"Part revisionist history, part historical biography, Bad Gays is based on the hugely popular podcast series. The book subverts the notion of gay icons and queer heroes and asks what we can learn about LGBTQ history, sexuality, and identity through its villains and baddies"-- "We all remember Oscar Wilde, but who speaks for Bosie? What about those 'bad gays' whose unexemplary lives reveal more than we might expect? Many popular histories seek to establish homosexual heroes, pioneers, and martyrs but, as Huw Lemmey and Ben Miller argue, the past is filled with queer people whose sexualities and dastardly deeds have been overlooked despite their being informative and instructive....With characters such as the Emperor Hadrian, anthropologist Margaret Mead and notorious gangster Ronnie Kray, the authors tell the story of how the figure of the white gay man was born, and how he failed. They examine a cast of kings, fascist thugs, artists and debauched bon viveurs. Imperial-era figures Lawrence of Arabia and Roger Casement get a look-in, as do FBI boss J. Edgar Hoover, lawyer Roy Cohn, and architect Philip Johnson."-- Provided by publisher. Provided by publisher.

Hadrian -- Pietro Aretino -- James VI and I -- Frederick the Great -- Jack Saul -- Roger Casement -- Lawrence of Arabia -- The Bad Gays of Weimar Berlin -- Margaret Mead -- J. Edgar Hoover and Roy Cohn -- Yukio Mishima -- Philip Johnson -- Ronnie Kray -- Pim Fortuyn.