The erotic life of Victorians (and Edwardians, if push comes to Prince)

[vintageadmirer]

Originally Posted by mysecretlife

Has anyone read the entire unabridged autobiography of My Secret Life? and if so what opinions formed of Walter, the story's extraordinary protagonist?

The book is hardly an autobiography, rather an encyclopedia of various sexual perversions and excesses, somewhat in the manner of the Marquis de Sade. The Marquis had nothing on that guy.

[deepsepia]

Originally Posted by vintageadmirer

The book is hardly an autobiography, rather an encyclopedia of various sexual perversions and excesses, somewhat in the manner of the Marquis de Sade. The Marquis had nothing on that guy.

A very different sort of book than de Sade's.

de Sade is about a kind of philosophical theater of cruelty, "My Secret Life" isn't; de Sade doesn't resemble anything else, it's sui generis . . .

"My Secret Life" on the other hand, is part of a rich tradition of British flagellant literature, which continues to the present see Janus and Kane magazines, for example. One assumes that the better part of MSL is fantasy . . .

[Schwenck]

Originally Posted by deepsepia

VintageKell has a fine post on Lillie Langtry, mistress to the Prince of Wales (future Edward VII), here:

http://www.vintage-erotica-forum.com...6&postcount=91

The hottie of the 1870s. She has one of the great bits of mistress repartee:

Pete Townshend wrote a song for The Who called 'Pictures of Lily', which was about Lily Langtry and masturbation - possibly it should be the theme song for this site. Afterwards, Premier Drums made a huge custom drum kit for Keith Moon, covered with pictures of Lily Langtry.

[deepsepia]

Originally Posted by Schwenck

Pete Townshend wrote a song for The Who called 'Pictures of Lily', which was about Lily Langtry and masturbation - possibly it should be the theme song for this site. Afterwards, Premier Drums made a huge custom drum kit for Keith Moon, covered with pictures of Lily Langtry.

Wow . . . did not know that Schwenck, great story!

Found a photo of the drumkit-- the Langtry photos are on the sides facing, not the drumheads.

[Schwenck]

[QUOTE=deepsepia;4585319]Wow . . . did not know that Schwenck, great story!

Found a photo of the drumkit-- the Langtry photos are on the sides facing, not the drumheads.

Yes, that is the Lily Langtry Drum Kit built for Keith Moon.

I saw the Who, in Glasgow at Greens Playhouse in 1971. A group of us from school took the train from Edinburgh. I have never seen so many policeman outside a gig since, and inside, there were policemen down most of the aisles. The James Gang (with Joe Walsh on guitar) were the openers, and were ok. When they moved the Who's equipment onto the stage, they nailed Keith Moon's drum kit to the floor. Being only 15, it took me a few more gigs to realise that this was not common practice. The Who were astounding, utterly brilliant. Still, I think, the best gig I have ever seen. Sadly were had to leave just as the second encore started in order to get the last train back to Edinburgh.

[bullbrown]

Francis Charles Seymour-Conway, 3rd Marquess of Hertford, did indeed lead a colourful life. I believe his son, Henry, not his eldest, actually founded the famous Jockey Club in Paris. It's still a prestigious men only gentlemen's club. Lovely interiors and fine dining experience.

[deepsepia]

Originally Posted by bullbrown

Francis Charles Seymour-Conway, 3rd Marquess of Hertford, did indeed lead a colourful life. I believe his son, Henry, not his eldest, actually founded the famous Jockey Club in Paris. It's still a prestigious men only gentlemen's club. Lovely interiors and fine dining experience.

Herford enjoyed a certain public reputation.

