{"product_id":"how-queer-bookshops-changed-the-world","title":"How Queer Bookshops Changed the World","description":"\n\u003ctable align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"productDetailSmallElements\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t'This is a unique and important book. \n\u003cb\u003eA fascinating history - both expansive and intimate - told with the novelist's flair\u003c\/b\u003e. I'm overwhelmed by the many stories of determined heroism and personal sacrifice A.J. uncovers. \n\u003cb\u003eThis is a really brilliant work which any queer person (or ally) ought to read\u003c\/b\u003e.' --Christopher Stephens, author of \n\u003ci\u003eThe Light of Day\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t'This loving tribute to the trailblazers who fought for our right to buy queer books (and more) \n\u003cb\u003eilluminates a vital chapter of LGBTQ+ history. It made me cry\u003c\/b\u003e.' --Layla McCay, author of \n\u003ci\u003eThe Queer Bookshelf\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t'For so many of us, a bookshop is where we first glimpse just how fabulous our queer life might be. \n\u003cb\u003eThis fact-filled history of our best-loved bookstores is a timely reminder\u003c\/b\u003e of the bravery and brilliance of all the people who made those moments possible.' --Neil Bartlett, director and playwright\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t' \n\u003cb\u003eA gem of a book\u003c\/b\u003e. It reads like a travel guide, a memoir, and a conversation by the fireside. It's \n\u003cb\u003ea celebration of the importance of books - and of the people who love them\u003c\/b\u003e.' --Gareth Russell, author of \n\u003ci\u003eQueen James\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t' \n\u003cb\u003eA terrific read! \u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eWidely researched and full of fascinating information and a goodly sprinkling of gossip (essential)\u003c\/b\u003e it tells the stories of brave pioneer booksellers who created our health and information centres, our culture and our communities. Queer bookshops are places of refuge and resistance, groundbreaking then and necessary now - just as much. We must know our history and this is \n\u003cb\u003ea vital contribution told with passion and panache\u003c\/b\u003e.' --Jane Cholmeley, author of \n\u003ci\u003eA Bookshop of One's Own\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t' \n\u003cb\u003eWhat a vital, life-affirming book this is\u003c\/b\u003e. \n\u003cb\u003e A.J. West is the perfect guide to a history of the most important queer space of them all: the bookstore\u003c\/b\u003e. Without self-knowledge and without community, we're screwed - and West shows just how vital queer bookshops have been to both.' --Will Tosh, author of \n\u003ci\u003eStraight Acting\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t' \n\u003cb\u003eA crucial history of love, struggle, solidarity and liberation\u003c\/b\u003e, vividly brought to life and written from the heart.' --Jake Arnott, author of \n\u003ci\u003eThe Long Firm\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBiographical Note\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA.J. West \u003c\/b\u003eis an award-winning former BBC journalist and broadcaster from Buckinghamshire. He is the author of \n\u003ci\u003eThe\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestseller \n\u003ci\u003eThe Betrayal of Thomas True\u003c\/i\u003e and \n\u003ci\u003eThe Spirit Engineer\u003c\/i\u003e, which won HWA Debut Crown Award. \n\u003ci\u003eHow Queer Bookshops Changed the World\u003c\/i\u003e is his first work of non-fiction.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t' \n\u003cb\u003eI \u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cb\u003ehave savoured every chapter, practically every sentence\u003c\/b\u003e... a testament to the small, unsung acts of love and perseverance that have allowed gay bookshops to flourish in different times and places, and to change lives.' --James Cahill, author of \n\u003ci\u003eTiepolo Blue\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t' \n\u003cb\u003eA glorious celebration\u003c\/b\u003e of queer bookshops and their place in our community. \n\u003cb\u003eDelightful\u003c\/b\u003e.' --Jim McSweeney, bookseller at Gay's the Word since 1984\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t' \n\u003cb\u003eA beautiful browse\u003c\/b\u003e through spines of rebellion and shelves of acceptance - \n\u003cb\u003ethe vitality of the radicalism of the bookshop is perfectly captured and inspirational\u003c\/b\u003e.' --Robin Ince, co-host of BBC Radio 4's \n\u003ci\u003eThe Infinite Monkey Cage\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher Marketing\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eThe remarkable tale of how queer bookshops built communities, nourished minds, redefined literature - and changed the world\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFor over a century, LGBTQ+ bookshops have been the unsung heroes of queer liberation\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eHome not only to books but chaotic community noticeboards, vicious rescue cats and countless meet cutes, queer bookshops have always been more than \n\u003ci\u003ejust\u003c\/i\u003e bookshops, offering friendship, solidarity and sanctuary. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eTravelling the world - Shakespeare and Company in Paris, Gay's the Word in London, the Oscar Wilde Bookshop in New York - A. J. West explores the remarkable history of these bookstores. Tracing their evolution from under-the-counter operations to beloved out-and-proud institutions, West reveals how the queer bookshop stood at the vanguard of LGBTQ+ rights, offering support and vital information through the AIDS crisis and bringing the fight to Section 28 and book bans. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA powerful testament not only to bookshops but to the courage of queer booksellers, from Sylvia Beach hiding books from the Nazis in laundry baskets to Craig Rodwell facing off against the police at the Stonewall riots, A. J. West celebrates the shops and booksellers that brought queer literature and lives into the mainstream. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBookshops covered include: The Highlander \u0026amp; Dove, The Librarie Parisienne, Shakespeare and Company, City Lights Bookstore, The London Underground, Adonis Bookstore, The Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop, Glad Day, Lambda Rising, Giovanni's Room, A Different Light, Amazon Bookstore Cooperative, A Woman's Place Bookstore, Womanbooks, Sisterwrite, Modern Books, Housmans Bookshop, Prinz Eisenherz, Gay's The Word, Lavender Menace \u0026amp; West and Wilde, Vrolijk, Silver Moon, London, The Bookshop Darlinghurst, Paperxclips, Gay-on-Wye, Gayberystwyth Books.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eContributor Bio:\u003c\/strong\u003eWest, A J\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA. J. West\u003c\/b\u003e is an award-winning journalist and was the first openly gay BBC television newsreader in Northern Ireland. He is a former director of a national UK queer charity. His last novel \n\u003ci\u003eThe Betrayal of Thomas True\u003c\/i\u003e was a No.2 \n\u003ci\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestseller. He has written extensively about queer issues for \n\u003ci\u003eGay Times\u003c\/i\u003e, \n\u003ci\u003eAttitude\u003c\/i\u003e, the \n\u003ci\u003eIndependent\u003c\/i\u003e, \n\u003ci\u003eDaily Mail\u003c\/i\u003e, \n\u003ci\u003eSun\u003c\/i\u003e, \n\u003ci\u003eTelegraph\u003c\/i\u003e. He regularly appears on network television and radio as a panellist on current affairs programmes, often discussing queer topics.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n","brand":"Oneworld Publications","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51496185168150,"sku":"9781836431695","price":33.54,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0857\/9910\/8886\/files\/9781836431695.jpg?v=1783056986","url":"https:\/\/lusper.myshopify.com\/products\/how-queer-bookshops-changed-the-world","provider":"Lusperbooks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}