Possible Anachronism in Lincoln

[Ben Zimmer]

On Sun, Dec 2, 2012 at 9:03 PM, Baker, John wrote:
>
> In the new Steven Spielberg film Lincoln, at one point a political
> operator is so surprised to see the President that he says, "Well, I'll be
> fucked."  My impression is that this is an anachronistic or at least unlikely
> thing for someone to say in 1865, but what say the experts?

In my Boston Globe column on the language of "Lincoln", I note
(obliquely) that Jesse Sheidlower considers this to be anachronistic.
There's one other anachronistic F-bomb from the same character (W.N.
Bilbo): "Fuck you, you son of a bitch!"

http://b.globe.com/lincolnbz

Dan Goncharoff wrote:
>
> I point out the character is a New Yorker, which may affect the analysis.

Actually, even though he was part of the Albany-based "Seward lobby,"
the historical Bilbo was from Nashville, and James Spader plays him as
a Southerner.

--bgz

--
Ben Zimmer
http://benzimmer.com/

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