Plate from 'Town Talk; or, Living Manners', ii. 265. A caravan supported on high wheels stands in a cobbled space surrounded by houses; in front of it is a platform onto which opens a door in the side of the van, whose roof is raised and supported like a box-lid. On a tall pole attached to the front are two large pictorial placards: on the lower one is an enormous cow with the face of Lady Hertford; a marquis's coronet encircles her neck, and on the ground before her is a collection of objects including a crown; she has picked up, and is munching, a sceptre. On the horizon the façade of Carlton House is indicated. The placard above this is in two compartments: in one is a red bull with the head of Lord Yarmouth, inscribed 'Tony Lumphim' [sic] with a signpost pointing (in reversed characters) 'To Yarmouth'. In the other is a sportive bull with the head of the Regent; it has just kicked down a fence; inscription: 'Young Caesar'. The caravan is 'Bull's Wonderfull Menagerie'; from a flag-staff attached to it flies a large Royal Standard.
Steps lead up to the platform which is above the heads of the crowd. A fat showman, John Bull, standing on a step, holds a blue ribbon attached to the horns of a large bull with the head of Lord Hertford which stands passively on the platform with closed eyes. Two musicians stand behind the bull (left); one has a box-organ, the other beats a drum and blows pan-pipes. Two spectators stand behind the bull pointing up at the placards. The showman says: "Walk up Ladies and Gentlemen and see the curiosest Hanimals that ever was seed afore—a Cow of an extraordinary size, of the Hertfordshire breed, six inches fat on each side clear of the ribs, more celebrated for her zveight than beauty, remarkably short in the neck, and distended in the udder—also an Old Bull of the same breed—blind but not from age—remarkable for the length of his horns and his docility; indeed so tractable is this that you see he is led by a blue ribband. Then there is a red Bull Calf of the same breed—eats amazingly, drinks abundantly, but so vicious that it is necessary to caution the public against him—after to day these Hanimals may be seen every day in Manchester Square for Half a Crown Also to be seen at the same place every day from 3 to 6, from 9 to 12 and occasionally to 3, 4, 5, or 6 in the morning as the company may suit a remarkably large Bull Calf [the Regent] of the Buckinghamshire, or Kings own breed, astonishingly agile in his movements, and although so fat can make a summerset, wheel round or otherwise change his positions with wonderfull versatility strangely forgetfull tho, admission to see this Hanimal alone nothing less than a Crown."
Three streets lead to the square. On the right is 'King Street'; at the corner of this a small (yellow) coach and pair with drawn blinds advances towards the caravan. The coachman (probably Perceval) and two footmen behind are in plain clothes; on the door are the letters 'G.P.R.' A ragged ballad-singer, surrounded by a small group of listeners, sings 'A Prince he would a Rakeing go!! [cf. No. 11842],' pointing over her shoulder with her thumb at the coach. A bystander looks round at it, saying, "There he goes." In front of a crowd which stands to watch the Prince's coach (right) or to gaze up at the caravan (left) stand Grenville (with vast posteriors) and Grey in conversation. The former: "I do not like that fat Hertfordshire Cow with her great Duggs—did you percieve how Vicious she look'd at us." Grey: "Yes my Friend! and the Red Bull Calf did not look less so. I think we had better keep out of their way." Two well-dressed men watch the coach, saying, "D—n it is that the P— in that shabby chariot, where can he be going to" and "Why into Hertfordshire to be sure to hold a secret Council!" [Cf. Moore's 'Extracts from the Diary of a Politician'; see the supplementary information in the comment.] Spectators (left) gape up at the caravan. A butcher holds on his shoulder a tray containing two calves' heads labelled 'Lady Hertford' [the name indicated only] 'Manchester Square'; a little ragged girl carries a basket of 'Regency Spice Nuts'. The houses in the background are drawn with realistic precision. On one corner of King Street is a low-built ale-house, with a large placard 'Jno Adams / The Hit or Miss [cf. No. 11700] / Meux and Reid [brewers]'; on the chimney is a notice: 'Sun Engine' [the insurance companies kept fire-engines]. Opposite is a tall building, the 'Worcester Coffee House'; on this is a bill: 'Town Talk 'N° IV'. At the opposite side of the square (left) behind the caravan is 'Princes Street', with the window of a silversmith's shop at the corner.
1 May 1812