The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader (Paperback)

by Henry Abelove (Author) "The time has come to think about sex..." (more)
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Editorial Reviews

Review
"...an excellent compendium of an emerging field whose full scope escapes us all." -- The Lesbian and Gay Studies Newsletter - March 1994

"...this book offers a broad, diverse, challenging, serious introduction to a wide range of scholarship in the emerging field of gay and lesbian studies." -- Barbara Johnson, Harvard University

"This collection provides a valuable map of this new terrain, highlighting some of its most significant features, and pointing to exciting developments." -- Jeffrey Weeks, Professor of Social Relations, University of West of England, Bristol, author of Sexuality and Its Discontents

At a moment when homosexual rights are at issue in school curricula, political party conventions, state and city referendums, religious institutions, the military, and even St. Patricks Day parades, this book offers a broad, diverse, challenging, serious introduction to a wide range of scholarship in the emerging field of gay and lesbian studies. -- Barbara Johnson, Harvard University

Just a couple of decades ago the idea of a positive and creative lesbian and gay studies seemed a fantastical dream. Today it is an ever-expanding and exhilarating reality: a rivulet has become a mighty river, fertilizing all the traditional disciplines. This collection provides a valuable map of this new terrain, highlighting some of its most significant features, and pointing to exciting developments. Like all good guidebooks, it encourages us to explore further, to seek out the unknown, to see the old in fresh ways, and to cherish the new and innovative. -- Jeffrey Weeks, Professor of Social Relations, University of West of England, Bristol, author of Sexuality and Its Discontents

It would be difficult to summarize the eclectic contents of The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader, almost as difficult as it would be to summarize the subjects of study it seeks to document. The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader isnt an encyclopedia, nor does it pretend to be. It is however an excellent compendium of an emergin field whose full scope escapes us all. -- The Lesbian and Gay Studies Newsletter

At a moment when homosexual rights are at issue in school curricula, political party conventions, state and city referendums, religious institutions, the military, and even St. Patrick's Day parades, this book offers a broad, diverse, challenging, serious introduction to a wide range of scholarship in the emerging field of gay and lesbian studies. -- Barbara Johnson, Harvard University
Just a couple of decades ago the idea of a positive and creative lesbian and gay studies seemed a fantastical dream. Today it is an ever-expanding and exhilarating reality: a rivulet has become a mighty river, fertilizing all the traditional disciplines. This collection provides a valuable map of this new terrain, highlighting some of its most significant features, and pointing to exciting developments. Like all good guidebooks, it encourages us to explore further, to seek out the unknown, to see the old in fresh ways, and to cherish the new and innovative. -- Jeffrey Weeks, Professor of Social Relations, University of West of England, Bristol, author of Sexuality and Its Discontents
It would be difficult to summarize the eclectic contents of The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader, almost as difficult as it would be to summarize the subjects of study it seeks to document. The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader isn't an encyclopedia, nor does it pretend to be. It is however an excellent compendium of an emergin field whose full scope escapes us all. -- The Lesbian and Gay Studies Newsletter

Product Description
The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader is the most comprehensive multidisciplinary anthology of critical work in lesbian/gay studies. Bringing together forty-two groundbreaking essays--many of them already classics--this collection provides a much-needed introduction to the current state of lesbian/gay studies, and illustrates the diversity and power of current work in the field. Featuring essays by such prominent scholars as Judith Butler, John D'Emilio, Kobena Mercer, Adrienne Rich, Douglas Crimp and Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader explores a multitude of sexual, ethnic, racial and socio-economic experiences. It also contains an extensive bibliographical essay that serves as an invaluable guide to further reading.

Product Details

• Paperback: 688 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (April 19, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415905192
• ISBN-13: 978-0415905190
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #191,242 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A monumental achievement, October 2, 2000

By A Customer

This collection was the first of its kind when it came out in 1993. The three editors, all longtime advocates of queer scholarship, put together the Reader as an attempt to encourage new classes in queer studies. It was a resounding success, winning both a Lambda Literary award and notably being banned by Canadian customs.

The contributors to this volume are all well-respected names in their fields: John D'Emilio, Eve Sedgwick, Adrienne Rich, Judith Butler, Audre Lorde, and the editors themselves. There is impressive attention to including both people of color and strong lesbian voices, something many other similar collections have problems with.

The Reader is an excellent introduction to the field, although it is an academic text and can be a bit daunting for some. It works wonderfully for the purpose it was designed for, as a text for introductory classes. For those already immersed in the field, you obviously already own the book.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent queer/glbt studies/theory reader, November 6, 1998

By A Customer

For an excellent compilation of essays, papers, and writings on what we now call "Queer/Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, & Transgender Studies," this is your book. It has practically everything, including works by people of color. If you want to get academic and intellectual, here's where you might start. If you are already academic and intellectual, this book will be a welcome addition to your library. I read many of the pieces in this book for a class in college, and they were all highly thought-provoking and important. I consider this book to be one of the basic, necessary groundstones in my library of queer/lgbt studies books and readings. Thank god for Henry Abelove for putting this together!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Super book, January 30, 2006

By	Jackie (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

A well rounded book that should be on your shelf. The author has done made a beautiful compilation of material related to the topic. This is a ground breaking work and strongly recommended.