From large cities to rural communities, gay men have long been impassioned pioneers as keepers of culture: rescuing and restoring decrepit buildings, revitalizing blighted neighborhoods, saving artifacts and documents of historical significance. A Passion to Preserve explores this authentic and complex dimension of gay men’s lives by profiling early and contemporary preservationists from throughout the United States, highlighting contributions to the larger culture that gays are exceptionally inclined to make.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Compelling . . . stories and first-person accounts from gay men across the country . . . provide a colorful picture of a landscape that has not really been painted until now.”—The Advocate
“A concept at once original and yet so obvious it is surprising that no one has attempted it before.”—Library Journal
“A rich and detailed examination of an important and heretofore neglected aspect of our urban heritage.”—Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class
"Anyone who shares a love of the past will undoubtedly find this book inspirational and moving. Will Fellows has done an excellent job of...recounting the exploits of past 'bachelor uncles' and 'temperamental men' who saved buildings from the wrecking ball of progress and urban renewal."—Bay Window
"Clearly Will Fellows has hit a nerve with many gay men, and many of them write about their collecting and preserving, from childhood on, often sacrificing friends, livelihoods, careers, and lovers to do so. As with his previous book, Farm Boys, Fellows presents the material in people's own voices as much as possible and the best of these essays (and there are many) are wonderfully readable capsule biographies and histories."—Darden A. Pyron, author of Liberace: An American Boy
“A concept at once original and yet so obvious it is surprising that no one has attempted it before.”—Library Journal
“A rich and detailed examination of an important and heretofore neglected aspect of our urban heritage.”—Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class
"Anyone who shares a love of the past will undoubtedly find this book inspirational and moving. Will Fellows has done an excellent job of...recounting the exploits of past 'bachelor uncles' and 'temperamental men' who saved buildings from the wrecking ball of progress and urban renewal."—Bay Window
"Clearly Will Fellows has hit a nerve with many gay men, and many of them write about their collecting and preserving, from childhood on, often sacrificing friends, livelihoods, careers, and lovers to do so. As with his previous book, Farm Boys, Fellows presents the material in people's own voices as much as possible and the best of these essays (and there are many) are wonderfully readable capsule biographies and histories."—Darden A. Pyron, author of Liberace: An American Boy
From the Back Cover
"The main strength of the project is the actual oral histories recorded here by the editor. Fellows is a wonderful preservationist himself; the book's impressive range of contributors speaks to the care and skill he brings to his work."--David Román, professor of English and American Studies, University of Southern California
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Fascinating and Insightful Read,
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This review is from: A Passion to Preserve: Gay Men as Keepers of Culture (Hardcover)
Congratulations to Will Fellows for writing a truly remarkable and highly enjoyable book!His account of his childhood and his attraction to antiques could have passed for my own. This is a subject that deserves the attention. In an age of assimilation, the author's research illuminates the gay and lesbian past and its contributions to the world at large. As the author explains; the irony is that in the process of preserving the historical architectural record, gay men erased their footprints, and like a detective, this collection of essays uncovers their tracks. I highly recommend this book.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Book,
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This review is from: A Passion to Preserve: Gay Men as Keepers of Culture (Hardcover)
I was watching a television preacher who is based in Roseville, California. His sermon was about how gays were destroying civilization and how, for that reason, his congregation should use California's Proposition 8 to deny California's gays equal rights and to make civil laws for everyone conform to the specific dictates of this gentleman's theology. I didn't believe the pastor at the time, but the comment about "destroying civilization" stuck in my mind. So, when I saw this book, I just had to read it to see how far the minister was "off the mark." One of the things that impressed me about this book is the chapter on Savannah, Georgia. The author says on page 80: "The official story in Savannah is that seven ladies--outraged, courageous, and fiercely resolved--joined together to save the 1820 Federal-style house and found the organization. As is typical, the uncommon men who worked with the ladies have been edited out of the story."So, now I can see how a television minister in Roseville, CA, (and others like him) gets the factually-challenged idea that gays are destroying civilization. It's simply because the contributions of "uncommon men" are often written out of historical accounts, as stated in this book. Therefore, this book goes a long way to fill a huge, educational void. All in all, a very good book, get a copy. You won't be disappointed.
4.0 out of 5 stars
A lively discussion book,
By
This review is from: A Passion to Preserve: Gay Men as Keepers of Culture (Paperback)
We selected this book for our gay book club and we had one of our liveliest discussions about it. Many saw themselves in it and we found his research and observations to be spot on, surprising that there were others who shared the same experiences and provocative. We also explored one member who didn't seem to fit the attributes described in the book (although he too enjoyed the book thoroughly). I'd highly recommend this book (and if you're short on reading time you could skip some of the stories in the middle and move to the conclusions in the end).
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