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Richard Godbeer's writings on sexuality in early America include examples of what I'd call frank, though not obscene, language. I haven't read his new book, but suspect it has some of the same. Kathleen Brown published an article in the _Journal of the History of Sexuality_ a few years on Thomas/Thomasina Hall. It contains a few quotations that suggest that Hall taunted the leaders of the Virginia colony with references to his sexuality. Sharon Block has work in progress that might quote frank language people used in investigations of sexual abuse. That's just my guess---but look out for her writing. R. R. Burg has written on pirates. It's been a long time since I read his work & I don't recall quotations of colorful language. As long as we're thinking about the age of Franklin, we should note that double-entendre allowed for sexual references to be made in literature. Homer & Virgil were popular---the latter particularly is frank, though not obscene. I'd like to say for the record that I teach Frederick Douglass in my survey class & I always assure my students that the part in which he says that he never used improper language (even though he was a slave & worked on the docks & on ship) can be believed without reservation. John Saillant Western Michigan University
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