Image of two men kissingGay History and Literature: Essays by Rictor Norton

Welcome to my website with a special focus on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender history.

(Updated 29 April 2012)

It contains numerous articles that I've written over many years, as well as a large selection of primary documents, plus bibliographies and useful links to other websites on LGBTQ history. It also contains some of my writing on non-gay eighteenth-century history and literature.

BOOKS BY RICTOR NORTON
Mother Clap's Molly House
My Dear Boy: Gay Love Letters through the Centuries
Gothic Readings 1764-1840
Mistress of Udolpho: The Life of Anne Radcliffe
Myth of the Modern Homosexual: The Search for Cultural Unity
Sex Doctors and Sex Crimes: Eighteenth Century British Erotica
Sodomites, Mollies, Sapphists and Tommies: Eighteenth Century British Homoerotica

LINKS
Links to Queer History Websites
Links to Reviews of Books on Queer History
Links to Reviews of Biographies of Gays and Lesbians

REVIEWS AND CRITIQUES

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF GAY AND LESBIAN HISTORY

MORE ABOUT ME
A Brief Biography
Photos by me and my partner on Flickr
My Library on LibraryThing

CONTACT ME

    THE RENAISSANCE HOMOSEXUAL PASTORAL TRADITION
  1. An Era of Idylls
  2. Edmund Spenser
  3. Affectionate Shepherds
  4. The School of Spenser
  5. Lovely Lad and Shame-Faced Catamite
  6. The Maid in Man's Attire
  7. Faithful Friend and Doting Lover
  8. Bibliography of Pastoral Literature

    A HISTORY OF HOMOPHOBIA
  1. Homophobia and the Ancient Hebrews
  2. The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
  3. The Later Roman Empire & The Early Middle Ages
  4. Gay Heretics and Witches
  5. The Medieval Basis of Modern Law

    THE GEORGIAN UNDERWORLD: CRIMINAL SUBCULTURES IN 18TH CENTURY BRITAIN (non-gay)
  1. The Underworld & The Underclass
  2. Crime Waves
  3. The Fight Against Crime
  4. The Geography of the Underworld
  5. The Black Boy Alley Gang
  6. Criminal Fraternies
  7. Fencing, Pawnbroking and Organized Crime
  8. Highwaymen
  9. Footpads & Street Robbers
  10. Vagabonds & Beggars
  11. Pickpockets & Shoplifters
  12. Coiners & Counterfeiters
  13. Smugglers
  14. Gambling & Boxing
  15. Prostitution
  16. Homosexuality
  17. The Underworld & Popular Culture
  18. Table of Contents

    POSTMODERN QUEER THEORY: A CRITIQUE OF SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIONISM
  1. The Uses of Gay History
  2. Social Constructionism
  3. Essentialism
  4. Gender Nonconformity
  5. Sexual Identities
  6. Discourse versus Desire
  7. The Uses and Abuses of Theory
  8. Homosexual Identities
  9. Passive Roles
  10. Sexual Orientation
  11. Exclusive Homosexuality
  12. Bisexuality
  13. The Myth of the Modern Homosexual
  14. The Term 'Homosexual'
  15. A False 'Birth'
  16. The Medicalization of Homosexuality
  17. Internalized Homophobia
  18. Inversion and Subversion
  19. Intergenerational and Egalitarian Models
  20. Capitalism and the Family
  21. Labelling Theory
  22. The 'Sodomite' and the 'Lesbian'
  23. Queer Language
  24. Queer Culture vs. Homophobic Discourse
  25. The False Charge of 'Anachronism'
  26. Political Definitions of 'The Lesbian'
  27. Queer Subcultures
  28. Against Queer Theory