Bulgarian tendencies: The perils of publishing queer books

Thu 23 February 2023

Cambridge University Library

Join Cambridge University Library as we invite Justin Bengry, Director of the Centre for Queer History at Goldsmiths, to deliver this special talk to mark LGBT History Month.

Even in the first decades of the twentieth century, Edward Carpenter, Rose Allatini, and Radclyffe Hall’s defences of homogenic love, homosexuality, and sexual inversion illuminate the challenges encountered by authors and publishers whose books explored the lives and experiences of LGBTQ people. But these cases also illuminate how authors and publishers imagined potential queer markets for writings that promoted tolerance, understanding, and even advocated for change -- and why authorities found this dangerous.

Justin Bengry is Director of the Centre for Queer History at Goldsmiths, University of London where he also convenes the world's first MA in Queer History. He is a cultural historian specialising in queer history with particular interests in capitalism, local history, family history and policy surrounding the so-called 'gay pardon'. He is currently part of an international partnership researching LGBTQ+ experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Justin is completing a book on the history of the pink pound.

Arrive from 5pm to view a small display of items from the library’s printed and archival collections, highlighting some of the stories of LGBTQ authors covered in the talk. Please note that this event is not being live streamed or recorded.

Cost: Free