March 12, 2018
British historian Ackroyd (London Under) presents a scintillating history of homosexuality in London. He draws from literature, theater, laws and court cases, pamphlets, and gossip to present an informed yet impressionistic picture of how religion, decree, popular standards, and desire shifted the sexual dynamics of Londoners through the centuries. Ackroyd’s primary focus is on the complexities of male roles, exploring the sexual dynamics in man and boy relationships and master and slave relationships in Roman London in the fourth century, and the flourishing of prostitution and secret meeting places in the 17th century. He also discusses stereotypes of each era, like the boyish or femme Ganymede of the 16th century or the upwardly mobile macaronis and the working-class “mollies” of the 18th century. There’s also a short chapter on lesbian “rubsters” in the 17th century and one about cross-dressing women in the 18th century. Though Ackroyd delights in the lurid details of his anecdotes—such as the case of accusations of sodomy against Francis Bacon and a philosophical treatise Bacon wrote about “masculine love”—his coverage of the modern period is brief and notably more somber, focusing on moods of fear and discretion, and stating that “queerness, with all its panache and ferocity, is in elegant retreat.” His focus is on the lesser known periods in the history of gay and lesbian culture in London, for which he offers a nimble jaunt through history. Color illus.
March 1, 2018
A history of the development of London as the European epicenter of queer life.In his latest work, Ackroyd (Revolution: The History of England from the Battle of the Boyne to the Battle of Waterloo, 2017, etc.), who has written numerous books about his home city, dives into a specific aspect of that history. The author begins with linguistics. In trying to sort out the origins of the words "gay" and "lesbian," Ackroyd launches into an etymological exploration of a variety of words associated with homosexuality. In his opinion, the term "gay," as we understand it now, took on its meaning in the 1940s in the United States. For decades and even centuries before then, homosexuality had a very different meaning in the U.K. Ackroyd describes the varied practices of the wealthy and powerful through the ages: sleeping with young boys with no consequences and a blind eye from the general public; an intricate linguistic and hand-motion code that only the "queers" could understand; the long and often overlooked tradition of cross-dressing to gain social advantages; and the ebb and flow of acceptance of same-sex marriages. The author also takes us through the many obstacles put in place to battle against homosexuality, though he describes a period in 16th-century London during which the effeminacy of men was celebrated (privately) and used publically in theatrical gestures and contributions to the cultural capital of the community. Spanning centuries, the book is a fantastically researched project that is obviously close to the author's heart. Rather than obsessively writing about the heterosexual perception of homosexual lifestyles, Ackroyd provides tangible anecdotes from members of the community, all with a light and engaging tone that will make most readers continue until the end--only to discover that not much has changed.An exciting look at London's queer history and a tribute to the "various human worlds maintained in [the city's] diversity despite persecution, condemnation, and affliction."
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April 1, 2018
Author of London: The Biography (2001), Ackroyd?prolific historian, biographer, novelist, poet, and broadcaster?here focuses his attention on the city's gay aspect and history. His work is highly anecdotal and near encyclopedic in its treatment, evincing, in its detail, prodigious research. Enlivened by occasional flashes of dry wit?especially in its chapter headings ( Bring on the Dancing Boys, Good Golly Miss Molly, etc.)?the story is a straightforward one, though not without passion, particularly in the treatment of contemporary gay life in the city. The question at the heart of the book remains, as Ackroyd puts it, What is the connection between queerness and the city? The answer to that is not always clear; it seems that some of the events he describes?especially in the earlier portions?might have happened elsewhere than London. Regardless, the book is fascinating in its careful exposition of the singularities?and commonalities?of gay life, both male and female. Ultimately it is, as he concludes, a celebration as well as a history.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)