This week we shine on Mary Renault, because so many folks here have mentioned her and I had never heard of her. I thought I should remedy that. Renault was an English writer who is best known for her historical novels of Greece. She included homosexual themes in her works and wrote a contemporary novel, The Charioteer, about a young gay man during WWII that is considered a classic of gay literature. Renault also trained as a nurse and during her training met Julie Mullard, a fellow nurse with whom she had a life-long relationship. The two women moved to South Africa and lived in openly in a gay community there.
Here is an excerpt from the beginning of The Charioteer-
It was the first time he had ever heard the clock strike ten at night. If he had been asleep and waked to hear the strokes, it would have been different, a small manageable fragment broken off the unknown hugeness of night, from somewhere in the middle. He would have been a little uneasy, perhaps, in his waking solitude, and, if he heard anyone stirring, would have found something legitimate to call out for, such as a drink of water. Only babies called out about nothing. The ten months which had passed of his fifth year felt like at least half his remembered life, and he was used to his responsibilities.
26 comments:
You all should know by now that we'd rather know your name than look up your number. Please put a name with your post.
I have an update to share with you all about Sabri Ben Kahla, the man who was renditioned by the US government. His story is linked at right in our sidebar. A while back I wrote several letters on his behalf and also sent one along to him. He wrote me back! He said he is so thankful for the support he has gotten and feels his appeal is going well. He says he is doing okay and trying to benefit from his time. He said he feels that people who have supported him really do make a difference. Hopefully his appeal will be successful and he will be free soon!
Great post Wicked,and thanks to every one who mentioned Mary Renault.
And great to hear about Sabri and the news of his appeal. You never know the power of getting involved and doing something. It may seems small and insignificant at the time, but small things can do huge things.
And Max -- awesome song.
Hi all,
Glad to hear about Sabri as well.
I cannot wait to read The Charioteer. I've been wanting to read Mary Renault's work for quite some time, I think I'll start with this one.
Max, this is a beautiful song, thanks. :)
Wow, I'm blown away by this song. It's like a lonely wolf calling or something, very romantic, wistful and sexy. :)
Thanks for the update on Sabri and the excerpt. I've never actually read Renault but that passage is very beautiful so I will have to check her out.
And they named a car after her.
Thank you for this post, wicked! I love "The Charioteer" and keep thinking who could play its film version (if they are making one!) ever since Brokeback's success. It's beautifully written but not an easy read though. Like others have mentioned here before, her "Persian Boy" is another classic... about Alexander the Great and his lover, Bagoas.
and thank you for the update on Sabri. :)
Re the NE Who's Gay and Who's Not issue, here's who they talked about and their verdict-
Sanjaya Malakar- straight (I know this is unbelievable!)
Michelle Rodriguez- lesbian
Jeff Gordon- straight
Condoleeza Rice- lesbian
Jessica Biel- lesbian
Jake Gyllenhaal- no definitive verdict
Zac Efron- no definitive verdict
Larry Craig- gay
Jodie Foster- lesbian
John Travolta- gay encounters
Cher- gay encounters
Prince Charles?- straight
George Takei- gay
Carmen Electra- bi
Christina Applegate- bi
Mel B- bi
Al Reynolds- no definitive verdict
Michael Urie- straight
Maureen McCormick- gay encounters
Oscar de la Hoya- straight
Cynthia Nixon- lesbian
Chyna- bi
Martha Stewart- straight
Shemar Moore- straight
Liv Tyler- straight
Kate Bosworth- straight
Clay Aiken- gay
Thanks for the list, Wicked. I agree about Sanjaya, and my sense is the NE probably doesn't want to out someone so young. I also notice there are only bisexual females on the list, not males, although maybe Jake would be categorizes as bi if they were to label him.
Thank you!
so you think the NE consider jake bi or sincerly don't know about him ?
what does "gay encounters" mean ?
peolple who had gay experiences but don't consider themselves as gay ?
I'm confused - if Jessica Biel is dating Timberlake, why the verdict is lesbian? Is NE saying that Timberlake is the beard?
Sad, here's the full NE verdict on Travolta-
"Travolta's reps and legal team continue to insist he's straight, and we know they'd never lie! John's a happily married man now, but there's credible evidence to support charges he's had gay encounters."
Who'sthat, here's what they say about Biel-
"Jessica Biel dabbles in lesbian trysts! That's been the rumor for years- and recently Jess was on the receiving end of a galpal's bold butt-grab. Her friend put the "touch" in touchdown as the two stood on the sidelines of a Green Bay Packers football game. Meanwhile, Jessica's beau Justin Timberlake looked on." At the end of the piece NE says this- "Jess says she's straight, but the ENQUIRER says the evidence is strong that she seems to like women too." To me, that sounds like they don't really believe her about being straight or with Timberlake.
"Jess says she's straight, but the ENQUIRER says the evidence is strong that she seems to like women too."
