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Queer as folklore

The hidden queer history of myths and monsters
Brief Description
A celebration of queer history like you've never seen it before. Queer as folklore travels across centuries and continents to reveal the unsung heroes and villains of storytelling, magic and fantasy. Featuring images from archives, galleries and museums around the world, each chapter investigates the queer... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$3799
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This book takes the reader around the world on a journey to discover the queer stories behind the characters of folklore, from werewolves and faeries to demons and aliens.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A celebration of queer history like you've never seen it before.

Queer as folklore travels across centuries and continents to reveal the unsung heroes and villains of storytelling, magic and fantasy. Featuring images from archives, galleries and museums around the world, each chapter investigates the queer history of different mythic and folkloric characters, both old and new.

Leaving no headstone unturned, Sacha Coward takes you on a wild ride through the night from ancient Greece to the main stage of RuPaul's Drag Race, visiting cross-dressing pirates, radical fairies and the graves of the 'queerly departed' along the way. Queer communities have often sought refuge in the shadows and created safe spaces in underworlds. But these forgotten narratives tell stories of resilience that deserve to be heard.

Join any Pride march and you will see a glorious display of papier-mΓ’chΓ© unicorn heads, drag queens in mermaid tails and more fairy wings than you can shake a trident at. These are not just accessories: they are queer symbols with historic roots. To truly understand who queer people are today, we must confront the twisted tales of the past.

One delight after another. Told with an open heart, a questing curiosity, and a healthy sense of mischief, Queer as Folklore is essential for every seeker of hidden histories.' Patrick Ness, author of the Chaos Walking series

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781807070397

Publisher: Manchester University Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 18 November 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Manchester University Press

Illustration: 35 black & white illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 314g

Pages: 352

About the Author

Sacha Coward has worked in museums and heritage for over ten years. For the past three years, he has been freelancing as a historian, public speaker, tour guide and researcher. He has run LGBTQ+ focused tours for museums, cemeteries, archives and cities around the world. Sacha is passionate about queer history, mythology, folklore and storytelling in all their many forms. Queer As folklore is his first book.

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  • Queer as Folklore
    Queer as Folklore takes readers across centuries and continents to reveal the unsung heroes and villains of storytelling, magic, and fantasy. Featuring images from archives, galleries, and museums around the world, each chapter investigates the queer history of different mythic and folkloric characters, both old and new. Leaving no headstone unturned, Sacha Coward will take you on a wild ride...
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  • Queer as Folklore
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