The Bard Makes List Of Bawds (Press, 10 January 1976)

On 10 January 1976, Marsha Dubrow reported on a provocative new publication titled "The Whole Sex Catalogie." This directory serves as a comprehensive guide to various aspects of sexual expression, including bizarre recipes for adult-themed dishes, rules for sex advertisements, and a detailed chart outlining punishments for sexual offences. The book offers a literary dimension with recommendations for reading that features William Shakespeare, select works by the Marquis de Sade, Émile Zola’s novel "Nana," and stories by the 19th-century author William Dugdale, which are promoted for their unique erotic narratives. The editor, Berthardt Hunwood, asserts that the Vatican possesses the finest collection of erotic literature globally. The catalogue contains a playful glossary defining terms related to sex, illustrating passion as a sophisticated term for lust and characterising abstinence whimsically as "watching television." A particularly eye-catching chapter discusses experiences related to placing humorous and absurd sex-related personal advertisements, highlighting the repercussions faced by one advertiser who sought "an uninhibited woman or nylon fetishist lesbian dwarf truck-driving necrophiliac," which garnered both threatening letters and one response from the American Bible Society. Various sexual fetishes are listed within the catalogue, including a controversial slogan from a Californian society promoting sexual activity at an early age. This exploration of alternative lifestyles extends to a county-wide guide detailing venues for swingers, masked as innocuous activities such as botany talks in New York and chess reunions in Washington. Additionally, the text informs readers about destinations for "lusty Europe," pinpointing locations for nudist ski slopes and various marriage bureaus. A hot-line is also provided, allowing callers to connect with others in their area interested in similar pursuits. To engage readers further, there is a quiz designed to help them assess their desire to depart from traditional sexual norms. Hunwood's editorial note poignantly reflects on the substantial financial cost incurred by the United States Government in prosecuting the obscenity case surrounding the film "Deep Throat," which amounted to $250,000. Ultimately, the case ended unfavourably for the government, which could have only imposed a maximum fine of $500 had they won the case. "The Whole Sex Catalogie" emerges as a bold, humorous, and at times outrageous compilation that explores, critiques, and embraces the complexities of sexual expression in an era marked by shifting cultural norms.

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