James Dean, a queer man, revolutionized American manhood with his vulnerability, determination, sensitivity, and strength, challenging the norms of midcentury American society. Despite his massive influence and fascination, his life and personal character continue to be colored by the prejudices of an earlier era and the work of unscrupulous biographers and journalists. Jimmy: The Secret Life of James Dean offers a revelatory reassessment of the man and his legacy, drawing on exhaustive new research and modern insights into sexual diversity to transform our understanding of his story and the stories of boys and men like him.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 19 January 2025
Publisher: Globe Pequot Press

James Dean, a queer man who died at a young age and appeared in only a handful of movies, revolutionized American manhood by melding vulnerability with determination, sensitivity with strength, and offering a bracing and threatening new vision of masculinity. His massive influence and fascination are inseparable from his identity as a queer man whose complex sexuality shattered the norms of midcentury American society. Today, even though it is widely accepted that Dean was gay or bisexual, the story of his life and personal character continue to be colored by the prejudices of an earlier era and the work of often unscrupulous biographers and journalists. Jimmy: The Secret Life of James Dean is a revelatory reassessment of the man and his legacy that deploys modern insights into sexual diversity to transform our understanding of James Deans story and the stories of boys and men like him.

James Dean: A Queer Man's Legacy

James Dean, a queer man who died at a young age and appeared in only a handful of movies, revolutionized American manhood by melding vulnerability with determination, sensitivity with strength, and offering a bracing and threatening new vision of masculinity. His massive influence and fascination are inseparable from his identity as a queer man whose complex sexuality shattered the norms of midcentury American society. Today, even though it is widely accepted that Dean was gay or bisexual, the story of his life and personal character continue to be colored by the prejudices of an earlier era and the work of often unscrupulous biographers and journalists. Jimmy: The Secret Life of James Dean is a revelatory reassessment of the man and his legacy that deploys modern insights into sexual diversity to transform our understanding of James Deans story and the stories of boys and men like him.

Weight: 644g
Dimension: 237 x 160 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781493085651