Synopses & Reviews
The American West of the nineteenth century was a world of freedom and adventure for men of every stripeand#8212;not least also those who admired and desired other men. Among these sojourners was William Drummond Stewart, a flamboyant Scottish nobleman who found in American culture of the 1830s and 1840s a cultural milieu of openness in which men could pursue same-sex relationships.and#160;This book traces Stewartand#8217;s travels from his arrival in America in 1832 to his return to Murthly Castle in Perthshire, Scotland, with his French Canadianand#8211;Cree Indian companion, Antoine Clement, one of the most skilled hunters in the Rockies. Benemann chronicles Stewartand#8217;s friendships with such notables as Kit Carson, William Sublette, Marcus Whitman, and Jim Bridger. He describes the wild Renaissance-costume party held by Stewart and Clement upon their return to Americaand#8212;a journey that ended in scandal. Through Stewartand#8217;s letters and novels, Benemann shows that Stewart was one of many men drawn to the sexual freedom offered by the West. His book provides a tantalizing new perspective on the Rocky Mountain fur trade and the role of homosexuality in shaping the American West.
and#160;and#160;
Review
“Masterfully interweaving historical facts, literary acumen, and anthropological data,
Men in Eden brings to life with tantalizing colors the largely unexplored hidden lives of men living at the fringes of nineteenth century American society. This compelling book is essential reading for anyone interested in social history and biographical literature.”—Max Carocci, project curator at the British Museum and author of
Warriors of the Plains: The Arts of Plains Indian Warfare Justin M. Carroll - Great Plains Quarterly
Review
“In this highly readable book, Benemann brings the archival record to visceral life. Through his astute insights into the mindset of the era, Benemann breaths gay life into William Drummond Stewart, a larger-than-life historical figure who led a pre-medicalized, richly Whitmanesque homoerotic life. At a time when gender studies trumps, this is a very welcome and invigorating addition to the field of gay history/sexuality studies.”—Les K. Wright, author of
The Bear Book and
The Bear Book II Max Carocci
Review
"[An] engrossing, eminently readable study of one of the most intriguing figures in the history of the Old West."and#8212;Ray Olson,and#160;Booklist starred review
Review
"Utterly convincing. An engaging contribution to LGBT history; highly recommended."and#8212;Richard J. Violette, Library Journal
Review
"Benemann's storytelling abilities are on display in this engaging and highly readable biography, which is also a worthy contribution to queer-focused early American history."and#8212;Christopher Lee Cochran, Gay and Lesbian Review/Worldwide
Review
"This is an informative biography and an entertaining story that provides a rather novel view of gender and sexuality in the early West."and#8212;Peter Boag, Journal of American History
Review
"Wonderfully written and extensively researched."—Justin M. Carroll, Great Plains Quarterly Peter Boag - Journal of American History
Review
"[A] fascinating biography."—Brian Dempsey, History Scotland Justin M. Carroll - Great Plains Quarterly
Review
andquot;Wonderfully written and extensively researched.andquot;andmdash;Justin M. Carroll, Great Plains Quarterly
Review
andquot;[A] fascinating biography.andquot;andmdash;Brian Dempsey, History Scotland
About the Author
William Benemann is the author of
A Year of Mud and Gold: San Francisco in Letters and Diaries, 1849and#8211;1850, available in a Bison Books edition, and
Male-Male Intimacy in Early America: Beyond Romantic Friendships.