Though unbeknown to him, Wilde's tale of the devilishly handsome Dorian Gray and his mischievous antics changed the face of gay literature for the following century.Ĥ - Orlando: A Biography by Virginia Woolf Though sadly Wilde's story had a lot of backlash at the time, it is now studied in mainstream schools across the UK.

In fact, at the Oscar Wilde's trials in 1895, sections of Dorian Gray were read aloud, as the opposing attorneys called it a 'sodomitical book.' Upon its release, the book shook the literary world as no work of mainstream fiction had spelt out homosexual desire so clearly. In his book The Secret Life of Oscar Wilde, Neil McKenna states that Dorian Gray was 'while cautious, implicitly homosexual'. The Picture of Dorian Gray is his only novel but is hailed as a great classic amongst many literary lovers. It's no secret that Oscar Wilde led a lavish yet troubled life. The funky title 'rubyfruit jungle' is a term used in the novel for female genitals.ģ - The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde It follows her through her teens until she becomes an author and openly identifies as gay. The story is a coming-of-age autobiographical account of author Rita Mae Brown's youth. Nevertheless, the confident tale is centred around growing up as a lesbian in America and, most importantly, living happily ever after.

This novel was written in 1973 when it was considered 'shocking' to be gay in America.

This profoundly compassionate novel pursues the trail of lesbian love, from which Celie finds empowerment, self-love and a happy ending. Walker's writing portrays the lives of African American women in the early twentieth century through a series of letters from the protagonists. The story follows the lives of sisters Celie and Nettie, who were separated at birth. Alice Walker's book has been described as an 'iconic modern classic' and is a beautiful tale of queer love. This stunning story (now hit musical) was the winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Take a look below at our list of recommended queer classics that you NEED to read. LGBTQ+ individuals often turn to literature for a source of validation and understanding. Throughout the years, gay literature has covered many themes and concepts, working towards a more accepting world that celebrates same-sex attraction, sex and love.

For every reader, queer literature should have a prominent place on the bookshelf.

Rubyfruit jungle