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Gay Berlin

Birthplace of a Modern Identity

Robert Beachy

$39.99

Paperback

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English
Random House Inc
02 November 2015
"Long known for the friendly company of its ""warm brothers"" (German slang for men who love other men), before the turn of the twentieth-century, Berlin was a place where educators, activists, and medical professionals could explore and begin to educate both themselves and Europe about new and emerging sexual identities. It was a city of firsts--the first sex reassignment surgeries, (arguably) the first openly gay man--that molded our modern understanding of sexual orientation and gay identity. In Gay Berlin, Robert Beachy deftly guides readers through past events and developments that continue to shape and influence the way we think about sexuality to this day. Surprising and informative, Gay Berlin is a groundbreaking and foundational cultural examination of human sexuality.

Winner of Randy Shilts Award

In the half century before the Nazis rose to power, Berlin became the undisputed gay capital of the world. Activists and medical professionals made it a city of firsts-the first gay journal, the first homosexual rights organization, the first Institute for Sexual Science, the first sex reassignment surgeries-exploring and educating themselves and the rest of the world about new ways of understanding the human condition. In this fascinating examination of how the uninhibited urban culture of Berlin helped create our categories of sexual orientation and gender identity, Robert Beachy guides readers through the past events and developments that continue to shape and influence our thinking about sex and gender to this day."

By:  
Imprint:   Random House Inc
Country of Publication:   United States
Dimensions:   Height: 202mm,  Width: 131mm,  Spine: 19mm
Weight:   266g
ISBN:   9780307473134
ISBN 10:   0307473139
Pages:   352
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active

Robert Beachy was trained as a German historian at the University of Chicago, where he received his PhD in 1998. He is presently associate professor of history at the Underwood International College of Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. From the Hardcover edition.

Reviews for Gay Berlin: Birthplace of a Modern Identity

Winner of the 2015 Randy Shilts Award Excellent and richly documented. . . . Beachy's work must [be] considered in the larger context of a shift in cultural studies. . . . Fascinating. --V.R. Berghahn, The New York Times Book Review Beachy enlarges our understanding of how the international gay-rights movement eventually prospered, despite the setbacks that it experienced not only in Nazi Germany but also in mid-century America. --The New Yorker A very good, serious, detailed, scholarly work of history by an excellent researcher who has clearly done his homework--and then some. --San Francisco Chronicle A superb work of historical reclamation-by far the best account we have of the formative years of homosexual identity and emancipation, it is brilliantly researched and beautifully written. --Martin Duberman, Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus, CUNY Winner of the 2015 Randy Shilts Award Excellent and richly documented. . . . Beachy s work must [be] considered in the larger context of a shift in cultural studies. . . . Fascinating. V.R. Berghahn, The New York Times Book Review Beachy enlarges our understanding of how the international gay-rights movement eventually prospered, despite the setbacks that it experienced not only in Nazi Germany but also in mid-century America. The New Yorker A very good, serious, detailed, scholarly work of history by an excellent researcher who has clearly done his homework and then some. San Francisco Chronicle A superb work of historical reclamation by far the best account we have of the formative years of homosexual identity and emancipation, it is brilliantly researched and beautifully written. Martin Duberman, Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus, CUNY Winner of the 2015 Randy Shilts Award Excellent and richly documented. . . . Beachy s work must [be] considered in the larger context of a shift in cultural studies. . . . Fascinating. V.R. Berghahn, The New York Times Book Review Beachy enlarges our understanding of how the international gay-rights movement eventually prospered, despite the setbacks that it experienced not only in Nazi Germany but also in mid-century America. The New Yorker A very good, serious, detailed, scholarly work of history by an excellent researcher who has clearly done his homework and then some. San Francisco Chronicle A superb work of historical reclamation by far the best account we have of the formative years of homosexual identity and emancipation, it is brilliantly researched and beautifully written. Martin Duberman, Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus, CUNY Winner of the 2015 Randy Shilts Award Excellent and richly documented. . . . The significance of Beachy's book goes beyond his findings on the German roots of the conclusion that homosexuality is a biologically fixed trait. Beachy's work must also be considered in the larger context of a shift in cultural studies. V.R. Berghahn, New York Times Book Review Beachy's cultivation of the 'other' Germany, heterogeneous and progressive, is especially welcome. . . . At the same time, Beachy enlarges our understanding of how the international gay-rights movement eventually prospered, despite the setbacks that it experienced not only in Nazi Germany but also in mid-century America. Alex Ross, The New Yorker An elucidating, somewhat startling study of how early German tolerance and liberalism encouraged homosexual expression. . . . A brave new work of compelling research. Kirkus This lucidly written narrative includes enough spice (accounts of scandals, secret identities, and crimes) to draw in a general readership. However, Beachy s deeply researched, carefully structured book is foremost an impressive piece of scholarship. Publishers Weekly (starred) A superb work of historical reclamation by far the best account we have of the formative years of homosexual identity and emancipation, it is brilliantly researched and beautifully written. Martin Duberman, Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus, CUNY From the Hardcover edition. Excellent and richly documented. . . . The significance of Beachy's book goes beyond his findings on the German roots of the conclusion that homosexuality is a biologically fixed trait. Beachy's work must also be considered in the larger context of a shift in cultural studies. -V.R. Berghahn, New York Times Book Review Beachy's cultivation of the 'other' Germany, heterogeneous and progressive, is especially welcome. . . . At the same time, Beachy enlarges our understanding of how the international gay-rights movement eventually prospered, despite the setbacks that it experienced not only in Nazi Germany but also in mid-century America. -Alex Ross, The New Yorker An elucidating, somewhat startling study of how early German tolerance and liberalism encouraged homosexual expression. . . . A brave new work of compelling research. - Kirkus This lucidly written narrative includes enough spice (accounts of scandals, secret identities, and crimes) to draw in a general readership. However, Beachy's deeply researched, carefully structured book is foremost an impressive piece of scholarship. -Publishers Weekly (starred) A superb work of historical reclamation-by far the best account we have of the formative years of homosexual identity and emancipation, it is brilliantly researched and beautifully written. -Martin Duberman, Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus, CUNY From the Hardcover edition.


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