ONAN ESCHEWED - Rick Grunder

Author's name obtained from an OCLC
cataloging entry, confirmed by comparing
Desris' 2007 obituary online with biographical
material provided on page 14 of this book,
plus an entry in The Online Archive of
California showing "Box/Folder 22:13 Desris,
John (Cross Publications), 1969"
OCLC shows two editions, the earliest dated
1946 and designated by OCLC as the second
edition, locating only two copies (Fordham
University; University of Saskatchewan).
The copy offered here is copyrighted 1946
and bears no other date and makes no
mention of being a second edition. However,
the front wrapper states, "1947 edition." The
other edition or version mentioned by OCLC
is an expanded 1960 "third edition" of 207 pages, listed alternately as an open
series, 1960– , naming this title but giving no pagination or edition number.
Holdings of these 1960 printings include heavy Catholic representation,
including some small institutions.
B
Y A VERY CATHOLIC BODY-BUILDER, aged 31 (buried July 10, 2007 "with a
Requiem Tridentine Latin Mass" –obituary online). The book is dedicated to
"Our Mother" with small illustration of
Mary; Prayers, p. 27; line-drawing of
extreme-buffed muscle builder in tight
armless tee-shirt kneeling before
crucifix in his room, grasping rosary).
The text urges devotion to God, bodybuilding,
learning how to fight,
becoming the uber-manly man, etc. The
many illustrations exude outlandishly
harnessed sexuality, in my opinion, and
focus almost entirely on the male body. (AT LEFT, from p. 85 at head of Chapter
VII, "Temptation . . . It can make a Man of You.")
"THE SOLITARY SIN," pp. 39-44, including an Edgar Guest poem and a drawing of
a near-naked, absurdly-muscled man calmly controlling his rearing stallion
("You've also no doubt seen pictures of the animal called a gelding . . . ," p. 39). It
is now 1946, but Mr. "Cross" still believes the myths of a century earlier . . .
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