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A review by lizabethstucker
Outlaw Marriages: The Hidden Histories of Fifteen Extraordinary Same-Sex Couples by Rodger Streitmatter
3.5
3.5 out of 5
As the title conveys, this is a collection of same-sex relationships, with a focus on the folks we might or might not recognize. Writers, actors, collectors, artists paired with people who were muses or with a similar interests.
If you're looking for in-depth details, this might not be the book for you. I would call this a sampler of the history of these couples, an overview of who they are, how they met, how they managed to mesh their personal and professional lives, and whether they managed to stay together as the years rolled on.
The author has, however, provided a wealth of footnotes with more detailed references that can expand on what happened in their lives. I did enjoy this look behind the heteronormative history we are usually given. For me the surprise wasn't in who was gay/bisexual/lesbian, it was how long most of them stayed together in times that were, frankly, dangerous for sexually loving relationships.
As the title conveys, this is a collection of same-sex relationships, with a focus on the folks we might or might not recognize. Writers, actors, collectors, artists paired with people who were muses or with a similar interests.
If you're looking for in-depth details, this might not be the book for you. I would call this a sampler of the history of these couples, an overview of who they are, how they met, how they managed to mesh their personal and professional lives, and whether they managed to stay together as the years rolled on.
The author has, however, provided a wealth of footnotes with more detailed references that can expand on what happened in their lives. I did enjoy this look behind the heteronormative history we are usually given. For me the surprise wasn't in who was gay/bisexual/lesbian, it was how long most of them stayed together in times that were, frankly, dangerous for sexually loving relationships.