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More copies of this ISBNThis title in other editionsOutlaw Marriages: The Hidden Histories of Fifteen Extraordinary Same-Sex Couplesby Rodger Streitmatter
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:For more than a century before gay marriage became a hot-button political issue, same-sex unions flourished in America. Pairs of men and pairs of women joined together in committed unions, standing by each other “for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health” for periods of thirty or forty—sometimes as many as fifty—years. In short, they loved and supported each other every bit as much as any husband and wife.
In Outlaw Marriages, cultural historian Rodger Streitmatter reveals how some of these unions didn’t merely improve the quality of life for the two people involved but also enriched the American culture. Among the high-profile couples whose lives and loves are illuminated in the following pages are Nobel Peace Prize winner Jane Addams and Mary Rozet Smith, literary icon Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, author James Baldwin and Lucien Happersberger, and artists Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg. Review:"Cultural historian and American University professor Streitmatter (Mightier Than the Sword) absorbingly details the public and private lives of notable same-sex couples, deftly examining affairs, betrayals, and disappointments, as well as the enabling power that the right marriage, recognized or not, provides. Many of the pairs comprised a famous and not-so-famous member: Walt Whitman's much younger partner and muse, Peter Doyle, sold streetcar tickets and worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad, while Greta Garbo's upper-crust partner, Mercedes de Acosta, taught the star, who came from a poor family, rules of etiquette and style. The thoroughly researched, lovingly rendered joint histories — including Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, Tennessee Williams and Frank Merlo, Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns — share a common thread that is less about gender than partnership-as-catalyst. Toklas championed Stein's writing and became her literary agent; Rauschenberg encouraged Johns to act on the content of a bizarre dream and paint the American flag; Merlo 'single-handedly stabilized Tennessee Williams's life and career.' When James Baldwin seemed 'on the verge of a nervous breakdown,' his partner, artist Lucien Happersberger, whisked him off to a Swiss village where he could focus on his work. The volume will have particular appeal to readers of gender studies, but these stories ultimately prove that true partnership is gender blind. Agent: Howard Yoon, Ross Yoon. (May)" Publishers Weekly Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Synopsis:Years before gay marriage became a hot-button political issue, same-sex unions flourished in America. In Outlaw Marriages, cultural historian Rodger Streitmatter reveals that gay marriage isn't a twenty-first-century idea. He spans over a hundred years and profiles fifteen couples who made major contributions to this country in an impressive range of fields--from music and education to journalism and modern art. Among the notables whose lives and loves are profiled are poet Walt Whitman, literary icon Gertrude Stein, movie legend Greta Garbo, playwright Tennessee Williams, novelist James Baldwin, and activist Audre Lorde. While no partnership is the same—some were tumultuous, while others were more supportive and long-lasting—all changed the course of American history.
About the AuthorRodger Streitmatter is a journalist and cultural historian whose work explores how the media have helped to shape American culture. He is currently a professor in the School of Communication at American University and is the author of seven previous books.
Table of ContentsPrologue
Chapter 1 Walt Whitman & Peter Doyle 1865–1892 Revolutionizing American Poetry
Chapter 2 Martha Carey Thomas & Mamie Gwinn 1878–1904 Opening Graduate Education to American Women
Chapter 3 Ned Warren & John Marshall 1884–1927 Building the Collections of America’s Art Museums
Chapter 4 Mary Rozet Smith & Jane Addams 1891–1934 Breaking New Ground in Social Reform and Global Peace
Chapter 5 Bessie Marbury & Elsie de Wolfe 1892–1933 Founding the Field of Interior Design
Chapter 6 J. C. Leyendecker & Charles Beach 1901–1951 Taking the Art of Illustration to a New Level
Chapter 7 Alice B. Toklas & Gertrude Stein 1907–1946 Expanding the Dimensions of American Literature
Chapter 8 Janet Flanner & Solita Solano 1919–1975 Pioneering a New Style of Journalism
Chapter 9 Greta Garbo & Mercedes de Acosta 1931–1960 Making Hollywood the Celebrity Capital of the World Chapter 10 Aaron Copland & Victor Kraft 1932–1976 Inventing a Distinctly American Style of Music
Chapter 11 Frank Merlo & Tennessee Williams 1948–1963 Lifting American Theater to New Heights
Chapter 12 James Baldwin & Lucien Happersberger 1949–1987 Attacking Racism through Literature
Chapter 13 Robert Rauschenberg & Jasper Johns 1954–1962 Expanding the Definition of Art
Chapter 14 Ismail Merchant & James Ivory 1961–2005 Turning Literary Works into Sumptuous Films
Chapter 15 Frances Clayton & Audre Lorde 1968–1988 Raising a Voice for Women of Color
Epilogue Acknowledgments Notes Photography/Illustration Credits What Our Readers Are SayingBe the first to add a comment for a chance to win!Product Details
Other books you might likeRelated SubjectsBiography » Gay and Lesbian Gay and Lesbian » Fiction and Poetry » General Gay and Lesbian » History and Social Science » History and Biographies History and Social Science » Gender Studies » Gay Studies History and Social Science » Politics » General History and Social Science » Sociology » Children and Family
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