Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

This work examines the history of homosexuality in the 20th century. The book begins with Oscar Wilde being accused of the unspeakable crime and continues through the emergence of the Gay Liberation Front and Gay Pride marches in the 1990s. It includes the real-life experiences of gay and lesbian people. These experiences range from people in the Forces to those who openly parade their sexuality as drag queens, and from working class through to aristocracy struggles for acceptance in society. All these accounts are set against the social history of the era placing each experience into its historical context.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Acknowledgments
• Picture Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Part 1 1918-39
• Part 2 The War
• Part 3 1945-67
• Part 4 1967-
• About the Contributors
• Bibliography
• Index

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

London-based journalist Jivani presents an anecdotal history of gay and lesbian life in Great Britain from the end of World War I to the present. Like Between the Acts: Lives of Homosexual Men 1885-1967 (LJ 2/15/91), this history is based on the reminiscences of contributors who were active at various times throughout the century. Unlike that book, Jivani's work includes the stories of lesbians as well as gay men. The author's goal is to present a history of regular people that looks beyond "the works of the great and the good." The result is light and interesting reading, though one must wonder whether the experiences of these 36 people are representative. Apparently, Jivani relied almost solely on the testimonies of his contributors; he provides no citations outside the bibliography. An interesting primary source for comprehensive gay and lesbian collections.‘Debra Moore, Loyola Marymount Univ. Lib., Los Angeles (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.