Hi Everyone! So today we have author Delilah Marvelle visiting with us! I put a call out to twitter to help with posts, cuz you know I’ve been so… uh… on top of timely posts, yeah? :X Anyway, she is pretty much the most adorable thing ever and basically I hate her because I will never be so tiny and adorable. Only she’s so nice you can’t really. (I’m having a good day. No I’m not lying. >.>)
So! It’s super exciting though, because Ms. Marvelle has a very shiny new book out today! Isn’t that cover gorgeous?!
Quick question: What does a handkerchief, honey, bees and a woman’s clitoris have in common? Ah…that is the beauty of history. This is why I write historical romance. Some may think that my approach to historical romance is too sexual in nature and that history was primmer in nature than what I portray. One reader even wrote to me, scolding me that dildos were not in existence back in 1830. This bothered me, because our modern way of thinking has a tendency to skew the past. Because…ehm…the oldest dildo is actually 28,000 years old.
So I started my blog, A BIT O’MUSLIN, to re-educate the population of nay-sayers. Getting back to my earlier question, of what a handkerchief, honey, bees and the clitoris have in common, one sexual art many may not know about was the Art of Hiving, which was popular for a short period of time in the Victorian era. It was specifically for virgins who wanted to remain “intact” but wanted to experience ecstasy. (Guess they hadn’t thought of masturbation…)
Curious? Instead of putting history into *my* words, let me guide you into history through an 1873 perspective. Here is the excerpt from Harper’s Bizarre issue from March of 1873 chronicles:
“A table spoon of honey is dabbed on the vagina with a silk handkerchief. The jar containing the bees is then placed under the honeyed canal attracting the insects. I observed this ritual in the back room of a playhouse in Kensington. A young woman, who shall remain nameless as to conceal her good name, prepares to receive the four insects. Sharp stings yield cries of pain and eventually tears. The practice of hiving has been advertised as originating in the Orient as a way to receive pleasure whilst maintaining chastity. Advertisements in newspapers trumpet sayings like “intense ecstasy” and “superior than virile males.” The Archbishop of Canterbury has condemned the craze calling it “Ungodly.” The Queen has made no officially comment, but rumors circulate in taverns that midnight shipments of bee hives have entered Buckingham Palace…”
I have a feeling some dude in the Orient thought it’d be funny to mess with the Brits who were all freakin uptight. It didn’t take long before these circulating advertisements were considered infomercials gone wrong. The fad was quickly deemed a farce and terminated. Imagine that. Curious about Sex Throughout History? Come on, you know you are! I post a new topic every first of the month. Check out my blog at www.DelilahMarvelle.blogspot.com
Ms. Marvelle is giving away one signed copy of Forever and a Day to one lucky commenter, so get to it! Also, I’m totally jealous – I can’t wait to get my hands on this book and read it! (And just for good measure… I’ll post the cover again with the blurb. ;))
Roderick Gideon Tremayne — the recently appointed Duke of Wentworth — never expected to find himself in New York City, tracking down a mysterious map important to his late mother. He certainly never expected to be injured, only to wake up with no memory of who he is. But when he sees the fiery-headed beauty who’s taken it upon herself to rescue him, suddenly his memory is the last thing on his mind.
As the head of New York’s notorious Forty Thieves, Georgia Milton feels responsible for the man who was trying to save her bag from a thief. But she’s not prepared for the fierce passion he ignites within her. When his memory begins to return, her whole world is threatened. Now Roderick must choose between the life he forgot and the life he never knew existed
Happy Release Day to Delilah. I loved her Gallantry series and hope she’ll eventually get to finish the series.
Jane, thank you! I loved the School of gallantry series, too. And guess what? That’s going to be my next project after the Rumor Series. To finish up the School of Gallantry. So expect it to happen sometime in 2013.
Must be a wonderful feeling to bring a book to fruition.
I think I’d pass on that hiving thing! Bee stings really hurt, much less on a very sensitive spot. But I do appreciate hearing about what people did in years gone by.
Happy Holidays to all!
Diane, thank you so much for posting! And yes, it’s an amazing feeling to have a book hit the shelves 🙂 And you and me both on that hiving thing…. Happy Holidays!
That is one of those things that is definitely stranger than fiction. The book sounds wonderful though.
Maureen, history *is* stranger than fiction, lol. Thank you for posting and have a wonderful holiday!
Delilah,
If there is anyone out there who hasn’t yet read one of your books they should definately pick up Forever and a Day!
I love A Bit O’Muslin and the wonderful facts that you have uncovered. It really contains so much information that any reader of historical romance should find out about (you know – all those things that they never thought to teach us when we were in school and definately weren’t taught by our mothers!).
Congratulations on your new release, you couldn’t have given your readers a better Christmas gift!
Jeanne,
Thank you for being such an amazing cheerleader! It means so much to me and I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas!!!
:-O
….I have never heard of hiving but holy crap it’s f-ing crazy! lol
Was this one of those “hysteria treatments”?? Definitely gonna have to follow your blog! I’m with you on historical perspective, Delilah. I often hear people wish back the “good old days” and think to myself they’re insane because who wants to go back to no antibiotics, no voting rights, and no a/c?! lol Not this Texas girl that’s for sure; it gets too damn hot, lol. But I also admit that I’m a lover of the pretty parts of history, like opera gloves, fancy gowns, having a dance card, and all that romanticized stuff:)
Oh and a question: what happened if the girl turned out to be allergic?!
were there any deaths recorded with hiving??
