Book cover of Loving: A Photographic History of Men in Love 1850s-1950s

Book description

Loving: A Photographic History of Men in Love, 1850-1950 portrays the history of romantic love between men in hundreds of moving and tender vernacular photographs taken between the years 1850 and 1950. This visual narrative of astonishing sensitivity brings to light an until-now-unpublished collection of hundreds of snapshots, portraits, and…


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Why read it?

2 authors picked Loving as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I can’t take my eyes off this collection of gorgeous historical photographs of affectionate queer couples from 1850 to 1950. Nini and Treadwell scoured libraries and personal collections to create this visual testament to gay love. Their painstaking digitization of often fragile originals created a unique archive, one that we can all share on our coffee tables.

I loved the book so much that I obtained permission from Nini and Treadwell to reprint one of their images as the frontispiece of Fierce Desires! We, too, rarely get to see these snapshots of queer affection, but they are beautiful to…

Emotionally and historically, I was drawn into this astounding collection of riveting images. Through the direct gaze of the subjects, I could feel the love and tenderness they had for each other.

Frank and honest I felt like I was actually sitting across from the subjects while they were photographed. They all seemed so comfortable, open and free, even though living under the yoke of crushing social constraints that were hovering outside the frame.

If you love Loving...

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December on 5C4 by Adam Strassberg,

Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!

On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…

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