LGBT Historical Fiction

Mythica · Post by **Mythica** » Mon January 17th, 2011, 3:48 pm

Have you checked out the "gay historical" tag on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/tag/gay%20histori ... _t&store=1
There may be a lot of romance in there but honestly, I think what you're looking for is very specific and you won't find many non-romance novels with a gay hero set in the age of the sail. I think you'll have to sacrifice one of those criteria - but then again, I don't know much about the gay fiction genre.

But for example, I just thought of another novel which has a gay protagonist and I wouldn't consider it a romance (it has some romance in it but that is not the main theme). However, it's definitely not set in the age of the sail and half of it is actually set in modern day times. The half set in medieval times though is really well written and overshadows the modern part. It was "Book of Secrets" by Tom Harper.

Ash · Post by **Ash** » Mon January 17th, 2011, 4:18 pm

But most of what the people read here is European middle ages - tudor. I know I'm one of the very few people who like and enjoy American HF and who enjoy HF set during the 1850-1900. I'm in the minority, but I wave my banner high.

I don't agree, I think we are much more eclectic than that. However, I agree with Margaret - we can't start cutting up the board with threads on content, it would just get silly and unnavigable.

This is a good link for sailing books:

http://www.librarypoint.org/bm_historical_sailing

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Mon January 17th, 2011, 6:25 pm

[quote=""Ash""]But most of what the people read here is European middle ages - tudor. I know I'm one of the very few people who like and enjoy American HF and who enjoy HF set during the 1850-1900. I'm in the minority, but I wave my banner high.

I don't agree, I think we are much more eclectic than that. However, I agree with Margaret - we can't start cutting up the board with threads on content, it would just get silly and unnavigable.

This is a good link for sailing books:

http://www.librarypoint.org/bm_historical_sailing[/quote]

I have to side with Ash, while a lot of main stream HF readers are stuck on the Tudors I don't think you'll find a lot of it here.

annis · Post by **annis** » Mon January 17th, 2011, 6:49 pm

Hi Kujakapoet

You might find some links to follow up here, though i haven't checked them out myself, so can't confirm how useful they are.
http://duskpeterson.com/renaultetal/index.htm

If you're at all interested in novels set in antiquity you might enjoy Mary Renault's novels or Paul Waters books, which all feature a gay partnership.
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/w/paul-waters/

Divia · Post by **Divia** » Mon January 17th, 2011, 6:58 pm

[quote=""Ash""]
I don't agree, I think we are much more eclectic than that. However, I agree with Margaret - we can't start cutting up the board with threads on content, it would just get silly and unnavigable.

[/quote]

[quote=""Misfit""]I have to side with Ash, while a lot of main stream HF readers are stuck on the Tudors I don't think you'll find a lot of it here.[/quote]

Disagree all you like, but the majority of BOTM are EUROPEAN HF. Like it or lump it thats the way it is. I dont know how many times I have thrown out American HF and its almost always overlooked. Hell, My name is Mary hardly had a discussion and it was one of the best books of the year.

I know that we read different things. I'm not saying this MB is strictly European HF, but it heavily leans that way. That's not a bad thing or a good thing it is what it is.

SGM · Post by **SGM** » Mon January 17th, 2011, 9:10 pm

When I search for novels on the English Civil War, I keep coming across a novel called Transgressions by Erastes which sounds, from the Amazon blurb, like it fits your criteria although I suspect minus ships.

But I know nothing else about it.

Ash · Post by **Ash** » Mon January 17th, 2011, 9:34 pm

[quote=""Divia""]Disagree all you like, but the majority of BOTM are EUROPEAN HF.[/quote]

You're probably right there, but when you look at all that we are reading in all the threads and the variety of eras and places we are reading about, I don't think its all European HF.

What is MB?

wendy · Post by **wendy** » Tue January 18th, 2011, 1:36 pm

[quote=""kujakupoet""]I'm not actually interested in romance, I'm interested in the Age of Sail. Being gay myself I would really like to read a book with a hero I can relate to. After all, don't we all put ourselves in the hero's shoes and imagine that we are there? It's tiresome when they're always bedding women or punching gay guys in the nose to prove how manly they are. 18th century stuff with gay characters would be especially appreciated. If there are sailing ships involved, so much the better.[/quote]

A minor (though important) character in my forthcoming pirate novel is based on the historically gay businessman, Pierre Bouspeut. He interacts with Anne Bonny, Jack Rackham, and my heroine - Blackbeard's 13th wife - and basically runs the commerce on the pirate republic of Nassau. He dabbles in piracy when interested in a specific prize. He doesn't bed any women or punch out gay guys - and this is definitely NOT a romance. If this sounds interesting, please check out Fire on Dark Water - I'd love to have your feedback when you've read it!

fljustice · Post by **fljustice** » Tue January 18th, 2011, 4:14 pm

Others have mentioned Sarah Waters who has lesbian protagonists in all/most of her books. Diana Gabaldon also has a gay protagonist in her Lord John series, a spin off of a supporting character from her Outlander series set in mid 1700's. I read Lord John and the Private Matter a couple of years ago and enjoyed it. I don't recall there was much sex, although there were several scenes set in brothels (both straight and gay) as part of the sleuthing. It's a HF mystery novel which happens to feature a gay man. There are two more in the series, but I' haven't read them.

kujakupoet · Post by **kujakupoet** » Tue January 18th, 2011, 5:45 pm

I have searched through Amazon, but there's a lot of romance, porn, etc. I joined this board in hopes that discussions with other people would hook me up with book recommendations by people who have read them. I shall track down the Fingersmith book, for example. That one sounds interesting.

I also read the reviews at Speak Its Name, which is dedicated to gay historical fiction, mostly romance. I also participate in Astrodene's Historic Naval Fiction forums, which is all nautical fiction. I was hoping this forum would know things I don't :)

~K~

[quote=""Mythica""]Have you checked out the "gay historical" tag on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/tag/gay%20histori ... _t&store=1
There may be a lot of romance in there but honestly, I think what you're looking for is very specific and you won't find many non-romance novels with a gay hero set in the age of the sail. I think you'll have to sacrifice one of those criteria - but then again, I don't know much about the gay fiction genre.
[/quote]