The scandalous and steamy world of 18 th century diplomacy will be the topic of a West Virginia University Department of History distinguished lecture set for 7 p.m. Thursday, April 8, in the Mountainlair Shenandoah Room.

Mary Lindemann, a history professor at Carnegie Mellon University, will speak onThe Diplomatic Sex: Diplomacy, Paradiplomacy, and Cross-Dressing Women in the Age of Frederick the Great.The Callahan Lecture Series talk is free to the public.

Lindemann is a specialist on early modern Germany and has published five books that collectively explore medicine and society, poor relief and welfare, and the practice of Enlightenment ideas.

Her presentation will examine the fascinating yet shadowy world of paradiplomats, secret couriers and spies in the years after the Seven Years War.

As European governments embarked on a process of improving their diplomatic corps, more and more diplomats became professional bureaucrats, possessing the training and credentials thought desirable to represent their governments.

However, smooth professionalism was a thin veneer that quickly cracked in practice. For every titled professional who represented his country at the courts and in the capitals of Europe, there were a host of others.

Some monarchs insisted on being their own foreign ministers, and others allowed their favorites and lovers to act for them. Below these elevated levels, though, schemed an array of others: nobles on the make, adventurers in search of their fortune, spies trying to upset diplomatic apple-carts, pretenders seeking a throne and cross-dressing men and women.

The Callahan Lecture Series was established in 1964 in honor of James Morton Callahan, who served as chair of the History Department from 1902-29, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 1916-29 and University research professor from 1929-56.