Monday, May 26, 2008

Who wrote the book of Lvov?

Well, powder my pierogi! It's The Thrill of the Kielbasa!

No, it's an ad for the Mark Morris Dance Group in "'Barbarella' Live!"


Just kidding. It's  Dreszcz czystosci—which, as best I can make out from an online translation tool, means something like "Shudder of Chastity" or "Chaste Chills." Oomph!

Seriously, this is an arresting and intriguing cover, which means it will sell books, which is a Good Thing. I also like the fact that the couple look like they stepped out of a Godard film or a Mod-era Broadway revue. They might be acting out a scene from Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living Chastely in Gdynia or Stop the World—I Want to Get Chaste.

You are invited to have fun offering further captions in the comments (G-rated, please) while I go under the scalpel and recover in bed (many thanks for your prayers).

And did I mention that I am really, truly thrilled that this Polish edition of The Thrill of the Chaste is coming out? I am.

UPDATE, 5/29: Enjoying the suggestions in the comments very much—thanks, all! My current favorite is from Victor Lams: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Waiting for Marriage.

Also, someone suggested the cover evoked "Sprockets" and then linked to a Wikipedia page showing ... sprockets. Kevin Walsh helpfully provided a link to a page on a "Saturday Night Live" sketch by that name. Not having watched SNL (or owned a TV set) since teenagehood, I checked out this YouTube clip and found that the cover is indeed uncannily like "the time on 'Sprockets' vhen ve dance."