What do the terms "Master of Ceremonies," "Husbandman of Nature," "Old Faithless," and "My Body's Captain" refer to? How about "Cully-Shangy," Hogmagundy," or "Horizontal Refreshment"? Synonyms for these and other phrases can be found in The Bald-Headed Hermit & the Artichoke, a unique guide to the lingo of sex. Extensive historical research conducted by Peterkin led to the compilation of lists of phrases and words referring to all aspects of human sexuality, from breasts and testicles, to fetishes and paraphernalia. In conducting his research, Peterkin discovered that erotic words and phrases in the English-speaking world number well into the thousands; "penis" alone has over 1,500 modern synonyms. The terms in The Bald-Headed Hermit vary from the poetic and the medical to the macho, derogatory, and obscene; the lists offer varied and "imaginative" interpretations of human sexuality that are at times funny and shocking at others. They also provide unusual insight into how various societies view sexual pleasure. In addition, the book shows how previously silent sexual communities, including gays & lesbians, the transgendered, and various fetishists and libertines, challenge attitudes towards sexuality and sexual expression, thereby changing the very language of sex. The Bald-Headed Hermit includes fascinating explanations of sexual terms, as well as historical/archival line drawings illustrating various aspects of sexuality. --- from the publisher About the Author: Allan Peterkin is a Toronto writer and doctor. |
