Lynne Cheney

According to The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide, For Art's Sake (a publisher) has canceled plans to reissue a racy novel by Lynne Cheney (as in Vice President Evil Incarnate Cheney). They were going to reprint her historical romance Sisters (1981) that included "brothels, attempted rapes, and a lesbian love affair, but reversed itself at the last minute." They give us this juicy quote from the book:

Let us go away together, away from the anger and the imperatives of men. There will be only the two of us, and we shall linger through long afternoons of sweet retirement. In the evenings I shall read to you while you work your cross-stitch in the firelight. And then we shall go to bed, our bed, my dearest girl. (emphasis added)

Okay, this woman has a Ph.D. in history and she really thinks we torture ourselves with stitching by firelight? Even "back in the day" most women did their needlework out of doors and in the daylight hours. You know, until they invented electricity. Don't believe me?

A Penguin worker-bee explained that the cancellation was prompted by the lack of artistic value: not Cheney's "best work." And nothing to do with the election, I'm sure. We can take heart that the controversy has stimulated interest in the book. The amazon reviews are fucking priceless! Check out the e-bay auction where a signed paperback is at $255 (auction ends in 4 days). Even better the "text has been given a new life in a satirical reading at the New York Theatre Workshop." Oh, how I miss New York.

If you want to read Sisters along with "Mrs. Tarquin Biscuitbarrel" check it out.