One Hundred Years of Homosexuality: And Other Essays on Greek Love (New Ancient World Series) [Paperback]

David M Halperin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415900972 | ISBN-13: 978-0415900973 | Publication Date: November 15, 1989

Halperin's subject is the erotics of male culture in ancient Greece. Arguing that the modern concept of "homosexuality" is an inadequate tool for the interpretation of these features of sexual life in antiquity, Halperin offers an alternative account that accords greater prominence to the indigenous terms in which sexual experiences were constituted in the ancient Mediterranean world. Wittily and provocatively written, Halperin's meticulously drawn windows onto ancient sexuality give us a new meaning to the concept of "Greek love."

Editorial Reviews

Review

the single most important contribution to the interpretation of gay history in nearly a decade. -- Outweek
the most significant study of Greek homosexuality since the pioneering work of K.J. Dover...This rich and stimulating book has something to offer to the general reader of Homer and Plato as well as to the specialized theorist of human sexuality. Halperin's research is very much on the cutting edge of classical studies and is sure to be an influence in the field for years to come. -- Classical World
all very fine essays, characterized by meticulous scholarship and a great deal of fresh insight. -- Journal of the History of Sexuality
Carries out, with careful scholarly arguments and a judicious, wide-ranging use of evidence, the project Foucault mapped out in the second volume of his History of Sexuality . . . Clear and incisive, these essays are probably the best available introduction for the general reader to the issues raised by Foucault's work. --Martha Nussbaum, TLS
[Halperin] is a brilliant polemicist . . . it is hard to imagine a more eloquent and well-informed presentation of his point of view. And the passion and dash of his prose serve to remind us that what is in question is not only theory but the beliefs and behaviors of real human beings. -- Mark Golden, Classical Views
the best kind of work being produced as the fruit of about 15 years of serious scholarship on homosexuality...serious, sensitive, erudite yet passionate. -- Bay Windows
a tremendous acomplishment...among the very best works that have emerged from lesbian/gay studies...bold, witty, and densely packed with powerful interpretations. -- Gay Community News
exemplary...a crucial work in gay studies. -- Dare
a treasure-trove. -- Andrew Holleran, Christopher Street
required reading for every gay activist living today. -- Bay Area Reporter
shoddy...outrageous...slushy...verbose and incoherent...jerky, leaden, fragmented, backtracking...grotesquely convoluted...tortured, bloated, meandering, pretentious, confused. -- Camille Paglia, Arion

About the Author

David M. Halperin is Professor of Literature at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Routledge (November 15, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415900972
• ISBN-13: 978-0415900973
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #472,824 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #73 in Books > Gay & Lesbian > Literature & Fiction > Literary Criticism

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but ideologically wrong-headed, December 30, 2008

By 

Neil Ronan C. - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Hundred Years of Homosexuality: And Other Essays on Greek Love (New Ancient World Series) (Paperback)

Halperin's work is essentially ideological, as I suspect he would admit. He believes first and then argues. His reading of the primary sources reflects his biases, and his arguments based on Greek vocabulary are weak and based on a lot of semantic trickery. If you are interested in sexuality in the ancient world, you have to read Halperin, but only those that start from his own ideological assumptions will be convinced he has said anything important.

6 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid Compendium, February 5, 2002

By 

M. Blancett "ArtAesthete" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: One Hundred Years of Homosexuality: And Other Essays on Greek Love (New Ancient World Series) (Paperback)

This was given to me by a friend. I have found it to be indespensible in my readings as a great place to start looking for information on Greek Homosexuality. The bibliography is top-notch. Highly recommended for any historian or philosopher of the Greek era, and any gay person interested in the history of homosexuality.

4 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A classic gay studies text! You must buy it., September 13, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: One Hundred Years of Homosexuality: And Other Essays on Greek Love (New Ancient World Series) (Paperback)

This book is a canonical gay studies text. Halperin is a respected academic in both the classics and gay studies. The term "homosexuality" was invented a little over a century ago. Thus, anything before that time has to be analyzed in perspective. Halperin looks at the classic writings of ancient Greek "homosexuals" and puts them into deep analysis. Halperin avoids a lot of the "essentialist" mistakes that John Boswell fell into with his Social Tolerance book. Dover's book has more cool photos in it, but Halperin's book is very worthwhile. It's a must-have for classics and gay readers.