Martha Vicinus Livres

This richly revealing anthology brings together for the first time the vital new scholarly studies now lifting the veil from the gay and lesbian past. Such notable researchers as John Boswell, Shari Benstock, Jeffrey Weeks and John D'Emilio illuminate gay and lesbian life as it evolved in places as diverse as the Athens of Plato, Renaissance Italy, Victorian London, Jazz Age Harlem, Revolutionary Russia, Nazi Germany, Casto's Cuba - and peoples as varied as South African black miners, American Indians, Chinese courtiers, Japanese samurai, English schoolboys and girls, and urban working women. Gender and sexuality, repression and resistance, deviance and acceptance, identity and community - all are given a context in this fascinating work.

Focusing on the literary contributions of the working class, this study highlights how their writings assert autonomy and identity. First published in 1974, it serves as a valuable resource for scholars and researchers interested in working-class literature and its place within English literature. The book explores the unique perspectives and narratives that emerged from these communities, making it a significant work for understanding the cultural and social dynamics of the time.