Status Updates From The Duke Gets Even (The Fif...

In the acknowledgments Shupe remind us that until mid 19 century women’s contraception and abortion remained basically free upon demand. It was then Anthony Comstock made the decision that women had no agency over their own bodies. Fast forward to 2024 when our Supreme Court decided that women no longer had agency over their own bodies

The federal Comstock Act of 1873 has never been completely removed from the books, though key parts of it were repealed in 1971

These laws are still on the books, these laws are still on the books, these laws are still on the books

Eleanor was arrested for trying to give agency to women over their own bodies. In 1895 in New York City
It is now 2026, Roe v. Wade has been assassinated after 50 years of progress, women have once again been relegated to breaking the law for seeking Provenance over their own bodies

As Mel Brooks would say
It’s good to be the king

Nice touch here:
Theodore Roosevelt served as President of the New York City Board of Police Commissioners from 1895 to 1897.

And oh, Potsie, who was as sharp as a marble

Because if he wasn’t he would be vile, he is the most awful of characters, even considering the horrendous females

She quite liked the idea of sorting recreational semen from taking purchase in wombs all across Manhattan.

Way to go, Eleanora

Anthony Comstock successfully campaigned to have women’s birth control removed from access. Sponges, syringes and shields which had been able to be purchased by mail were now prohibited.
In 1873, the Comstock Law, prohibited as obscenity law. And now in 2026, they again nearly obscene. As the abortion pill is now being harassed, after Roe v. Wade was assassinated.

Fast" Woman: A very common late-Victorian euphemism for a woman who broke etiquette, wore loud clothing, and pursued sexual or romantic freedom

Wanton: A widely used, formal term for a woman who was considered sexually unrestrained, lewd, or rebellious against moral norms

Now, a man was called a roue, rake. Or Bon vivant. The discrimination is age old

And hear the reader must google what a New York City mansion indoor pool would look like.
It has to be seen to be believed-think Roman baths.

Do you need to be kissed, Eleanor? Do you need a man to take your mouth? To press you up against the wall and ravish you?

She was everything out loud that he tried to keep hidden away. Bold colors compared to his muted existence

That’s the meat

It’s a little slow boil, but it is entertaining. Nellie is a definite modern woman-doesn’t take any shit, and regrets that her two friends do. Don’t rock the boat of men and women, men always win. Not for Nellie, who we are given to understand has put herself in the path of one pleasure after another. Never met a scandal she didn’t like.

Shupe jumped right into the plot , with a naked heroine, and the Duke in the ocean swimming.
And then I remembered I had already read the book

And our heroine to Eleanor, Nellie, the outrageous debutante, who spiked the punch at their come ball, and all of her contemporary never got over it, she has three friends, two of which the Duke courted. One now married, the other engaged, and she is still dancing around the Duke, friendly enemies, just gave him a key to the swimming pool…

Yes, it is another one of those gum drop books that I have already read. The redhead in the water, the the egg hunt, the Duke, the best friend. Soldiering on

I love them 😩

This book is fantastic so far the chemistry and tension betweenthese two is off the charts