Greek Love

Rating:
Summary: Judge the book, not the writer
Review: As a former student of classical Greek language and history, I am moved to contribute again (an updated review) to the debate on the merits - or otherwise - of Eglinton's (Walter Breen's)`Greek Love'. It is hardly surprising that an open and unashamed treatment of the topic of pederasty, together with the author's attempt at justification of such relationships in a modern context, should stimulate heated discussion - there is much to distrust and much potential for misinterpretation in taking up assertive positions on either side of the argument - at a time and in an age when paedophilia (to use the much-abused current expression) is seen as an unspeakable subject. (In post-classical times, was it ever otherwise?) The book is bulky and comprehensive - the writer has attempted to treat his subject in mind-testing detail from the various perspectives of history, sociology and literature - thereby providing a huge amount of information which most serious readers are unlikely to find in any one volume previously published.

The attested source on `Greek homosexuality' is Professor K J Dover's scholarly work first published in 1978 under that title. The value of that study relates to the distinguished author's concentration on language, documented sources and artefacts (particularly vase paintings), as well as his objectivity in dealing with a subject which had previously been regarded as taboo among otherwise respected writers and historians in the field. Eglinton may not have had equivalent expertise in language and scholarship, nor could he be described as other than an `apologist' for the behaviour and `principles' set out in his book, but this does not necessarily weaken some of his stated observations, no doubt experienced first-hand. Whatever his personality or character defects (Walter Breen evidently had a tragically flawed life), these should not prejudice the reader's evaluation of the topic so courageously addressed. In any case, one cannot lose sight of the fact of what is being discussed: the kind of relationships which were idealized not only in ancient Greece, but in other cultures and at other times in history. Dover paid no homage to Eglinton in his bibliography - the latter's brand of `scholarship' is too personalized and subjective, the language too stylistic, the conclusions too facile - yet he might well have given some credence to the interpretation and application of Greek love through the historical periods examined in Eglinton's work.

Similarly, it is unlikely that `pro-gay' scholars will feel comfortable with Eglinton's thesis - which is virtually a denial of the notion of definitive sexual orientation - since the author proposes that the relationships described in his book are transient, and do not necessarily reflect an innate or genetic (to use the modern term) predisposition. The use of modern terminology, such as homosexuality and heterosexuality, can confound the argument (Dover explicitly argues against the implied `antithesis' of these terms), the ambiguities, indeed ingenuities, of Eglinton's position highlighting the difficulties presented by accepted - and easily misunderstood - jargon. Of course, none of this bothered the Greeks who were enlightened enough not to confuse identity and behaviour. No doubt many `preferred' boys to women, not an unexpected condition in a society which encouraged `women for procreation and boys for pleasure'. But let us not forget that when we talk about `boys' in this context, we are talking about young adolescents possessing all the attributes of androgynous beauty.

Many readers - including myself - may opt for the historical and philosophical interest engendered by this book, but will stop short of envisaging a `de facto' return to the ancient `mores' of a culture and consciousness so distant from our own. Yet the Socratic circle did argue the morality of spiritual versus sexual love. We may feel repelled, or even outraged, by the notion of an adult male having sexual congress with a boy, yet we may still reserve some sympathy for the principle of guiding a potentially errant youth by means of an intimate non-sexual relationship (deemed natural enough until recent times) into a more creative or productive life, a need which would seem no more urgent than it is today. A casual look at the plight of our male youth cannot but see reason in a radical intervention - nay, a reversion to the practicality of no more than fifty years ago - which would allow a return of mentor-pupil, master-apprentice relations, uncomplicated by the increasingly prevalent female involvement in areas which are not appropriate e.g. boy scouts (in the U.K., it is increasingly difficult to find male applicants for scout-leader positions, and indeed primary school teaching jobs, no doubt because of the risk of accusations of `child-molestation').

Thus, the message of `Greek Love' may have some relevance to society today, though in a less radical form than is outlined in this important book.




Rating:
Summary: Written by the author in 1965
Review: Greek Love is the first literary, historical, psychological and sociological study of boy-love ever to appear.

