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Red Closet

The Hidden History of Gay Oppression in the USSR
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( 299 ratings, 45 reviews)
Brief Description
A poignant and deeply researched history of gay oppression in the USSR. In 1934, Joseph Stalin enacted sodomy laws, unleashing a wave of brutal detentions of homosexual men in large Soviet cities. Red Closet recounts the compelling stories of people whose lives were affected by those... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$6999

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Based on newly discovered sources, this is the first book to tell the story of the oppression of LGBTQ people in the USSR.

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 poignant and deeply researched history of gay oppression in the USSR.

In 1934, Joseph Stalin enacted sodomy laws, unleashing a wave of brutal detentions of homosexual men in large Soviet cities.

Red Closet recounts the compelling stories of people whose lives were affected by those laws, including a naïve Scottish journalist who dared to write to Stalin in an attempt to save his lover from prosecution and a homosexual theatre student who came to Moscow in pursuit of a career amid Stalin's harsh repressions and mass arrests. We also meet a fearless doctor in Siberia who provided medical treatment for gay men at his own peril and a much-loved Soviet singer who hid his homosexuality from the secret police.

Each story helps paint the hitherto unknown picture of how Soviet oppression of gay people originated and was perpetuated from Stalin's rule until the demise of the USSR.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781526181459

Publisher: Manchester University Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 February 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Manchester University Press

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 19.0mm

Width: 138.0mm

Height: 216.0mm

Weight: 499g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Rustam Alexander is a historian and independent scholar who obtained his PhD from the University of Melbourne. He is the author of Regulating homosexuality in Soviet Russia, 195691.

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  • Red Closet
    In 1934, Joseph Stalin enacted sodomy laws, unleashing a wave of brutal detentions of homosexual men in large Soviet cities. Rustam Alexander recounts the compelling stories of people whose lives were directly affected by those laws, including a naïve Scottish journalist based in Moscow who dared to write to Stalin in an attempt to save his lover from prosecution, and...
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