A review by maddiebeaulieu
Queer City: Gay London from the Romans to the Present Day by Peter Ackroyd

funny informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

though occasionally feeling like it indulges in (rather than simply explains) the worst parts of historical queerness—SA, paedophilia, pederasty, etc.—this is a digestible, funny (in an EXCEEDINGLY dry, British way), and  intriguing portrait of queerness in London. the locating of events to still-existing places (St. Paul's, Leadenhall Market) is grounding. the best bits were discussions of queer love and radical acceptance (like marriage between women! surprisingly common?). also, this book really emphasizes queer men's culture, though, as Ackroyd himself pints out, that's likely a result of historical (and lbr contemporary) centring of men and men's experiences.