

Richard Burton painted by Frederic Leighton

ca. 1872-1875. Richard Burton painted by Frederic Leightonca. 1872-1875.

Sir Richard Francis Burton

Explorer of the Sotadic Zone









Do what thy manhood bids thee do, from none but

self expect applause.

He noblest lives and noblest dies who makes and keeps

his self-made laws.



All other Life is living Death, a world where none

but Phantoms dwell,

A Breath, a wind, a sound, a voice, a tinkling of the

camel-bell.



— Richard Burton: The Kasidah







These Burton pages are devoted to an early fighter for the emancipation of male love. His famous (or infamous) essay on pederasty is reproduced here, complete and unexpurgated, with added footnote annotation. In addition, I have written an Introduction to the essay, have reproduced Henry Fowler's entry on Irony, and have collected some interesting pictures of Burton. — John Lauritsen





