Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution Paperback – May 25, 2010

A Definitive Account of the Stonewall Riots

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Robert in NY

June 24, 2009

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

The so-called Stonewall riots occurred over a period of a week, perhaps ignited in part by the June 28 police raid having been the second in the same week. (The first was on a Tuesday night).

Although I was present that night, and on many of the following nights, I was until last week not aware of this book's existence. Frankly, almost every account I had read previously was misinformed at best.

I heard about the book only because I saw an exhibit at the New York Public Library ("1969: The Year of Gay Liberation") and decided to read it. I'm so glad I did.

Its one of few works of serious research that also tells a great story. And it is indeed thoroughly researched (and foot-noted) by Mr Carter. Since no one could possibly have been present on Christopher Street for every minute of every night of the riots, this page-turner tells the story as it unfolded.

It enabled me to finally piece together all the events into a cohesive image of a week to remember. I can certainly vouch for the books's accuracy insofar as I recall the events I witnessed in late June and early July.

For those interested in the LGBT history, this book is simply indispensible.

12 people found this helpful

An amazing insight into a vital part of the gay rights movement

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Michael Sheehan

October 25, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

In a nutshell, this is a superb account of a key event in LGBT+ history, and is a must-have for anyone who is even remotely interested in how the modern gay rights movement came to be.

Carter takes careful time to explain not merely the events of the riots, but also spends time laying out key background information and providing the historical context absolutely necessary to understanding what happened that June. In those first chapters a sense of grim hopelessness leaks out. Following this is an amazingly comprehensive accounts of those fateful nights, detailing not just what happened but showing how; we see in the accounting how the factors detailed in the first section fueled the events in the section, the role the geography played, the weight of anger built up over so many years of persecution. The section that follows, the aftermath and early years of the gay liberation movement, almost feel like a relief - such as when the sun emerges from a particularly nasty storm.

The work Carter has sunk into the book shows through clearly - not only the extremely lengthy source lists and bibliography, but the way he directly uses primary material and allows those who were present to speak in their own words throughout. There are twin passions at play here; not only to the importance of the riots, but a passion to be faithful to the reader and those involved and provide an accurate accounting. This makes it clear to everyone that the entire spectrum of the community was involved - although Carter is careful to note that certain groups and individuals played vital roles (the lesbian who fought the police and started the whole thing off, transgendered men and drag queens, and, of course, the gay homeless youths who formed the core of the front lines).

Importantly to the casual reader, Carter's writing style brings the participants and events alive. This book isn't just names and dates, a beige chronology blandly recorded in a dull high school history text - these are people; you can feel their fear and hope and anger echoing down to the present, nearly five decades later. I mentioned above a "sense of grim hopelessness" in the first section outlining the historical context - as you approach the nights of the riots, it's replaced with tension, and a palpable sense of rage barely held in check, giving way to cathartic relief and hope in the third section.

For anyone interested in the civil rights movements of America, or the gay rights movement, this book is vital; it's our history.

2 people found this helpful

Read the real history behind the myth

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leanleft

August 25, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

As lgbt rights have become something not to be mocked, but treasured, much mythology has risen up around the stonewall riots. Mr. Carter spent ten years researching the events of that week, interviewing people who were there for an as accurate as you can get history of the event that rocked U.S. history and the world. For any lgbt person who wants to know about their history, Mr. Carter's book is a must-read.

4 people found this helpful

Its a great read. Represents years of research.

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