A story of unsung bravery at a defining moment in Britain's history
Chris Bryant has been the Member of Parliament for Rhondda since 2001. He was Deputy Leader of the House of Commons and Minister for Europe in the last Labour government, and has been Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons. The author of six previous books, he has written regularly for the Guardian and the Independent, and has appeared on every major TV and radio news and current affairs programme. He was the first gay MP to celebrate his civil partnership in the Palace of Westminster.
In The Glamour Boys, Chris Bryant sets out to bring to light the
remarkable and in some cases heroic contribution of gay MPs to
Britain’s involvement in the Second World War . . . They are
largely unknown. Not any longer, it is to be hoped: [Bryant] has
done them honour . . . He has handled the difficult form of group
biography skilfully, using a great deal of never before published
material, and introducing us to a number of little known
figures
*Guardian*
Bryant’s biggest achievement is in uncovering the stories of four
almost forgotten men . . . Groundbreaking
*Evening Standard*
A sprightly biography . . . Bryant invests his forgotten cast with
heroism, proof of the grit, determination, bravery and
resourcefulness lurking behind exteriors frequently written off as
“flamboyant”’
*Telegraph*
An inspiring story of defiant courage - alternately hilarious,
triumphant and harrowing. A story about which I knew nothing but
which has filled me with admiration for its brave and brilliant
participants and for Chris Bryant’s superb, suspenseful telling
*Stephen Fry*
A fascinating and thrillingly told story. Chris Bryant weaves
together political and cultural history with great skill. And in
doing so he shines new light on an unspoken but hugely important
group of men, whose bravery shaped the course of the Second World
War. This is an important, wonderfully written and often very
moving book
*Dan Jones*
Riveting and bursting with revelations throughout. A book that is
as astonishing as it is important
*Peter Frankopan*
Gay MPs of the 1930s could play a major part in national politics,
but only if they led a dangerous double life. In this tale of high
society, high camp and high courage, Chris Bryant charts what that
meant in the everyday life of a group of Parliamentarians. In
affluent, liberal circles their homosexuality was widely tolerated,
but they were never free from the dangers of blackmail, violence or
prosecution. Chris Bryant paints a compelling picture of a
glamorous, gossipy, unstable world of concealment and enjoyment –
and of the bravery of a group of gay MPs . . . A fascinating book
is a story that needs to be told, and that fills an important
historical gap
*Neil MacGregor, author of 'A History of the World in 100
Objects'*
An absolutely fascinating history of how queer British MPs - who
have until this book been unjustly erased from history - had the
courage to confront the horror of Nazism in the era of Appeasement.
Whatever your sexuality, this is a must-read
*Owen Jones*
A fascinating, beautifully written story I had never heard
before
*Hugh Grant*
Brilliantly told, this is a piece of our history we needed to
know
*Helena Kennedy*
As moving as it is extraordinary. Chris Bryant has unearthed one of
the great untold stories of World War Two
*John Preston*
You can't deal with today's injustices without knowing how we got
here in the first place . . . This is fascinating, authoritative
and radical history at its best
*Owen Jones on 'Entitled'*
Magnificent . . . Chris Bryant is a fine historian
*Express on 'Parliament: The Biography'*
Admirably comprehensive . . . And written in the kind of lucid,
elegant prose now rarely associated with our elected
representatives
*New Statesman*
|
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
