Amazon.com: Queers in History: The Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Historical Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals eBook: Keith Stern, Ian McKellen: Kindle Store
Start reading Queers in History on your Kindle in under a minute. Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.

Deliver to your Kindle or other device

 
 
 

Try it free

Sample the beginning of this book for free

Deliver to your Kindle or other device

Read books on your computer or other mobile devices with our FREE Kindle Reading Apps.
Queers in History: The Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Historical Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals
 
 

Queers in History: The Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Historical Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals [Kindle Edition]

Keith Stern , Ian McKellen
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

Digital List Price: $2.99 What's this?
Print List Price: $19.95
Kindle Price: $2.69 includes free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet
You Save: $17.26 (87%)

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition $2.69  
Paperback $15.25  


Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Queers in History is the first comprehensive biographical compendium of important historical and contemporary figures who were/are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. From Egyptian pharaohs, Catholic popes and Abraham Lincoln to Bishop Gene Robinson, Neil Patrick Harris and Angelina Jolie, Queers in History brings these figures, from their work to their sexuality, to life.

The hundreds of people whose stories appear in this book are some of the most intriguing personalities of their times: actors and actresses, writers and musicians, businessmen and politicians, scientists and soldiers. But this irresistibly readable encyclopedia intended for gays and straights alike doesn’t just report those details that get left out of the standard biographies; it reveals a fascinating picture of queer society and culture throughout recorded history, from the homosexual traditions practiced by samurai in Japan to the modern struggles for equal rights in America. Sir Ian McKellen offers a foreword.

About the Author

Keith Stern has produced some of the most popular biographical Web sites on the Internet. Since 1997 he has been collaborating with Sir Ian McKellen on the actor's autobiographical Web site, McKellen.com. He has also produced official Web sites for Lynn Redgrave, Sean Astin, Andy Serkis, Spinal Tap, the film "Gods and Monsters" and others for movie stars and movies. Stern started in the music business as a musician followed by several years with Warner Bros Records in field promotion, public relations, A&R and IT. In 1979 in Charlotte, North Carolina he transformed "The Milestone" into a showcase punk rock/new wave music venue and in 1981 with Ben Clark, he opened a larger venue "Viceroy Park." As an independent promoter, he produced many early concerts for punk/new wave acts including R.E.M., The Ramones, The Go-Go's, Iggy Pop, Bow Wow Wow and Joan Jett. His screenplay "Freezing Time" will be filmed in 2009, starring Andy Serkis ("Lord of the Rings," "King Kong"). Keith currently lives in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Product Details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 18310 KB
  • Publisher: BenBella Books (September 1, 2009)
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B003UBAWX6
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #33,178 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  •  Would you like to give feedback on images?


 

Customer Reviews

7 Reviews
5 star:
 (4)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Questionable Credibility, June 14, 2010
By 
M. Johnson (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
Queers in History is best described as the hybrid of an encyclopedia and a gossip column. It's certainly entertaining in places, but I'm not convinced that all of the claims are credible. I wish there were more discussion of the sources that led to the author's conclusions. Also, the book contains many individuals who had just a single homosexual experience; I don't know if that necessarily qualifies them as queer.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Who? What? WOW!, October 16, 2009
I could not put this book down, it's like a bag of potato chips; once you start, you can't stop. The importance of this book is in the title "Queers in History", what made them famous, infamous, was not just their sexuality but their sense of purpose. But did their sexuality play an important part in it? Most likely because what drives gay, straight, bi people are their goals in life, and their decisions in life are made emotionally, what they feel, what they need, what fuels their passions.

Keith Stern's book is not just a historical look at homosexuality but it brings to the forefront what is the common denominator of us all, the search for our own "place in the world". I highly recommend this book as a gift to all your straight, gay, bi, transexual friends and as a book to place on the coffee table to start lively conversations at any social gathering.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars GLBT's contribution to society is substantial, June 4, 2011
By 
Ellen P (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews
This book is fun to read, I also hardly could put it down and it has a reference function as well. The author Keith Stern inserted a quite a number of surprises, but most of all the book is making us all aware how GLBTs enriched our civilization, having contributed substantially to society and the arts. Our world would not have been the same without this input and creativity. Highly recommended!
By the way, don't lend it out to friends, hard to get back. I am now buying this as a gift to them.

For you Kindlers out there have a look here;
Queers in History: The Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Historical Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews





Only search this product's reviews



More About the Author

Keith Stern has produced some of the most popular biographical websites on the Internet. Since 1997 he has been collaborating with Ian McKellen on that actor's autobiographical website, McKellen.com. He also has also produced websites for Lynn Redgrave (Redgrave.com), Sean Astin (SeanAstin.com), Andy Serkis (Serkis.com), Spinal Tap (SpinalTap.com), Gods and Monsters (GodsAndMonsters.net) and others for movie stars and movies.

Stern started in the music business as a musician followed by several years with Warner Bros Records in field promotion, public relations, A&R, and IT. In 1979 in Charlotte, North Carolina, he transformed "The Milestone" into a showcase punk rock/new wave music venue and in 1981 with Ben Clark, he opened a larger venue "Viceroy Park." As an independent promoter, he produced many early concerts for punk/new wave acts including R.E.M., The Ramones, The Go-Go's, Iggy Pop, Bow Wow Wow, and Joan Jett.

In 1993 Stern published Queers in History on CD-ROM, one of the first "new media" titles to be sold through bookstores. The contents included 850 biographies of historical personages who were gay, lesbian, or bisexual. It also included a trivia game, "Queeries." A new trade paperback edition of Queers in History was published by BenBella Books in 2009.

Stern has written a feature-length screenplay, Freezing Time, based on the life of pioneering photographer Eadweard Muybridge which will be produced in 2011.

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Popular Highlights

 (What's this?)
&quote;
Albinos arent reproached for having pink eyes and whitish hair, why should they hold it against me for being a lesbian? Its a question of nature: my queerness isnt a vice, isnt deliberate, and harms no one. What do I care, after all, if they vilify or judge me according to their prejudices? &quote;
Highlighted by 5 Kindle users
&quote;
Given the controversy surrounding gay Boy Scouts, its worth noting that the founder of the camping organization was himself strongly attracted to young boys and repulsed by female sexuality. &quote;
Highlighted by 4 Kindle users
&quote;
Sacred Band of Thebes, an elite corps of 150 pairs of gay lovers founded by Gorgidas. The idea behind the Army of Lovers was that men would fight more bravely if they were in the company of their beloved. &quote;
Highlighted by 3 Kindle users

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums



Look for Similar Items by Category