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Date Posted: 09:04:18 10/14/07 Sun
Author: tlk2vicki
Subject: This sounds like a wonderful theme for the week. So many juicy quotes to look forward to. Touche, pamelalass.
In reply to: pamelalass 's message, "Quote of the Day for Sunday, October 14, 2007" on 20:23:30 10/13/07 Sat


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  • Wow! What interesting comments about the many levels of interpretation inherent in the terms “brotherhood” and “blade.” I’d like to raise another and see if anyone knows more about the homosexual connotation of the word “blade.” DG may never have intended the word “blade” in her title to serve as a covert reference to homosexuality (though it could be an insider “joke” that might attract a gay audience for this novel), but two big city newspapers that focus on gay and lesbian issues have the word “blade” in their title: the New York Blade and the Washington Blade. Of the two, the Washington Blade is the oldest LGBT newspaper in the United States (it began publishing in 1969). >>>inside>>> -- JessieR, 09:11:48 10/14/07 Sun

  • Ahem, that interpretation of the word "blade" I didn't know, another piece of information, but will I ever have a use for it?? About "dandy" I think the 18 c. word ment a man who pays attention to clothes and wants to look good. Tom Byrd asked LJ if Percy was a dandy and he IMO ment the way he dresses. A servant couldn't ask directly that sort of question if the word ment gay in general use. He'd ask it from the other servants, not his employer. (NT) -- Helka, 09:42:25 10/14/07 Sun

  • In the 18th century, "blade" used in slang meant just a man, or more specifically "a good fellow"--though it was occasionally used to indicate a good swordsman. (And I'd guess it's this last usage from which the G/L press takes its meaning [g].) "Gay" wasn't used to indicate homosexuality until the second half of the 20th century. And "dandy," so far as I know, if used as a noun, just means a man who's into fashion and particular about his dress. I can't imagine Tom asking Lord John whether Percy was a homosexual, even if he thought so; and he's never even *met* Percy at this point. (NT) -- maddiej, 10:36:52 10/14/07 Sun

  • Thanks for bringing this in, Jessie! As usual, you pose verra intriguing questions. For some reason I have this sense that "gay" appended to "blade" may have just meant a fine fellow, as maddiej suggests, but one who is what we might now call "fun", or "likes to have a good time." Which means there could be a sexual connotation, or not, depending on the context - - drinking, gambling, carousing, etc. But I may have read too many sketchy historical novels/romances where these terms get thrown around a lot, and not always with DG's attention to historical accuracy! Sometimes "gay" was used just to suggest a person who was lighthearted, and sometimes it carried a more judgmental connotation, as when young ladies could be referred to as "fast." As for the double entendre of blade/swordsmanship, I can't imagine she is unaware of these current LGBT usages, and I think it works nicely to add a layer of suggestiveness to the book's title. (NT) -- pamelalass, 14:28:08 10/14/07 Sun

  • There was the movie Zorro, the Gay Blade. (NT) -- sharon fisher, 11:28:31 10/16/07 Tue

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