London and the Culture of Homosexuality, 1885-1914

Download or read book London and the Culture of Homosexuality, 1885-1914 written by Matt Cook and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2003 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: London and the Culture of Homosexuality explores the relationship between London and male homosexuality from the criminalisation of all 'acts of gross indecency' between men in 1885 to the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 - years marked by an intensification in concern about male-male relationships and also by the emergence of an embryonic homosexual rights movement. Taking his cue from literary and lesbian and gay scholars, urban historians and cultural geographers, Matt Cook combines discussion of London's homosexual subculture and various major and minor scandals with a detailed examination of representations in the press, in science and in literature. The conjunction of approaches used in this study provides fresh insights into the development of ideas about the modern homosexual and into the many different ways of comprehending and taking part in London's culture of homosexuality.