Description: London
and the Culture of Homosexuality explores the relationship between
London and male homosexuality from the criminalization 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 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.