The Love That Dares

Love letters have an eternal currency and curiosity to them. A good love letter can speak across centuries, and reassure us that the agony and the ecstasy one might feel in the 21st century have been shared by lovers long gone. This is all the more true of LGBTQ+ love letters: love affairs and relationships that, until very recently, had to survive within sealed envelopes and behind closed doors. These letters also give us a glimpse into the passion and courage it took to continue a gay relationship in times when it was at best improper, and at worst illegal. In this book, queer love speaks its name through the words of lovers from years gone by. Alongside the more famous names, the Woolfs and the Wildes, coexist beautifully written letters by lesser-known lovers, giving us an insight into queer love outside of the spotlight of fame or fortune. Enlightening introductions to each set of letters give readers an idea of the historical context in which they were written. Including love letters between: Virginia Woolf & Vita Sackville-West Allen Ginsberg & Peter Orlovsky Eleanor Roosevelt & Lorena Hickok Oscar Wilde & Sir Alfred 'Bosie' Douglas Audre Lorde & Pat Parker Gertrude Stein & Alice B. Toklas John Cage & Merce Cunningham