Bad Gays: A Homosexual History

Huw Lemmey and Ben Miller's book "Bad Gays" challenges the notion of gay icons and heroes by exploring the buried history of queer lives, including fascist thugs, artists, puritans, and debauched bon viveurs. It shows that homosexuality emerged in the nineteenth century and has been central to major historical moments of conflict.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 30 May 2023
Publisher: Verso Books

Rewritten text:

The past is a tapestry of diverse individuals whose sexual orientations and/or misdeeds have often been overlooked by popular histories. While we all remember the iconic figure of Oscar Wilde, the question arises: who speaks for Bosie? What about those less-than-exemplary lives that reveal more than we might expect? Bad Gays, a groundbreaking work of part-revisionist history, part-historical biography, and inspired by the immensely popular podcast series, challenges the notion of gay icons and queer heroes. Instead, it delves into the buried history of LGBTQ lives, uncovering the stories of villains and baddies.

Spanning from the reign of Emperor Hadrian to the notorious gangster Ronnie Kray, the authors excavate the hidden narratives of queer existence. This includes fascist thugs, renowned artists, austere puritans, debauched bon viveurs, Imperialists, G-men, and architects. Together, these remarkable life stories expand and challenge the mainstream assumptions of sexual identity. They reveal that homosexuality itself emerged in the nineteenth century and has played a central role in significant historical moments of conflict, from the ruptures of the Weimar Republic to the red-baiting of Cold War America.

Bad Gays is a captivating, disturbing, and fascinating exploration of the queer villains and evil twinks in history. It puts these marginalized individuals center stage, offering a fresh perspective on our understanding of LGBTQ history, sexuality, and identity. Through their stories, we gain a deeper appreciation for the complexities and diversity of human experiences, challenging us to reevaluate our preconceptions and embrace a more inclusive and nuanced view of the past.

Weight: 288g
Dimension: 129 x 197 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781839763281