King James & letters of homoerotic desire
By: David M. Bergeron.
Publisher: University of Iowa Press
Published: 1999
Place of publication: Iowa City
Language: eng
Number of pages: 251
Subjects: James I, King of England, 1566-1625 -- Correspondence; James I, King of England, 1566-1625 -- Sexual behavior; Homosexuality, Male -- Great Britain -- History -- 17th century -- Sources; Homosexuality, Male -- Scotland -- History -- 16th century -- Sources; Favorites, Royal -- Great Britain -- Correspondence; Gay men -- Great Britain -- Correspondence; Letter writing -- History -- 17th century; Gay kings and rulers; Great Britain -- Kings and rulers -- Correspondence
Other titles: King James and letters of homoerotic desire
Description: What can we know of the private lives of early British sovereigns? Through the unusually large number of letters that survive from King James VI of Scotland/James I of England (1566-1625), we can know a great deal. Using original letters, primarily from the British Library and the National Library of Scotland, David Bergeron creatively argues that James' correspondence with certain men in his court constitutes a gospel of homoerotic desire.

Bergeron grounds his study on an examination of the tradition of letter writing during the Renaissance and draws a connection between homosexual desire and letter writing during that historical period.

King James and Letters of Homoerotic Desire presents a modern-spelling edition of seventy-five letters exchanged between Buckingham and James. Across the centuries, commentators have condemned the letters as indecent or repulsive. Bergeron argues that on the contrary they reveal an inward desire of king and subject in a mutual exchange of love.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 241-248) and index.