maxwelldemay's review against another edition
3.0
2 / 4 : If you have time, read
[Windows into the gay life in Chicago post-Civil War to the 1960s]
Fairy Town's main interest is in following the development of queer identity. As implied in the title, that history is not straight forward, progress comes and progress goes, and sexual identity remains flexible.
John Bull's diary entries start the book with a bang, offering an intimate insight further chapters don't quite reach.
NON-FICTION
[Windows into the gay life in Chicago post-Civil War to the 1960s]
Fairy Town's main interest is in following the development of queer identity. As implied in the title, that history is not straight forward, progress comes and progress goes, and sexual identity remains flexible.
John Bull's diary entries start the book with a bang, offering an intimate insight further chapters don't quite reach.
NON-FICTION
archytas's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.25
Like a lot of histories about those who marginalised in their time, this is building on scant records. Elledge has mined the work of those researching the topic thoroughly, and the stories here are illuminating and moving. This is a community of joy, love and, of course, pain that comes to life in scattered glimpses through time.
Unfortunately, where there is scant information, we tend to fill the gaps with our own assumptions. This is difficult with gender, where social assumptions are always changing. Elledge's consistent uses of terms like "female impersonator" - even for those living as women - tend to flatten a conversation about gender. Similarly, while there are frequent hints of racial divides and bridges across them (including hints that interracial relationships were more likely to attract prosecution than same-gendered ones) Elledge does not explore the racial politics of "fairy town", leaving frustrating gaps.
Unfortunately, where there is scant information, we tend to fill the gaps with our own assumptions. This is difficult with gender, where social assumptions are always changing. Elledge's consistent uses of terms like "female impersonator" - even for those living as women - tend to flatten a conversation about gender. Similarly, while there are frequent hints of racial divides and bridges across them (including hints that interracial relationships were more likely to attract prosecution than same-gendered ones) Elledge does not explore the racial politics of "fairy town", leaving frustrating gaps.
urine_blonde's review against another edition
4.0
"The fact that there was a large queer presence - visible or not - in Chicago before the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, and that it grew by leaps and bounds, becoming quite visible in the mid-1920s, shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, and yet it usually does. What we've been told for so long - that all queer men, regardless of when they lived, had miserable, isolated, and utterly desperate lives... - are lies."
Always important to remember that gay history didn't start with Stonewall! This was an eye-opening look at queer lives in the late 19th and early 20th century. Fascinating to read diary excerpts, and to hear about early gay liberation figures.
Especially interesting in conjunction with [b:The Lavender Scare: The Cold War Persecution of Gays and Lesbians in the Federal Government|206541|The Lavender Scare The Cold War Persecution of Gays and Lesbians in the Federal Government|David K. Johnson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388299163s/206541.jpg|1867112], which I read earlier this year, and picks up - chronologically, if not geographically - where Elledge leaves off.
Always important to remember that gay history didn't start with Stonewall! This was an eye-opening look at queer lives in the late 19th and early 20th century. Fascinating to read diary excerpts, and to hear about early gay liberation figures.
Especially interesting in conjunction with [b:The Lavender Scare: The Cold War Persecution of Gays and Lesbians in the Federal Government|206541|The Lavender Scare The Cold War Persecution of Gays and Lesbians in the Federal Government|David K. Johnson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388299163s/206541.jpg|1867112], which I read earlier this year, and picks up - chronologically, if not geographically - where Elledge leaves off.
eriknoteric's review
3.0
Who knew that Chicago was the American sister to Weimar era Berlin? Spanning decades before the Pansy Craze through it's polar opposite, the post-pansy scare, Jim Elledge's deeply-researched account of Chicago's queer scene during these 100 years puts Chicago back on the queer historical map.
Too often Chicago plays the understudy to her gayer sisters on the coasts, but Jim Elledge gives us reason to reconsider why Chicago has played such a pivotal role in the development of Queer America. From female impersonators who freely walked through the loop, to "pansies" - men who wore men's clothing but also make-up, queer life in Chicago was open and much popularized during the roaring 10s and 20s.
Elledge's book will make you reconsider what you know about Queer America and help you see that before Chicago became the conservative Midwestern city, it was the working class sexually progressive city that gave voice to men who went against the gendered grain.
Too often Chicago plays the understudy to her gayer sisters on the coasts, but Jim Elledge gives us reason to reconsider why Chicago has played such a pivotal role in the development of Queer America. From female impersonators who freely walked through the loop, to "pansies" - men who wore men's clothing but also make-up, queer life in Chicago was open and much popularized during the roaring 10s and 20s.
Elledge's book will make you reconsider what you know about Queer America and help you see that before Chicago became the conservative Midwestern city, it was the working class sexually progressive city that gave voice to men who went against the gendered grain.
kody's review
3.0
The author seemed to attempt to tell both general trends as well as personal stories of queer men in Chicago, while failing to do a great job in either. The author also failed to recognize trans history, including people in the historical accounts vitally in the book. There was one person (who we might now recognize as a trans woman) who specifically made requests upon her death indicating she didn’t want her gender identity questioned. The author, however, consistently used masculine pronouns etc. in telling her story.
Overall, I had high hopes for this book, but was generally underwhelmed.
Overall, I had high hopes for this book, but was generally underwhelmed.
hatingongodot's review
4.0
This book is a must-read for those who are interested in queer and/or Chicago history. I know I definitely have a tendency to associate LGBT culture with the late 20th century at best, and reading this book and learning about the way gay men navigated the societies of the late 19th and early 20th centuries was a humbling and enriching experience.
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