Up to now, specialists in sexology have been either too confused to say anything of relevance, or too scared to commit it to print! Such authorities as Stekel, Krafft-Ebing, Bergler, George W. Henry, Ulrichs, Carpenter, Haverlock Ellis, and Freud managed to write volumes about other sexual practices, but they betrayed no real understanding of what makes a man love a boy.

The author of Greek Love believes that boy-love is a potential social force for good. In Ancient Greece, it was closely bound up with the highest ethical and philosophical ideals. Therefore, we must seriously consider the possibility that boy-love can be a forece for good right now, in our own country.

Greek Love is refreshing to read. The author does not affect the modern pseudo-objectivity that is so often a coverup for moral vacillation. Though he treats the subject fairly, he makes no attempt to conceal his pro-sexual orientation.

Following is the table of contents:

I. Theory and Practice

1. Objectives

2. Some common Objections Answered

3. Greek Love as a Social Problem

4. Greek Love as a Solution to a Social Problem

5. The Theory and Practice of Love

6. Sexual Aspects of Greek Love

7. Some uncomplicated Greek Love Affairs

8. Some Difficult Greek Love Affairs

II. History and Literature

9. Historical Synopsis

10. Boy-love in Ancient Greece

11. Boy-love in Ancient Rome

12. Boy-love in the Middle Ages

13. Boy-love in the Renaissance

14. Boy-love in the Restoration, Enlightement, Romantic Period

15. Boy-love in the 19th Century

16. The 20th Century -- Divergent Traditions

Postscript by Dr. Albert Ellis

Rebuttal by J. Z. Eglinton 15. Boy-love in Ancient

Rating:
Summary: A brilliant madman.
Review: I merely wanted to state that J. Z. Eglinton was the pseudonym of the late Walter Breen, a numismatist (coin expert) who was married to Marion Zimmer Bradley. He died in prison and I hardly need say what the charge was.

Rating:
Summary: Mysteries of this book are being revealed...
Review: I recently attempted to re-read this book, and was completely alienated by the "Main Moral" of the book: love between an older male and a younger male is only justified if the older male is guiding the younger male towards a heterosexual life.

Since we now know that sexual orientation is established very early in life, probably before birth, this "Main Moral" seems to be heavily influenced by American homophobia. If you asked me, the goal of the older male should obviously be to help the younger male to develop into what he is by nature: straight, gay, bi or whatever. Some folks would even say that this is what "love" means!

However, it is now clear that this book was written by Walter Breen, a famous coin-dealer ("numismatist"), and by Warren Johansson, an independent genius of a gay scholar who is almost unknown. It also seems clear to me that the tendentious editorial content came from Breen (and perhaps his wife Marion Zimmer Bradley), whereas all the scholarly research was done (obviously) by Warren Johansson, a person whose last name I always have difficulty spelling!

This new information is now publicly available in the excellent book put together by Vern Bullough: "Before Stonewall." You can read all about Walter Breen and Warren Johansson in this book, and you can learn one very interesting fact: they fell out.

They failed to reach agreement on the question of the age of consent.

Walter Breen felt that no age of consent was needed at all, and he wound up dying in prison in Chino, California, a twice-convicted child molester, who had been active in the notorious American organization, NAMBLA.

Warren Johansson felt that a cut-off age of 14 was clearly needed, and one suspects that he availed himself of the services of hustlers from time to time. He never got into trouble with the law or society, and died peacefully in a New York hospice.

Be that as it may: this book is evidence of the tremendous influence of Warren Johansson, working invisibly, behind the scenes. I met him once. He was a pretty unforgettable character.

