Leila J. Rupp

This book is composed of historical anecdotes that highlight the messy notions of identity centering around same sex love in modern America. This is not a text to consult if you are looking for any sort of thorough historical analysis or theoretical discussion. There is minor elaboration about theoretical arguments relevant to the events and people discussed, but they are more of a frame than a focus as none of the questions posed are discussed at any great length. If a reader is searching show more for a series of anecdotes about same-sex love in nineteenth and twentieth century America, this serves as a good introductory text for the history student or someone new to the field of queer studies. show less

While much of the text concerns women's issues, there is plenty of historical attention to all same-sex relationships to make the book and important read for all LGBT individuals.

First book to explore the persistence of the American women's rights movement in a period generally considered deovoid of feminist activism and to show the ways in which the more radical movement of the 1960s was influenced by the successes and failures of the 1950s activities.