Oscar Wilde & Radclyffe Hall 
The Oldest Gay Novels 
Orlando, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Cecil Dreeme, The Sins of the Cities, Well of Loneliness, Carmilla…

The Oldest Gay Novels’ anthology remarkably curates a pivotal collection that captures the early narratives of LGBTQ+ literature, threading the complex socio-literary evolution from Victorian ambiguities to early 20th-century declarations. Encompassing a range of styles from gothic novellas to modernist explorations, the anthology highlights the breadth of queer expression against a backdrop of varied societal norms. This rich collection not only revisits the clandestine but profoundly insightful works that navigated the peripheries of their time’s legal and moral codes, but also illuminates how these narratives laid the groundwork for contemporary discussions on identity and authenticity. The collective authors, including notable figures such as Oscar Wilde and Virginia Woolf, bring a rich diversity of backgrounds and artistic visions. Their works collectively contribute to unraveling the intricate tapestries of gay life and perception through historical epochs. The anthology serves as a cultural and literary conduit reflecting and challenging the predominant attitudes of their respective times while fostering a deeper appreciation for early gay literary contributions within the broader literary canon. ’The Oldest Gay Novels’ serves as an essential anthology for both scholars and lay readers interested in the origins and evolution of gay literature. It offers an unprecedented opportunity to explore the philosophical and aesthetic depths of early gay writing, providing a broader understanding and appreciation of this formative genre. Readers will find a treasure trove of insights into how the interplay of narrative style, historical context, and personal conviction weave together to voice a collective, transformative dialogue across generations.