Books read in 2019: No. 24 -- Homosexuality in Renaissance England

by Alan Bray

Started: March 25
Finished: March 29

Notes: While perusing a used book store, I was drawn to this book by its the uncommon subject and its focus upon a relatively narrow region and period of time in history. Originally published in 1982, perhaps it will escape the more-modern political trappings of both left and right. Either way, I expect to find this one interesting and eye opening.

Mini review: This book leans toward the scholarly, but it's written straight enough for a broader audience to understand it. That being said, there are still historical and philosophical references the common reader is probably not going to understand without hitting wikipedia. The writing itself aside, this does prove to be an interesting look at mainly male homosexuality at one particular time and place in history. Apparently until the end of the Renaissance period, homosexuality in England (and possibly Europe and other parts of the world) was quite different than modern notions of homosexuality. Homosexual acts, as we would understand them, did indeed occur, as can be expected, but there really wasn't a homosexual culture or society as we would know it. Homosexual acts were almost a random thing, to some extent even accidental in a manner of speaking. There were no groups of homosexual men, at least none in numbers, who associated with one another, who met in public or private, at least not with their homosexuality being at the forefront of their thought and agendas. Establishments did not exist where homosexuals as individuals or groups could frequent clubs and taverns and the like which catered to them, relatively safe places where they could carouse and find friendship and yes, sex. However, such places did come into existence right after the Renaissance period. Also, the law and even violence visited upon homosexuals became much more strong at about the same time. Why? Perhaps because homosexual men had literally been hidden before but now had places to call their own. At least that's how this book seems to present things. But what brought about all these changes right after the Renaissance? The author here suggests it was more of a philosophical change that was affecting all of society. Names like Locke and Hume are brought up, and with no little reason. What was that change? Individualism.