Queering the Ton: LGBTQ+ Love Stories in Historical Britain (A Revelatory Look at Gender and Sexuality in Georgian and Victorian England)

Hidden Desires, Scandalous Affairs, and the Queer Lives of the Georgian and Victorian Elite

In the glittering salons and shadowed corners of Georgian and Victorian Britain, a hidden world of queer love and desire thrived—despite society’s best efforts to suppress it. Queering the Ton takes you behind the curtains of high society to uncover the secret relationships, coded language, and passionate bonds that flourished in defiance of the rigid norms of the time.

From the flamboyant fashion of the Regency dandies to the intimate letters exchanged between female friends, this book reveals the rich, untold stories of men and women who loved boldly, secretly, and fiercely. Discover how LGBTQ+ individuals navigated a world where their love could lead to disgrace—or worse—yet managed to create vibrant communities, hidden networks, and codes of survival.

Filled with scandalous affairs, notorious trials, and artistic circles that defied the status quo, Queering the Ton explores the lives of poets, aristocrats, servants, and revolutionaries who, in their quest for love, transformed both their world and ours.

Why is it so important to uncover these stories? Because the history of queer love is not just about the past—it’s about understanding the resilience of love, the power of identity, and the ways in which these hidden histories continue to shape the LGBTQ+ community today.

A revelatory journey into history’s most glamorous—and subversive—world, Queering the Ton reimagines the Ton as a space where love, in all its forms, wasn’t just tolerated—it was revolutionary.

Step into the world where passion and peril collide

Praise for Queering the Ton

“A groundbreaking look at how love, desire, and identity took on secret, powerful forms in the history of Britain’s elite.” — Historical Review

“A riveting exploration of queer history, full of scandal, passion, and the courage of those who dared to love outside the lines.” — The Queer Times