Mother Clap's molly house
Subtitle: the gay subculture in England, 1700-1830
By: Rictor Norton.
Publisher: GMP; Distributed in North America by InBook
Published: 1992
Place of publication: London; East Haven, CT, USA
Language: eng
Number of pages: 302
Subjects: Gay men -- England -- History; Gay men -- England -- London -- History; Gay men -- England -- Social life and customs; Gay men -- England -- London -- Social life and customs
Description: "This pioneering historical study is the first comprehensive chronicle of the English gay community at its 18th-century roots, sporting for the first time a distinctive subculture with its "molly houses", "sodomites' walks", "maiden names" and gay slang. Rictor Norton's research into trial records and contemporary documents establishes a vital cornerstone for the reconstruction of gay history." "Challenging in its demonstration that the molly subculture was primarily a working-class community of blacksmiths, milkmen, publicans and shopkeepers, Mother Clap's Molly House also records the exuberant lives of personalities such as Charles Hitchin the "thief-taker", the dramatists Samuel Foote and Isaac Bickerstaff, William Beckford of Fonthill, and Rev. John Church, prosecuted for his blessing of gay marriages. All these are set against a backdrop of persecution, blackmail and the pillory. And yes, "Mother Clap's" actually was the name of a prominent molly house!"--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 285-292) and index.