History fans donate money to be given saucy nicknames — inspired by 13th-century prostitute called Clatterb****cks
HISTORY fans have donated money to be given saucy sex-trade nicknames, inspired by a 13th-century prostitute called Clarice Clatterb****cks.
Author Kate Lister was writing a book on sex in olden days when she came across Clarice.
And the lecturer, 38, then vowed to come up with similar monikers for anyone who helped fund her work.
It has seen Twitter users christened Colonel Nimblewrist, Lord Dickie Rapscallion Dong III and Queenie Lickspittle of Pudding Lane.
More than 1,700 helped crowdfund Kate’s book A Curious History of Sex, out this week. The Leeds Trinity University lecturer said Ms Clatterb****cks lived in Billingsgate, East London, and was a “receiver of bad characters”.
And it was her name that sparked the idea for the book.
Kate added: “I found out about Clarice and it made me laugh and I thought it may make others laugh too.
“But it ended up with me being passionate about the history of sex, how that is used to frame debates today and why that’s important.”
She set up the Whores Of Yore Twitter account, with names granted to followers including psychologist Dr Lori Beth Bisbey and author David Bishop.
MOST READ IN UK NEWS
The book also mentions a description of a 36,000-year-old sex toy made of bison horn and medieval witches who kept penises in trees.
And it includes old slang terms for sex such as “tallywag” from the 1680s and “take a turn among the cabbages” from the 1890s.
Half the profits from pre-publication orders will go to Basis, a support group for sex workers in Yorkshire.
- GOT a story? Ring The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or email [email protected].