Queer Biography
Discover compelling queer biography books, from Oscar Wilde's recollections to Quentin Crisp's iconic memoir. Explore LGBTQ+ lives in this curated biography list.
Book
Recollections of Oscar Wilde
by André Gide
Three men of literature - Nobel Prize winner Andre Gide, the French Ernest La Jeunesse and the German Franz Blei - present their "Recollections" of the last years of Oscar Wilde. this present little volume disclose some few facts from the man's life after leaving prison. The author of "De Profundis," after all the resolutions and conclusions in that document, reverted to his baser self, and died with his life fallen far below the altitude marked in the prison letters. That knowledge of a few is set forth in concrete, intimate manner in the pages of this book.
Book
The Naked Civil Servant
by Quentin Crisp
A comical and poignant memoir of a gay man living life as he pleased in the 1930s In 1931, gay liberation was not a movement—it was simply unthinkable. But in that year, Quentin Crisp made the courageous decision to "come out" as a homosexual. This exhibitionist with the henna-dyed hair was harrassed, ridiculed and beaten. Nevertheless, he claimed his right to be himself—whatever the consequences. The Naked Civil Servant is both a comic masterpiece and a unique testament to the resilience of the human spirit. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Book
Sex, Death, Enlightenment
by Mark Matousek
In a unique memoir, a gay man takes readers on a brave, roller-coaster journey as he attempts to face his demons, realize his dreams, and discover the true meaning of life and holiness. Reprint.