Thongs

On a cold morning in February 1922, some Gypsies moving across country between Madrid and Escorial came upon the naked body of a woman. The naked woman had been crucified. The body was covered with thin red lacerations as though before death the woman had been whipped mercilessly with fine rods. Across the belly on a fine silver chain was slung a small metal plate which bore the inscription: Carmencita de las Lunas, por amor. For love... Thongs is the troubling account of Gertrude Gault, also known as Carmencita de las Lunas, a nymphomaniac who desired, indeed demanded, pain in preference to love, who lived for pain and ultimately freely gave her life for Pain as the Virgin Death. Some readers will find the work sacrilegious as it imitates, perhaps mocks, the Roman Catholic Church, and indeed reveals a cult that worships pain and a virgin martyr.