Customer Reviews

The Columbia Anthology of Gay Literature

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is almost operatic in scale; from the most ancient to the most modern literary sources, it sweeps through the opus of gay and lesbian literary creation. In a field, and at a time, where the historical sexuality of writers is still so often censored (through omission or commission) by the whole chain of the academic and publishing and book sales industry, this work tells us what should REALLY be on the shelf in your local bookstore under "Gay and Lesbian" other than the current line-up of soft-core trash. Knowing a place in a tradition or a larger story of a community of ideas, is fundamental to every individual and community identity, and as a gay man, this volume made me even prouder of the intellectual and creative contribution men and women of my community have made....forever..! You don't need to read it from cover to cover (after all it contains an immense volume of material), but I am promising myself time to do just that as soon as possible. The pure pride of holding it in your hands and leafing through it, is worth every cent of the substantial cost.

This is a readable and interesting book not only for westerner but also for us Japanese. However I would like to read much more on Greek and Latin literatures. And next time more comprehensive volume including Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Persian and Arabic anthologies I hope to read.

In addition, the editor didn't understand the Greek language well, since he erroneously thought that " Amores " of Lucianos(p.23-24) is different work from " Affairs of the Heart " of (Pseudo)Lucianos(p.49-).

No matter what your lifestyle or who in the past had one that was the same, all the authors in this book are easily some of the most brilliant minds on the planet. I can easily say that with every word one can become drunk with literature and it is a delight to do so here with this anthology~! I'll have another cup of knowledge please~!