Bella,
LOL, yes it was f-ing crazy. That was the Victorians for you, lol. It was during the same period hysteria treatments were going on, only this was more along the lines of trying to spread “chastity” amognst those naughty girls who still had to have some. Masturbation at this time was considered a bad thing. And although there are no recorded deaths, I have no doubt whatsoever they were hushed up, as it would have not been becoming for a family to report that their daughter or their wives died while trying to orgasm at the hands of “bees.” Or rather bees don’t have hands but…ehm.
OH!! That had to really hurt. Who would be stupid enough to do it?? I would absolutely love to read FOREVER AND A DAY thank you.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Mary,
LOL, who would have been stupid enough to do it? The Victorians, that’s who, lol. They tried to come up with all sorts of ways to introduce sex without actually doing it or saying it. Maybe this is where the term birds and the bees came from? *smirk* Thank you for posting!
Hi Delilah! Thanks for your article about hiving and your blog about Eugenics. Hard to imagine people felt that way. You are a new author for me and I look forward to reading your books and your blog.
Cathy,
Thanks for posting and for looking up my blog! It is hard to imagine how people thought of women and sex back in the day. That’s why I’m glad to only be writing about the past and not living it, lol.
Wow! Just wow! Hiving sounds….Wow! How could anyone think that was a good idea? I love learning about the history and some of the fun, strange tidbits! Thanks for the post.
jepebATverizonDOTnet
Thank you so much for posting Jen! Wow does best describe hiving. I have an ick factor when it comes to insects as it is. There was no way in heck anyone was going to put a bunch of insects on me and consider that enjoyable, whether they stung or not….
You are SO right, Lime! Delilah really is adorable! LOVE her SO MUCH! She’s always so nice to me!:)
& her books are obviously great too!;P
Happy Release Day Delilah!:)
can’t wait 2 read this book..
Happy Holidays everyone!:*
My dearest Monika,
I’m blushing here. Because guess what? I LOVE YOU TOO!!! Thank you for celebrating release day with me!!! Happy Holidays, girl!!! Smooches to you.
Dammit. I had something to ask. But I re-read your post and was totally traumatized. Also, I hate bugs. ALL bugs. Including lady bugs, butterflies, and dragon flies. How could someone – anyone – think that was a good idea? And… yeah. Maybe it was some dude from the Orient who thought it’d be great payback for getting the Asians hooked on opium… Anyway.
Yeah I’ve got nothing. All sorts of creepy crawlies and horrid images – and did you ever google/were you around when Meljean shared that maggot thing? *gags*
…
I do, however, think you should come back again, Delilah. And hopefully share something a little less traumatizing. 😛
I’m with you on those bugs. No way in heckola would you get any insect near me, no matter how good the promise of orgasm. And Bwahahaha….I don’t even want to ask what Meljean shared because I’m not looking for payback. I’d love to come back and I promise I’ll share something less traumatizing. It’ll still be Rated R though, lol. Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Lime!!!
oh geez, I have to ask, I just have to…..what’s the story with the maggots? *gags* my crazy curious brain needs to know
btw Lime, I too share that bug phobia with one exception being a ladybug. friends think Im insane when I scream like a fool when a butterfly even dares come near me. They’re not pretty to me cuz they’re so insecty looking! lol
the mere threat of hiving definitely would have scared me silly and kept me chaste till I managed escape
Dear Delilah, I’m blushing too, now! & not just for ur blog post! LOL
Thanks for the love! *mwah* 🙂
So, Lime dared us on twitter to ask u an outrageous question.. Don’t know if it’s really that but.. Have u ever done something crazy like that just to get an orgasm? Not really the bees but, u know, maybe when u were younger and more inexperienced did something just to try..? O.o ..can’t even type this without blushing :$ LOL
LOL and snort. Have I ever done something crazy like hiving to get an orgasm? Everyone’s definition of crazy is different, but I will say that I ain’t THAT crazy. Despite the stuff I write and research, I limit my orgasms to my man and “toys.” After all, I rather like the idea of living to see the next day AFTER my orgasm, lol. If I ever do something crazy as hell, though, you’ll be the first to know about it. *smirk*
This book sounds so good–can’t wait to read it. Happy new release for Delilah!
Thank you! Happy Holidays and a wonderful New Year to you!
Oh, Delilah! LOL 😀 ..and you’re right! Everyone’s definition of crazy is different (bees are crazy) ; ) *grinns*
Wow. Okay, I do believe I’m blushing after reading that. It is certainly a weird idea to use bees but you know … I’m sure there have been stranger things done in the pursuit of pleasure. 🙂
And I’ve bookmarked your site so that I can have a read through your posts. I admit, I’m curious. LOL
Also, Forever and a Day sounds great.
Pam
vanillaorchids69(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi Pam! Hahaha, I’m glad I dragged you over to the dark side. Thank you so much for posting!!! Happy Holidays!
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