The Raunchiest Men in History [Paperback]

Thomas Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 14, 2008

Americans are confronted with a paradox, which is that the great writers, poets and artists of history spoke openly and freely about their sexuality. The Hollywood crowd, in contrast, are paranoid, close mouthed and tight lipped about this subject. From Diogenes, the peripetitic philosopher who masturbated in the Athenian market place to William Shakespeare who very candidly maps out his intelligent ménage a trios in his sonnets; from Jean Jacques Rousseau who earned the dubious sobriquet, "The Famous Masturbator" because he spoke openly about this in his book "The Confessions" to Ernest Hemingway bragging about his masturbation sessions on the Paris Left Bank, the great men of the intellectual world were open and candid about their sexuality. Contrast this to the secretive, close mouthed Hollywood gang who present a picture of men who are perfect in their marriage and sexuality. In his book "The Raunchiest Men in History" the author attempts to provide an explanation for this. First, in his second chapter titled, "Dirty Minded old William", the author delves into the kinky, quirky life of the Bard of Avon as it is mapped out in Joel Fineman's incredible book, "Shakespeare's Perjured Eye." The writer discusses Shakespeare's intelligent ménage a trios as he maps it out in his sonnets, in which Shakespeare describes his homoerotic attraction for another man and their mutual relationship with a "dark lady." Shakespeare has a male paramour whom he "idealizes," and a female lover whom he "despises." Despises? Yes, despises because as Shakespeare describes her she is "foul," duplicitous and "dark as night." She can't be trusted. Shakespeare calls her "ugly," not because she was physically so---she may have been very attractive---but she is "ugly on the inside." She's carnal, coarse, sensual, and lusty, but most troublesome to Shakespeare, is that she is predictably unfaithful. This, understandably, may have something to do with the fact that she is called, "The Dark Lady.

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About the Author

Thomas Smith graduated from the University of Washington, traveled to the Far East and taught in the American military dependents schools during the Vietnam era. While living in Taiwan, Smith fell under the spell of a seductive Chinese dragon lady who bore him one son. The ex Mrs. Smith now lives in Seattle where she is a successful businesswoman and a leader in the Seattle Chinese community. Thomas Smith is a homeless man whose deep and abiding love in Shakespeare and the great men of the intellectual world led him to write this book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 182 pages
• Publisher: Xlibris (March 14, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1436322308
• ISBN-13: 978-1436322300
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

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