Title Sodom on the Thames : sex, love, and scandal in Wilde times / Morris B. Kaplan

Published Ithaca : Cornell University Press, 2005

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Description 1 online resource (314 pages) : illustrations Contents Contents -- Eros in the Archives: An Introduction -- Prologue: A Walk on the Wild Side -- Part One: Sex in the City -- Part Two: Love Stories -- Part Three: West End Scandals -- Part Four: Wilde�s Time -- Epilogue: “Sex-mania� -- Telling Tales: Some Conclusions -- Acknowledgments -- Notes -- Suggestions for Further Reading -- Index Summary "Sodom on the Thames looks closely at three episodes involving sex between men in late-nineteenth-century England. Morris B. Kaplan draws on extensive research of court records, contemporary newspaper accounts, personal correspondence and diaries, even a pornographic novel. He focuses on two notorious scandals and one quieter incident. In 1871, the transvestites "Stella" (Ernest Boulton) and "Fanny" (Frederick Park), who had paraded around London's West End followed by enthusiastic admirers, were tried for conspiracy to commit sodomy. In 1889-1890, the "Cleveland Street affair" revealed that telegraph delivery boys had been moonlighting as prostitutes for prominent gentlemen, one of whom fled abroad. In 1871, the Eton schoolmaster William Johnson resigned in disgrace, generating shockwaves among the young men in his circle whose romantic attachments lasted throughout their lives. Kaplan shows how profoundly these scandals influenced the trials of Oscar Wilde in 1895 and contributed to growing anxiety about male friendships." "Sodom on the Thames reconstructs these incidents and gives a voice to the diverse people involved. It deepens our understanding of late Victorian attitudes toward urban culture, masculinity, and male homoeroticism. Kaplan also explores the implications of such historical narratives for the contemporary politics of sexuality."--BOOK JACKET Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages 299-303) and index Subject Symonds, John Addington, 1840-1893 -- Sexual behavior Wilde, Oscar, 1854-1900 -- Trials, litigation, etc SUBJECT Wilde, Oscar, 1854-1900 -- Trials, litigation, etc Symonds, John Addington, 1840-1893 -- Sexual behavior Symonds, John Addington, 1840-1893 fast Wilde, Oscar, 1854-1900 fast Subject English literature -- England -- London -- History and criticism Homosexuality and literature -- England -- History -- 19th century Male homosexuality -- England -- London -- History -- 19th century Sex customs -- England -- London -- History -- 19th century English literature -- 19th century -- History and criticism Scandals -- England -- London -- History -- 19th century Sexual orientation in literature. Sex customs in literature. SOCIAL SCIENCE. Gay Studies. HISTORY -- Europe -- Great Britain. LITERARY CRITICISM -- European -- English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh. English literature Homosexuality and literature Literature Male homosexuality Manners and customs Scandals Sex Sex customs Sex customs in literature Sexual orientation in literature SUBJECT London (England) -- Social life and customs -- 19th century. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85078225 London (England) -- In literature Subject England England -- London Genre/Form Criticism, interpretation, etc. History Trials, litigation, etc. Form Electronic book LC no. 2005008833 ISBN 9780801465826 0801465826 0801477921 9780801477928 0801436788 9780801436789

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