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When was the first chat line between men established? Who was the first "lesbian"? Were ancient Greek men who had sex with each other necessarily "gay," and what did Shakespeare think about crossdressing?
A Little Gay History answers these questions and more through close readings of art objects from the British Museum's far-ranging collection. Consulting ancient Egyptian papyri, the Roman Warren Cup's erotic figures, David Hockney's vivid prints, and dozens of other artifacts, R. B. Parkinson draws attention to a diverse range of same-sex experiences and situates them within specific historical and cultural contexts. The first of its kind, A Little Gay History builds a complex and creative portrait of love's many guises.
— Simon Russell Beale
Illuminating... Parkinson's book reminds us there is nothing new about homosexuality.
[The book] draws on 40 objects, ranging from ancient Egyptian papyri to images by modern artists, including David Hockney.
Parkinson successfully shows that same-sex love and desire are an integral part of human history.
[A Little Gay History] scans the Museum's collections for objects that show the complexity of desire in world cultures. From Indian gods to Emperor Hadrian, it proves that, if you swear by ancient tradition in matters of love and sex, you'll end up in the queerest spots.
[The book] explores artistic portrayals of what it means to be gay and the difficulties in finding records of same-sex desire.
This little gay history is a little terrific book...highly recommended.
Preface
Introduction: 'A Great Unrecorded History'
Glimpses of a History
Epilogue: (Re-)Writing Histories
Further Resources
Suggested General Reading
Sources for Quotations
Image Credits