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Queer Wales: The History, Culture and Politics of Queer Life in Wales
Queer Wales provides varied perspectives on queer history, culture, politics and life in Wales, launching an important discussion and suggesting that perhaps Wales has always been a bit of a queer place to live.
- GenresQueerNonfiction
Kindle Edition
Published June 15, 2016
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August 31, 2025- /Queer Wales/ is a rich collection of multidisciplinary essays that trace queer history, culture, and politics in Wales from the eighteenth century to the present. It explores how nationhood and queer sexuality have intersected—often uneasily—through Welsh literature, art, performance, and social life.
- The book delves into the *queering of the Welsh language* and highlights significant cultural figures and media—from Felicia Hemans and Victorian bard Cranogwen to literary figures like George Powell, Edward Thomas, and Jan Morris—revealing how queer identities were represented and reimagined through the years.
- Organized in four thematic sections:
1. *The Queer Past Before 1900* : Essays examine historical figures and queer-coded expressions in early Welsh literary tradition (e.g., Hemans, Cranogwen, and medieval cadi figures).
2. *Placing Queer Wales after 1900* : This section looks at same-sex desire in Welsh literature and intersections with national identity, including discussions of transgender themes and representation.
3. *Building Queer Wales Post-Devolution* : Contributors explore contemporary themes such as lesbian motherhood, LGBTQ youth in education, and experiences of homophobic violence, particularly in the South Wales Valleys.
4. *Performing Contemporary Queer Wales*: The final section covers queer representations in media such as /Torchwood/ , and reflections on hybrid queer/Welsh identity in public culture.
- The collection foregrounds urgent contemporary issues of queer belonging in Wales, highlighting how cultural texts and institutions shape—and sometimes contest—national narratives.
*** Tone and Writing Style
- *Tone:* Analytical, scholarly, and reflective, yet inclusive of varied voices and genders, historical periods, and disciplines.
- *Style:* Academic but broadly accessible. The essays engage in literary criticism, cultural analysis, and political commentary, while offering grounded examples that bring theoretical ideas to life.
This balanced blend allows readers to engage with complex cultural critiques without sacrificing readability.
*** Author’s Qualifications
- *Huw Osborne*, the editor, is Associate Professor of English at the Royal Military College of Canada. He is an established scholar in Welsh literary and cultural studies, with prior works including a Rhys Davies biography and /The Rise of the Modernist Bookshop/ .
- The contributing authors offer *expertise across disciplines* , including literature, media studies, social policy, and queer theory—bringing authenticity and depth to their examinations of Welsh queer life.
- The book delves into the *queering of the Welsh language* and highlights significant cultural figures and media—from Felicia Hemans and Victorian bard Cranogwen to literary figures like George Powell, Edward Thomas, and Jan Morris—revealing how queer identities were represented and reimagined through the years.
- Organized in four thematic sections:
1. *The Queer Past Before 1900* : Essays examine historical figures and queer-coded expressions in early Welsh literary tradition (e.g., Hemans, Cranogwen, and medieval cadi figures).
2. *Placing Queer Wales after 1900* : This section looks at same-sex desire in Welsh literature and intersections with national identity, including discussions of transgender themes and representation.
3. *Building Queer Wales Post-Devolution* : Contributors explore contemporary themes such as lesbian motherhood, LGBTQ youth in education, and experiences of homophobic violence, particularly in the South Wales Valleys.
4. *Performing Contemporary Queer Wales*: The final section covers queer representations in media such as /Torchwood/ , and reflections on hybrid queer/Welsh identity in public culture.
- The collection foregrounds urgent contemporary issues of queer belonging in Wales, highlighting how cultural texts and institutions shape—and sometimes contest—national narratives.
*** Tone and Writing Style
- *Tone:* Analytical, scholarly, and reflective, yet inclusive of varied voices and genders, historical periods, and disciplines.
- *Style:* Academic but broadly accessible. The essays engage in literary criticism, cultural analysis, and political commentary, while offering grounded examples that bring theoretical ideas to life.
This balanced blend allows readers to engage with complex cultural critiques without sacrificing readability.
*** Author’s Qualifications
- *Huw Osborne*, the editor, is Associate Professor of English at the Royal Military College of Canada. He is an established scholar in Welsh literary and cultural studies, with prior works including a Rhys Davies biography and /The Rise of the Modernist Bookshop/ .
- The contributing authors offer *expertise across disciplines* , including literature, media studies, social policy, and queer theory—bringing authenticity and depth to their examinations of Welsh queer life.
November 22, 2021
This book explores the queerness of Wales literature, politics and life. It examines a lot of literature to do this. I would have enjoyed this more had I been more familiar with some of the authors discussed in the book. Very analytical and full of literary criticism.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews