Reviews
"A must-read for anyone interested in the history of drag performance."—Publishers Weekly
"An excellent examination of the complexities of various forms of stage drag and its mainstay role in British popular culture."—Library Journal
"A new look at the history of drag. . . . Bloomfield illustrates how drag has long been a complex yet ‘ordinary’ artform, historically straddling queer radicalism and mass entertainment along the way."—ArtReview
"
Drag: A British History is a foundational work. It tells a great story, commands a wide array of sources, and maintains a clear sense of purpose.
Drag is of significant value to theater history, British studies, and cultural studies of drag."—Lisa Sigel, author of
The People's Porn: A History of Handmade Pornography in America "This first sustained and systematic academic history of drag in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Britain is written with a clear sense of how drag's nature, reception, and regulation have changed radically over time and have varied dramatically depending on its content and location. A wonderful read that has the potential to make a real impact on academic and nonacademic audiences alike."—Matt Houlbrook, author of
Queer London: Perils and Pleasures in the Sexual Metropolis, 1918–1957
"Erudite and extraordinarily informative, this is also an incredible read. Jacob Bloomfield's deep dive into the unfolding cavalcade of nineteenth- and twentieth-century theatrical history, queer cultures, evolving understandings of sex and gender, and the emotional thrill of masquerade is intellectually vibrant and compelling. A must-read for fans of drag, queer historians, and mavens of popular culture."—Michael Bronski, author of A Queer History of the United States
"Bloomfield's meticulously researched and beautifully written history of British drag is a joy to read, illuminating, contextualizing, and, indeed, rescuing this neglected strand of sexual and cultural history."—Neil McKenna, author of Fanny and Stella: The Young Men Who Shocked Victorian England
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