Drag: A British History

Drag: A British History is a groundbreaking study of the sustained popularity and changing forms of male drag performance in modern Britain. It demonstrates that drag has persisted as an intrinsic and common part of British popular culture, and was at the center of public discussions around gender and sexuality in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2023
Publisher: University of California Press

A must-read for anyone interested in the history of drag performance, this book offers a comprehensive and engaging exploration of the enduring popularity and evolving forms of male drag performance in modern Britain. Written by Jacob Bloomfield, a leading authority on the subject, Drag: A British History provides a fresh perspective on drag and sheds light on previously overlooked episodes in the history of the art form. Despite its controversial associations, drag has remained an integral and prevalent aspect of British popular culture, with drag artists consistently ranking among the most celebrated and influential entertainers of their time. As Bloomfield demonstrates, drag was also at the forefront of public discussions around gender and sexuality in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, from Victorian sex scandals to the sexually liberated society of the 1960s. This compelling new history demystifies drag, emphasizing its ordinariness while affirming its significant place in British cultural heritage.

Weight: 534g
Dimension: 236 x 160 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520393325