Book Reviews

Book Blurb

QUEERS & CIVILIZATION documents the distinctive and prodigious contributions queer people have made to the progress of civilization. The book cites more than 150 examples of notable historical figures who made signal and constructive contributions to civilization and who happened to be queer.

The examples range from Alexander the Great to Malcolm X — from the fearless, sword-toting Lesbian matriarchies of yore — the Amazons — to the fearless, rock-throwing Black transgendered women — Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson — who instigated the Stonewall Riot in 1969.

These examples run the gamut from queer Islamic poets, to queer Japanese samurai, and to queer Chinese Emperors — in fact, the entire Han dynasty (206 B.C. to 220 A.D.) which constituted China’s golden age.

In modern times, the book shows how tiny groups of queers — sexual radicals all — made epic strides in social progress. Examples include the Bloomsbury Group (London, 1907-1930), the Harlem Renaissance (New York City, 1920s-1930s), and the Beat Generation (San Francisco, the late 1950s).

To close, I show how these strides were made by queers who sagely relied on art, not politics; on social movements, not political parties; and on changes in cultural and social values, not on election outcomes. This model of social change — politics by other means — endures and flourishes still. The world can be made safe for diversity!

 

Book Review

Besides romances, space operas, murder mysteries, fantasy novels or the odd short story collection, I also love to read nonfiction books, mostly of the historical “persuasion”, as long as they are interesting, well researched, and well written. The topics may range from Spain in the 19th century to the Plantagenets or a fun take on the longstanding love-hate relationship between France and England through the centuries. When the ARC of this book, ‘Queers and Civilization’, was proposed, I therefore raised my hand almost unthinkingly.

 

Thank God I did. At first, I was a bit wary that the book might turn out to be a long-winded, theoretical and dry essay about queers in history, but it was anything but. A first glance at the section and chapter titles, and I already chuckled, thinking, “Byron, I think you and I will get along just fine!” Sneak peek? Part one is titled “If You Don’t Like Diversity, Drop Dead”, and its first subsection is “On Bugs & Buggery”. I therefore opened the book rather gleefully, and I didn’t stop smiling all through my read.

 

The book started out like any self-respecting nonfiction book by a definition of the terms used in the title, namely of how and why the word “queer” was used in this context by the author (no worries, this part was succinct). And then came a string of almost anecdotal, easily readable bits of information, biographies, and sometimes very personal interpretations of historical personae, that kept me hooked. When I closed the book, I mused what a pity it was that it was so short. Only then did I realize it contained in fact over 240 pages, which had felt like barely 50. That means two things: for one, I would have loved twice, even thrice as many pages; and secondly, I had found the read so enthralling (and, I admit, entertaining) that I hadn’t seen the time fly by.

 

Of course, if you expect erudite scholarship with countless references, cross-references, and a body of footnotes as thick as the main thread, if you cherish dispassionate, purposely objective history-gazing, this book might disappoint you. Byron Kennard is not a writer who wears erudition on a jacket lapel like a badge of honor and delivers high-brow ivory-tower history that feels detached from reality. Kennard is a witty and highly passionate writer, and that passion shines through in every passage of this book. The author cares about the subject, which makes for a vibrating, lively – and I already mentioned it – entertaining style.

 

But behind that easy-going façade of “I’m gonna tell you a story”, the author tells history. Queer history. Told the way history is best told because that way it becomes relatable: in short bits, with anecdotes and side-remarks that make links easier to be detected and understood. This is therefore not an exhaustive and detailed compendium of all the queer characters of human history but a handy vade-mecum of some of the most notable ones (and in some cases also some of the most disputed ones).

 

You may have guessed it—a book that both entertains and enlightens me can only please me. Highly recommended read!

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by the author for the purpose of a review.

 

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 234 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	18-May-2022
Price	$7.27 ebook, $20.84 paperback
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Queers-Civilization-Diversity-Enlivens-Enriches-ebook/dp/B0B1PJRV5B