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A review by donsar
Queer City: Gay London from the Romans to the Present Day by Peter Ackroyd
3.0
There is a great deal on offer from Queer City and it is clear that Ackroyd has done his work in researching a vast tract of history. But like other readers, I thought that Ackroyd could have taken a deeper dive into the lives of the various people we meet along the way. Instead, we will meet someone who is so interesting that an entire book could be written about them alone and we are whisked away from them after a meager paragraph.
I don't take as much issue with the amount of focus on criminals as some of the other reviewers have. Apart from the availability of court records, I think Ackroyd uses these cases to highlight that fact that people in the past were well aware of what could go on behind closed doors (or in the bushes!) and that it was relatively commonplace. Although, I don't think it was necessary to add pedophiles in the list of queer people. That said, while our modern day understanding of childhood extends into the teenage years, it is worth bearing in mind that for most of human history that has not been historically the case.
Overall, Queer City is perhaps best as a reference book, or a jumping off point into deeper research.
I don't take as much issue with the amount of focus on criminals as some of the other reviewers have. Apart from the availability of court records, I think Ackroyd uses these cases to highlight that fact that people in the past were well aware of what could go on behind closed doors (or in the bushes!) and that it was relatively commonplace. Although, I don't think it was necessary to add pedophiles in the list of queer people. That said, while our modern day understanding of childhood extends into the teenage years, it is worth bearing in mind that for most of human history that has not been historically the case.
Overall, Queer City is perhaps best as a reference book, or a jumping off point into deeper research.