Gay New York Audiobook By George Chauncey cover art

Gay New York

Gender, Urban Culture, and the Making of the Gay Male World, 1890-1940

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Gay New York

By: George Chauncey
Narrated by: Graham Halstead
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The award-winning, field-defining history of gay life in New York City in the early to mid-20th century

Gay New York brilliantly shatters the myth that before the 1960s gay life existed only in the closet, where gay men were isolated, invisible, and self-hating. Drawing on a rich trove of diaries, legal records, and other unpublished documents, George Chauncey constructs a fascinating portrait of a vibrant, cohesive gay world that is not supposed to have existed. Called "monumental" (Washington Post), "unassailable" (Boston Globe), "brilliant" (The Nation), and "a first-rate book of history" (The New York Times), Gay New York forever changed how we think about the history of gay life in New York City, and beyond.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2008 George Chauncey (P)2019 Hachette Audio 20th Century Americas Gender Studies LGBTQ+ Studies Modern Social Sciences Sociology State & Local United States Social justice

Critic reviews

"Monumental...a vital achievement in redefining and reassessing gay history." (Washington Post)

"One of the most fascinating works of American social history I've ever read." (Frank Rich, New York Times)

"A first-rate book of history...about all urban life, telling us as much about the heterosexual world as about the homosexual one." (New York Times)

All stars
Most relevant  
Very useful. I am using this to help young actors understand the psychology of gay men prior to Stonewall.

Pre-Stonewall psychology

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This book covers the astonishing evolution of gay/sexual minority life in New York City . This is not a dusty scholarly work despite its fastidious documentation. It shows how New York led the country in how gays, lesbians, and sexually fluid people development their own self-definition and the sometimes embrace but more often suppression of these people. Highly recommended

Outstanding scholarship and Accessible language

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There was so much of this historical account that felt so familiar. Not only does it provide a distilled look at what was, it shows how history is and might repeat itself.

Crucial Queer history

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I think anyone interested in history, and in social history in particular, will find us a great read. I found clear, cogent, well written, and always interesting. At times, it is even humourous and warm hearted, but it never loses its focus. The narration is also excellent. All in all a really great Reid! Looking forward to the sequel!

What a fascinating read!

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As a middle aged American it would seem a basic understanding of history might be mine. Further as a gay man having once lived in NYC I thought this book would reinforce what I already knew. Rather it exposed how little I, and indeed civilization in general know about Gay culture in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.
Eye opening! Amazing!

An Eye Opening History!

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This is a very well researched and carefully written history. I knew almost nothing that is contained in this book and I’m grateful George Chauncey put it all together. The narration is solid.

Very interesting

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A much needed treatsie of the rise of modern sexual categories as viewed though a careful reconstruction of sexually in turn of the century New York City.

History of the Homosexual

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who knew there were so many gay bars. wasn’t that interesting seemed like a repeated theme

meh didn’t lear anything

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