Drag: Mini: The Complete Story with new foreword by Fenton Bailey

by Simon Doonan

Drag is transformation, communication, and, above all, exaggeration, where gender non-conformity is the plat du jour. This fearless book observes this increasingly complex world by exploring drag's journey - from the surprising, to the sophisticated, to the utterly bizarre - through the twentieth century and up to the present day. Fenton Bailey, producer of 'RuPaul's Drag Race', gives an insightful foreword in this new concise edition.

With witty text, dazzling photography, and corralled into thematic chapters, this is the first flamboyant and poignant survey of drag culture. Drag is not just for fabulous queens and drag enthusiasts, but for anyone interested in gender fluidity and the culture surrounding it.

240 pages, Paperback

Published May 21, 2024

About the author

Writer, fashionista, acclaimed window dresser and author Simon Doonan is the Creative Ambassador for Barneys New York. His books include Confessions of a Window Dresser, Soccer Style, Eccentric Glamour and Gay Men Don’t Get Fat. His memoir 'Beautiful People’ was turned into a BBC TV series starring Oscar-winners Olivia Coleman and Brenda Blethyn. Simon appears as a judge on the NBC television show Making It, co-hosted by Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman.

Reviews

[Raaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

As some other reviewers have pointed out, the herstory and categorisations of drag are anything but complete. But, taking it as an introductory overview overflowing with stories & pictures of a wide range of queens ranging from the comedic to the Medusean, all while serving flamboyant language play to match, it's pretty good.