Just a little snake oil, tin foil (Day 14)
Day 14 : A non-fictional book
I actually read more nonfiction than (nonfan) fiction these days, I think. Currently working my way through Homosexuality and Civilization by Louis Compton. It's...interesting. A bit dry (but then, it's a history book, that's to be expected) and a bit focused on Greece and paiderasty for my tastes. I want to know about homosexuality in ancient Arabic countries - it's actually a huge part of their lasting artistic endeavors, and is completely ignored in modern studies of the culture.
For example, in the translation of One Thousand Nights and One Night that I have, which is by all accounts pretty accurate to the original, there's a tale that Scheherazade tells about a prince and princess who are married, but are separated by magic. The prince gets lost far away from his caravan. In order that the people not panic, the princess dresses up as the prince and continues leading the caravan. They come to a kingdom, and the princess is such a gracious and beautiful prince that the sultan of the kingdom proposes that (s)he marry his daughter. To refuse would be a great insult, so (s)he accepts. They have everything but sex (it's quite explicit and beautiful, actually), because the princess explains that when her husband returns they will both be married to him (hurrah!) and the sultan's daughter should save herself for him.
Long story short, the prince comes to the court, and the princess recognizes him. Rather than reveal herself, she proceeds to seduce him as a man, leading him into her bedroom (she's also full-on Sultan at this point, as her wife's father has died) before revealing herself. When she does, he actually expresses disappointment, along with his relief that she's okay.
My favorite part of the story, though, is actually the Sultan (Scheherazade's Sultan)'s reaction to the story. He basically asks about love between men - not something he's come across before, apparently - and is so intrigued that he requests more of her stories on the subject.
I actually read more nonfiction than (nonfan) fiction these days, I think. Currently working my way through Homosexuality and Civilization by Louis Compton. It's...interesting. A bit dry (but then, it's a history book, that's to be expected) and a bit focused on Greece and paiderasty for my tastes. I want to know about homosexuality in ancient Arabic countries - it's actually a huge part of their lasting artistic endeavors, and is completely ignored in modern studies of the culture.
For example, in the translation of One Thousand Nights and One Night that I have, which is by all accounts pretty accurate to the original, there's a tale that Scheherazade tells about a prince and princess who are married, but are separated by magic. The prince gets lost far away from his caravan. In order that the people not panic, the princess dresses up as the prince and continues leading the caravan. They come to a kingdom, and the princess is such a gracious and beautiful prince that the sultan of the kingdom proposes that (s)he marry his daughter. To refuse would be a great insult, so (s)he accepts. They have everything but sex (it's quite explicit and beautiful, actually), because the princess explains that when her husband returns they will both be married to him (hurrah!) and the sultan's daughter should save herself for him.
Long story short, the prince comes to the court, and the princess recognizes him. Rather than reveal herself, she proceeds to seduce him as a man, leading him into her bedroom (she's also full-on Sultan at this point, as her wife's father has died) before revealing herself. When she does, he actually expresses disappointment, along with his relief that she's okay.
My favorite part of the story, though, is actually the Sultan (Scheherazade's Sultan)'s reaction to the story. He basically asks about love between men - not something he's come across before, apparently - and is so intrigued that he requests more of her stories on the subject.