Queering the Underworld: Slumming, Literature, and the Undoing of Lesbian and Gay History

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Exploring the genre of slumming literature at the turn of the twentieth century, Scott Herring analyzes how various authors, including Jane Addams and Willa Cather, manipulated narratives about the underworld to challenge conventional sexual identities. By fulfilling the expectations of slumming tales while subverting their intent, these writers questioned the importance of visible homosexual subcultures and the implications of sexual knowledge. Herring's work connects literary analysis to broader discussions on lesbian and gay history, making it a significant read for students and scholars alike.