A collection of gay erotic writings tracing the development of a gay identity from the late 19th century to just before the Stonewall Inn riotsLong before the rise of the modern gay movement, an unnoticed literary revolution was occurring, mostly between the covers of the cheaply produced pulp paperbacks of the post-World War II era. Cultural critic Michael Bronski collects a sampling of these now little-known gay erotic writings-some by writers long forgotten, some never known and a few now famous. Through them, Bronski challenges many long-held views of American postwar fiction and the rise of gay literature, as well as of the culture at large.

AcknowledgmentsIntroductionPart OneMainstream Fiction: Not Particularly Hiding in the ShadowsHarrison DowdThe Night AirDial Press, 1950Lonnie ColemanSamDavid McKay, 1959Part TwoThe New Gay Novel: Happier Homos and Happier EndingsJames Barr"Spurr Piece" from DerricksGreenberg, 1951Jay LittleMaybe-TomorrowPageant Press, 1952Part ThreeTruly Pulp: "Gay" Life in the ShadowsMichael De ForrestThe Gay YearWoodford Press, 1949Vin Packer (Marijane Meaker)Whisper His SinFawcett Gold Medal Books, 1954Ben TravisThe Strange OnesBeacon Book, 1959James Colton (Joseph Hansen)Lost on Twilight RoadNational Library, 1964Jeff XThe Memoirs of Jeff XZil, 1968Part FourOut of the Twilight World: The Sexual Revolution Goes LavenderThe Boys of Muscle BeachqlGuild Press, 1969 (reprint from the 1950s)Richard AmorySong of the LoonGreenleaf Classics, 1966Carl CorleyMy Purple WinterPEC French Line, 1966Jack LoveGay WhorePEC French Line, 1967Chris DavidsonA Different DrumEmber Library/Greenleaf Classics, 1967Part FiveThe World Split Open: Life and Literature After StonewallMarcus MillerGay RevolutionPleasure Reader, 1969Bruce BendersonKyleCrusier Classics, 1975Victor JayThe Gay HauntTraveller's Companion, 1970John IronstoneGay RightsEl Dorado Editions, 1978Appendix: Gay Novels, 1940-1969Bibliography