Sigh... What has our society come to if someone says they're straight but the National Enquirer has appointed itself as the final word in a person's sexuality? So sad. So very fucking sad.
haha... interesting list. so NE is not buying Reeke yet?
and yeah, very interesting that no male is named "bi" on that list. i dunno... is it more difficult for guys to come out as bi?
i had a funny discussion with a male friend (straight) one time. he says, if he heard that a woman is bi, he would think "she's actually straight, just need the right guy", but if he heard that a guy is bi, he would think "he's actually gay".... i don't understand the logic, so i could only file it under "male chauvinistic" thinking....
The Charioteer is a wonderful read. I still have a paperback copy I bought back in the 80's!
if he heard that a woman is bi, he would think "she's actually straight, just need the right guy", but if he heard that a guy is bi, he would think "he's actually gay"
I think a lot of people think like this. I have had people say to me that I haven't met the right guy. Bear in mind that I'm an out lesbian who has been in a committed relationship for over 8 years. And the people who have said that know this. When you are a woman and you say you are attracted to another woman, people seem to not take it seriously. It's a phase. You'll change your mind. But if you're a guy and you say you're attracted to another guy, that's it, gay for the rest of your life.
OT, I just watched the latest Torchwood episode. It was great! I think John Barrowman is my new hero. After checking out his web sight, I believe he is a good role model, esp. for youg gay people. I wish I had some one like him when I was young and struggling. He has a new CD out. I am still hoping Jake comes to his senses.
If Jessica Biel is lesbian and JT is bearding, what exactly does he stand to gain?
Love this video and song.
Maroon 5
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=257_1191172868
The Informers poster is striking - thanks for the link.
I caught the last part of Torchwood last night. I don't think I realized how sexy and gorgeous John Barrowman was before. What a great scene. I read a couple of his interviews today and he's very open about his sexuality and sex in general. His openness and honesty are very appealing.
Posted on WFT - old but interesting article
"Article about fake paparazzi journalism from The Wall Street Journal.
Caught in the Act!
How Hollywood's bold-faced names secretly steer the celebrity news machine.
""All those dirty little secrets in Hollywood include tipping paparazzi off and playing games with them," says New York-based public-relations professional Ken Sunshine, whose clients include corporations and stars such as Ben Affleck and Leonardo DiCaprio. He says people might find that "unethical" if they knew about it, "but unfortunately it seems to be an accepted part of the business."
Magazines have generally played along. In 2003, Ms. Jolie tipped off US Weekly that she would appear in a park one afternoon with her adopted son, Maddox, according to two people familiar with the situation. The actress had recently divorced actor Billy Bob Thornton, a relationship which was portrayed as reckless and bizarre. These two people say US Weekly knew Ms. Jolie had green-lighted the photo, which softened her image by showing her maternal side. However, the magazine didn't tell readers about it. Repeated calls to Ms. Jolie's manager for comment were not returned."
http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB114143524125389337-KUEdbMwjuTdoW9BEkTKC_fdiNSU_20060313.html
((i had a funny discussion with a male friend (straight) one time. he says, if he heard that a woman is bi, he would think "she's actually straight, just need the right guy", but if he heard that a guy is bi, he would think "he's actually gay".... i don't understand the logic, so i could only file it under "male chauvinistic" thinking....))
Yeah, the same spin that only women can be bisexual. What total BS!! Oh,and it's excepted when the women are feminine and (blonde). Everyone thinks nothing of it. It's chic. Let it be a masculine female, then the ridicule/shame. Men are just as bisexual as women, sadly it's not excepted in our society. Thus the reason for the downlow (secrecy). And when a man gets questioned about his interest in other men, it's ridiculed or treated like he has the plague. I have been around very masculine men who are interested or curious in other men. You can pick up on it. There are other less talked about male celeb (actors, sports) figures who my friends know of who are (in the life). Although secretely. Most here would be shocked to know of them. Of course I can not confirm anything, but I trust them and the evidence given.. Some have girlfriends and some are / were married.
Men can be interested in both genders sexually just as women. As I said some time ago, most of these people would (or seem) to settle with the opposite sex.
Winterbird, Your friend unfortunately feeds into societys double standard towards sexuality as most straight men do. And (SOME) of them are lying because they think it is expected of them to say this expecially if they are in the closet or hiding something.
Happens often. Larry Craig!!
I think Jake is bisexual and his thing with Reese is real. I think Jake's interest will wane and there could be another bisexual encounter. I also think Austin is bisexual...
Ah, the power of the penise. It has always struck me as funny that despite the fact that homophobia is often involved in the attititude towards bisexuality that it is also so tied up in valuing men over women. Then again, I also think that is why so many men find bisexuality more threatening in men than in women, i.e., I think more men are interested in other men that they let on.
Homophobia is actually misogyny turned sideways, not comprehending how a man could voluntarily put himself into the woman's position - the weaker one, the penetrated one. The fear and hatred are just extensions of the world's view on the female population in general - as we all know is very low - which the gay man is associated with by reason of the logistics of the sexual act.
New Post
Post a Comment