Rating:
Summary: A brilliant madman.
Review: J.Z. Eglinton, also known as Walter H. Breen, coauthored "Greek Love" with my mother, Marion Zimmer Bradley. He felt deeply of the rightness of his position, and used arguments from the book to try to convince the judge at his two trials for child molesting. A few of Marion Bradley's books have pedophilic themes; among them "The Catch Trap" and it is interesting to read her works with awareness of her involvement in these issues. It is sad that Walter Breen was so unaware of the pain he caused to his many victims. He was afflicted with paranoid schizophrenia which meant he had a fixed system of delusions which were unresponsive to conflicting data (like the objections of his child-victims!!) When he was sentenced to thirteen years in San Quentin, for the forcible rape of a seven-year-old child, among other charges, he had already been diagnosed with terminal cancer and given only a month to live. He was considered too dangerous to even be allowed into a hospice to die! He was so charismatic in life that his friends were widely in favor of finding a way to discredit his victims, and many were loyal to him to the end, even the ones who knew the truth about his crimes.

Rating:
Summary: A future for pederasty?
Review: This book - a reprint of the 1965 edition - has rightly been described as a classic in its field, though appealing in its subject and content to a specialised readership. The author treats of the phenomenon of pederasty, the emotional or sexual bonding of an adult male and an adolescent boy, which was common in ancient Greek times. He attempts to show that this relationship is both natural and beneficial (to both parties) and traces the history of 'boy-love' - as it is often described - through the main historical periods right up to the twentieth century.

The author, in common with other informed writers on this subject, draws a clear distinction between pederasty and 'androphile' homosexuality (involving adult males only), and proposes that the growing prevalence of the latter in more recent times is largely the result of a 'conspiracy of silence' about boy-love, aided by puritanical laws and 'a gradual change in the role of the adolescent in this culture'. Further he argues that those adults who form such attachments are often married or experienced in relationships with women (as well as boys), and that the younger recipient of this affection can benefit from that experience in his future heterosexual life. He marshals much evidence in the course of some 450 pages to support his thesis, though many of today's readers may cavil at what would seem in our modern world of definitions and categories to be paradoxical.

The general reader, however, cannot fail to be impressed by the extent of the writer's scholarship which draws on a rich resource of history and literature, albeit selective, from Classical Greece and Rome through the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Restoration and beyond. There is much detailed discussion of various hypotheses and assumptions as, for example, the contradiction between Greek attitudes (to boy-love) reflected in poetry and in the laws and philosophies; parallels between the Orphic myths and the later love cults of the Persian-Arabic Sufi'ism and the troubadours; the extent to which Shakespeare's sonnets reveal personal sexual emotion; the attraction to boys avowed by the Romantic figures of Goethe and Byron. A comprehensive survey of 'The Calamites: a Victorian paidophilic Poetaster Clique' embraces such names as John Addington Symonds, the Rev. Edwin Emmanuel Bradford and Ralph N Chubb with copious quotations from their writings.

As one would expect, there are constant references to the severe social sanctions - sometimes horrific executions - visited upon homosexuals at various times, this contrasting with the relative tolerance of pederastic love in, for example, Renaissance Italy and Elizabethan England, at least within artistic and theatrical circles. The author believes that boy-love tended to flourish within 'matrist' societies since they were generally more liberal in outlook. He would undoubtedly have been disappointed with our contemporary views on intergenerational relationships despite the much-vaunted freedoms of our society today.

J Z Eglinton had hoped to publish a second edition which no doubt would have pruned the book considerably - there are too many unwieldy literary references and a few irrelevancies such as the long section on Walt Whitman (who was not a pederast) or the earlier exposition on the Achilles-Patroclus friendship (Iliad). Andre Gide is dismissed as an 'androphile', presumably on account of his book, 'Corydon', which deals with wider questions about homosexuality. Gide was a self-acknowledged pederast (see his 'Journals' 1918).

At the time it was written, this book represented the first comprehensive work in any language which argues the right of an adult male to have sexual relations with a young boy. As Dr Albert Ellis emphatically observes in the postscript, this is a truly remarkable work, though he proceeds to challenge the book's major thesis on social, pyschological and emotional grounds. This exchange (the author responds with a rebuttal) makes for interesting debate, though it is clear that individual interpretation and conclusion on such a controversial topic will ultimately rest upon the subjective sensibilities of the reader.