Queer City
Gay London from the Romans to the Present Day
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Vintage Publishing
Published:24th May '18
Should be back in stock very soon
This book presents a deep dive into London's LGBTQ+ history, revealing the struggles and triumphs that have shaped the community, particularly in Queer City.
In Queer City, Peter Ackroyd offers a compelling exploration of London's rich and often hidden history through the lens of its gay population. The narrative begins in Roman Londinium, where establishments such as lupanaria and fornices were commonplace, illustrating a city that was once a hub of pleasure and indulgence. Ackroyd details the transition brought by the Emperor Constantine and the subsequent waves of permissiveness and censure that shaped the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community throughout the centuries.
The book delves into the darker chapters of this history, from the brutal executions for sodomy in the early nineteenth century to the vibrant coffee bars of sixties Soho, which became a sanctuary for many. Ackroyd captures the essence of Gay Liberation, the rise of disco culture, and the devastating impact of the AIDS crisis, weaving these elements into a rich tapestry that reflects both the struggles and triumphs of the community.
Today, as London embraces a more open and tolerant society, Queer City celebrates the vibrant diversity that has emerged. Ackroyd not only highlights the joyous aspects of this evolution but also acknowledges the dangers and challenges that have persisted. This insightful work serves as a reminder of the resilience and vibrancy of London's queer history, making it an essential read for anyone interested in the complexities of urban identity.
After his mammoth, shamanic aria London: the Biography, the remarkable writer Peter Ackroyd has produced a nimble, uproarious pocket history of sex in his beloved metropolis -- Alasdair Lees * Independent *
Ackroyd has an encyclopaedic knowledge of London, and a poet's instinct for its strange, mesmerising drives and urges ... Queer City contains something to alarm or fascinate on every page -- Craig Brown * The Mail on Sunday *
Droll, provocative and crammed to busting with startling facts -- Simon Callow * The Guardian *
If there was a prize for the most evocative or salacious chapter headings, then Peter Ackroyd's new book, Queer City, would be the undisputed victor. They capture the rudery and naughtiness, although not the erudition of this entertaining history of the 'queer' experience in London -- Robbie Millen * The Times *
Succinct, perceptive and robust -- Rupert Christiansen * Daily Telegraph *
The kind of screed a queer person would be remiss if they did not pick up. This is a call to arms... Throughout the book it is made clear that for every halcyon day, there was a dystopia that preceded and followed. The one great progress Ackroyd highlights is that we have one thing in the 21st century that the other eras did not: an attempt a 'gay community' ... London relies on queerness as much as queers have relied on the labyrinth and the bacchanal of the Big Smoke. Now, it seems, we have a chance to change it in the open -- David Levesley * i *
Ackroyd's brisk little history of what he calls queer London is itself a collation of sweetmeats -- Dominic Sandbrook * The Sunday Times *
Always entertaining ... much to be recommended -- Philip Hensher * The Spectator *
This gallop through the pink past [...] tells a torrid tale of persecution and pleasure, of blackmail and blue murder -- Mark Sanderson * Evening Standard *
By shining a light in dark places, Ackroyd has created a triumphantly queer picture of a city he loves – as city as queer as any other -- Philip Hoare * New Statesman *
ISBN: 9780099592945
Dimensions: 198mm x 136mm x 18mm
Weight: 247g
288 pages