Book Review: Queer Heroes of Myth and Legend by Dan Jones
Genre: Non-Fiction – Mythology/Folklore
This is a great quick look across different forms of myths, legends and folklore at heroes who were either on-the-page queer or implied to be such, as well as a few examples where the lines become more blurred. Jones starts the book with a look across a range of Greek mythology, touching on both well- and lesser-known examples, before opening things up and taking a slightly more scattered approach. Alongside pages of folkloric heroes, we have a look at some iconic modern pop culture, too, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Willow and Doctor Who.
Overall, I really liked the approach Jones took to this, and the casual, informal style of writing keep the tone upbeat. Nothing here is too information-heavy, either, leaving the reader with plenty of room to do research into the characters they might find particularly fascinating. There’s about 2 – 3 pages per character, but this managed to give a good overview of the character’s history and origins, and how they fit into the LGBTQIA+ umbrella.
It's not hugely in-depth, but if you want a comprehensive overview of mythological, folkloric, legendary queer characters, told in a conversational, casual manner, this ticks all those boxes, and it’s a hugely enjoyable read.
Review by Elle Turpitt
Twitter & Instagram: @elleturpitt
www.elleturpitt.com
I received this ebook from Radar via NetGalley for review consideration.