Print ISBN: 978-1-63700-786-0
# of Pages: 800
# of Volumes: 2
Print List Price: $225
e-ISBN: 978-1-63700-786-0
eBook User Price: $225
Free Online Access
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Great Lives from History: LGBTQ+

March 2024


Great Lives from History: LGBTQ+ features hundreds of biographies covering a carefully curated selection of names including activists, actors, artists, business leaders, musicians, politicians, sports figures, and writers, among others.

Great Lives from History: LGBTQ+ features 210 biographies covering a curated selection of individuals important to the LGBTQ+ community throughout history, many of whom are not covered in any other Great Lives set. This edition does not seek to be all-encompassing, but rather to cover an array of individuals from ancient times to present, from a variety of countries and cultures around the world.

Each essay has been written or revised specifically for this set, including over 40 new entries; biographies represent a cross-section of some of the most influential and recognizable individuals involved in the LGBTQ+ community, including activists, actors, artists, businesspeople, musicians, scientists, sports figures, writers, and more. Sidebars help to round out the content, providing readers with context or a closer look at important aspects of the individuals’ lives. 

The biographical coverage in Great Lives from History: LGBTQ+ is wide-ranging. Individuals discussed in this title include:

  • Gilbert Baker
  • James Baldwin
  • Pete Buttigieg
  • Anderson Cooper
  • Laverne Cox
  • Ellen DeGeneres
  • Barney Frank
  • Barbara Gittings
  • Marsha P. Johnson
  • Christine Jorgensen
  • Billie Jean King
  • Larry Kramer
  • Rachel Maddow
  • Harvey Milk
  • Elliot Page
  • RuPaul
  • Bayard Rustin
  • Alan Turing

Each essay is approximately 1,000-2,000 words in length and displays standard reference top matter offering easy access to the following biographical information: the name by which the subject is best known, a succinct description of each person’s career, a synopsis of the individual’s historical importance and why they are studied today, the most complete dates of birth and death, followed by the most precise locations of these events available.

Each essay concludes with a byline of the contributing writer-scholar. The body of each essay is divided into the following three parts:

  • Early Life provides facts about the individual’s upbringing and the environment in which the person was reared. Where little is known about the person’s early life, historical context is provided.
  • Life’s Work, the heart of the essay, consists of a straightforward, generally chronological account of how the individual grew in their career, chosen field, or their endeavors as an activist, for example.
  • Significance provides an overview of the long-range impact of the individual’s importance, including their contributions to the LGBTQ+ community and the wider world. This section sums up why it is important to study this individual.

Each essay also includes a Further Reading section that provides a starting point for further research. Several features distinguish this series as a whole from other biographical reference works:

  • Complete List of Contents: An alphabetical list of all of the individuals covered in the set appears in each volume.
  • Sidebars: A highlight of this publication, numerous entries contain sidebars providing a deeper glimpse into an individual’s life, influence, or notable achievement.

Appendices in Great Lives from History: LGBTQ+ include a chronological list of entries, a glossary, a general bibliography, a general mediagraphy, and electronic resources. Indexes finish off the work and are divided as such: Geographic Index, Political Title Index, and Subject Index.

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View a Full List of Titles from the Great Lives from History Series