"His chronicle of queer life began in 1976 in the eclectic glamour of San Francisco's Barbary Lane, where queer people learned who they were and how to live their lives. But even Maupin relocated in the end. The most recent instalment, Mona of the Manor, saw one of its key characters move to the Cotswolds to navigate a very different kind of village."
"His locations range from London's commuter belt to hamlets, farms and towns, from the edges of Portsmouth and Hull to pockets of Glasgow and Wilmslow and a tiny village in Lincolnshire, where a gay builder is protected from homophobic abuse in the pub by the local darts team."
"His fascination with and connection to the subject have allowed him to weave an intelligent and sensitive collection of stories, interspersing research from libraries, archives, books, newsletters and reports with original interviews. As much as it is a social history, it is a political, an architectural and a cultural one."
John Grindrod's work presents an alternative history of queer life in Britain, shifting focus from urban centers like San Francisco to suburban and rural communities. The book explores how LGBTQ+ people grew up and lived in diverse locations ranging from London's commuter belt to small villages, hamlets, and towns across the country. Grindrod combines social, political, architectural, and cultural analysis with original interviews and archival research. His approach reveals how geography, social class, and community dynamics shaped queer experiences outside major cities. The work includes humorous observations about suburban life and demonstrates how local communities sometimes provided unexpected support and acceptance for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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