Mother Clap's Molly House: The Gay Subculture in England, 1700-1830This pioneering historical study is the first comprehensive chronicle of the English gay community at its 18th-century roots, sporting for the first time a distinctive subculture with its "molly houses", "sodomites' walks", "maiden names" and gay slang. Rictor Norton's research into trial records and contemporary documents establishes a vital cornerstone for the reconstruction of gay history. Challenging in its demonstration that the molly subculture was primarily a working-class community of blacksmiths, milkmen, publicans and shopkeepers, Mother Clap's Molly House also records the exuberant lives of personalities such as Charles Hitchin the "thief-taker", the dramatists Samuel Foote and Isaac Bickerstaff, William Beckford of Fonthill, and Rev. John Church, prosecuted for his blessing of gay marriages. All these are set against a backdrop of persecution, blackmail and the pillory. And yes, "Mother Clap's" actually was the name of a prominent molly house! |
Contents
Queen James and His Courtiers | 15 |
4 | 55 |
The Sodomites Walk in Moorfields | 70 |
Copyright | |
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Other editions - View all
Mother Clap's Molly House: The Gay Subculture in England, 1700-1830 Rictor Norton No preview available - 2006 |
Common terms and phrases
accused alehouse Algarotti Anne April arrested attempted sodomy Beckford Bishop of Clogher blackmail Breeches British Library buggery Castlehaven Chapter charges Charles committed constables convicted Cook court crime criminal cruising grounds death Earl effeminate eighteenth century England English evidence extortion female Foote found guilty French Ganymede gay subculture gentlemen George hanged Hervey's heterosexual Hitchin Holloway homosexual husband imprisonment indicted James John Church King kiss Lady Lane lesbian letters lived London Journal Lord Hervey male marriage married Mary molly house molly subculture Moorfields Mother Clap's never Newgate Newgate Calendar Nicholas night notorious Old Bailey pillory prison prosecuted prostitutes punishment Quintessence of Debauchery recognised Rigby robbery satire scandal Select Trials sentenced September servant sexual shelfmark sodomy soldier St James's Sunderland Swinton tavern Thistlethwayte Thomas took Tyburn unnatural Vere Street Coterie Warden Weekly Journal wife William Wilson woman women young