It could have been organized a little easier- I am a huge fan of authors listed alphabetically in each section- but overall this was a well researched and presented work. It serves as a reminder of how far literature has come. ( )

Each of the entries in this book discusses one or more novels in which a gay male character plays a significant role. The book is a good reminder that LGBT characters are not a recent invention, although the way they are portrayed has varied widely, both in terms of how explicit their sexuality is and in how positive or negative (mostly negative) they have been portrayed. In earlier works, making a character homosexual was often just a method of indicating that he is untrustworthy. But there are also more in-depth reflections on what it means to be gay.
Many of the works discussed in this book were written pseudonymously, and Gunn has done a diligent job of searching out information on the authors.

I'm an avid reader of both nonfiction and fiction LGBTQ themed books. Since most of the books I've read are contemporary I was really excited to win an Early Review Copy and expand my reading list to older titles. The only problem is now my To Read list is becoming a mile long lol This book was an interesting read, and I thought the analysis of the various books was well thought out and intriguing. If you're a fan of LGBTQ literary history I'd highly recommend checking out this book. ( )

Gay American Novels, 1870-1970 is a scholarly labor of love examining various novels and shorter pieces of literature that depict the gay experience for the hundred-year period between 1870 and 1970. Dewey Wayne Gunn has selected books he feels show how gay male fiction developed over that time period. No lesbian fiction has been included, although some of the authors of the books that Gunn examines are females writing about the gay male experience, something that was welcome to see.

133 different pieces of literature were chosen by Gunn for examination, and for each one he provides an in-depth analysis, presenting a bit of the plot and a look at the piece's significance as gay literature. Some of the selections are predictable: works by John Rechy, Christopher Isherwood, Gore Vidal, and Gordon Merrick. Others are obscure works or ones that might intrigue someone into thinking: "That's gay literature? Really?" Many of Gunn's choices fall into this latter category, and serious students of gay literature are going to seek out some of the lesser known titles for a read. Other selections suggest books that many may have already read, but will want to re-read for a closer examination.

Overall, Gunn's work is a very good compilation of books combined with thoughtful analysis. Although the book is subtitled "A Reader's Guide," the reader may be frustrated for authors are not listed alphabetically in the front, only by entry number. Likewise, instead of beginning the work with a list of titles of the books reviewed within, one must go to the index at the end to find a title with a corresponding entry number. A list of book titles by page number would have been helpful. But, with the exception of these missing pieces of organization, the rest of the book serves its purpose. It will find a home on the shelf of any teacher, student, or serious reader of gay literature. ( )