today's Freudian typo

free to good home:

patron of the tarts for patron of the arts.

Neither my protagonist nor I like this guy very much, although my protagonist would be shocked by and disapproving of my vulgar wordplay.

dissident

Thanks very much to everyone who has offered encouragement and moral support on the defending-the-dis front. Warm fuzzies to you all.

I have finished reading Bowers (somebody fetch me a minstrel to eat!) and have written a five page chunk of prose explaining just exactly why he's an idiot. I feel much better.

Was entranced to discover, via Bowers's most disapproving capsule summary, that there is a late-Caroline play in which the revenger, who spends the play disguised as a Moorish castrato, is revealed in the last act to be in fact a rape-victim (presumed dead by the other characters) revenging herself on her rapist. The play may be every bit as morally incoherent as Bowers says it is, but I want to read it anyway, just because.

Have also heard back from one committee member saying that a month's lead time is probably good, which means that if I want to defend in early November, I need to give my committee The Manuscript in early October. I think that's doable. I hope. Also earned myself brownie points by answering a question for her, so that's good, too.

Am now going to sit here and read The Second Maiden's Tragedy, in hopes of finding I have something to say about it.

Jacobean Necrophilia

TYRANT.                  Art thou cold?
  I have no faith in't yet; I believe none.
  Madam! 'Tis I, sweet lady. Prithee speak!
  'Tis thy love calls on thee--thy king, thy servant.
  No? Not a word? All prisoners to pale silence?
  I'll prove a kiss.
          --The Second Maiden's Tragedy IV.iii.80-89
            Poet Unknown, 1611

This play is right on up there with the kinkiest and most morbid things I've ever read. I love it! (No, as far as we the audience know, the Tyrant is not making the beast with two backs with his dead ladylove, but I really wouldn't put it past him.)