden of proof is lower. Nice to see that many naval historians stick their "nothing to see here" guns, while ignroring the many valid reasons why people were very much invested in making sure that there was indeed nothin to see (but not that nothing happened).

The last story in the post made me gasp and clutch my chest. A sailor drowning, his friend jumping in to save him because he couldn’t bear to see him drown.
Both lived ಥ﹏ಥ

Also, yes to Miranda and Thomas writing their version of that wedding night sonnet. I'm sure they came up with a suitably unsuitable version for their first night together with James, who indeed blushed beetroot red, was moved by it, tried to write a reply sonnet, but never dared share it. Miranda and Thomas could be anit biting with their literary criticism.

[sea_changed]

I know, it's great to see this stuff collected, especially as most serious naval histories skim over it. I know B.R. Burg has done a lot of stuff with the courtmartial records, but that can be hard to get at without a university library; I love seeing people put out great stuff on such an accessible platform.

UGH YES, that's such a good story. Especially among all the really horrible stuff you end up reading through when doing this kind of research.

James, who indeed blushed beetroot red, was moved by it, tried to write a reply sonnet, but never dared share it. ENDLESS HEARTS. Oh, James. He's embarrassed but moved and wants to reciprocate but is worried he doesn't understand how--that's the entirety of his relationship to them in a nutshell. And they're definitely intimidatingly critical around James, though they don't realize how intimidating they are, I don't think, or not completely: they know James can keep up, so they don't consider that he might not think he can keep up, and that them being them might be more than a little daunting.

[foreverdawning]

The little trees! Indeed it it delightful and quirky.

Oh goodness. I really need the foreplay sonnets to become common knowledge like yesterday.

[sea_changed]

Aren't they adorable?

Considering all the historical fandoms out there I feel like "sex ed in the __th century" should really be more of a thing. And that whole book is just golden.

[copperfyre]

Everything here is an absolute delight! Thank you for collecting it!

I have passed on that link to Aristotle's Masterpiece to three people so far and they have all been equally delighted by it. What an amazing book! What an amazing potential exists for this to be incorporated in all the historical fiction ever! More foreplay sonnets, everyone, they should be an essential.

That tumblr post re: homosexuality and the navy is everything I could want from someone writing about history, especially often ignored history. Sources! Footnotes! Little asides! Informative, useful, and engaging!

I want dresses made out of both those tree patterns, they're so lovely.

[sea_changed]

I feel like everyone should know about Aristotle's Masterpiece, I'm glad you're spreading the love. And the tree patterns are so good--I would take whole ensembles in them. Tree dresses! Tree jackets! Tree pants!