Queer Georgians

Get in the xigxag app
Already purchased

Click to open directly in the xigxag app.

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book. Pre-order Buy Now £{{ price }} Send as a gift
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

Brought to you by Penguin.

History Hit podcast presenter Dr Anthony Delaney reveals the real people that inspired Gentleman Jack and the gay romances in Bridgerton, long written out of the nation's story and now lovingly restored.

Mother Clap's Holborn coffee house is open to all comers, a place of companionship and community, until a tip-off leads to a midnight raid.

Two women, exiled from their families, set up a utopian homestead in a remote Welsh cottage, inspiring a generation of Romantic poets.

The celebrated Chevalier d'Éon, soldier, diplomat and spy, challenges a rival to a fencing match. The sweepstake is not over who will win, but whether the Chevalier is a man or a woman.

In this dazzling work of restorative history, Dr Anthony Delaney has traced the stories of people daring to challenge society's expectations, unearthing archives and court records to reveal the tragedies and the joys of queer life three centuries ago. Breathing new life into the forgotten and offering radical new interpretations of celebrated figures such as Anne Lister, Queer Georgians is an invitation to view our shared history in a whole new light.

'In this moving and revelatory book, Anthony Delaney gives a voice to women and men whose lives have been written out of history' Hallie Rubenhold, author of The Five and Story of a Murder

'Reading this hitherto hidden history was a revelation. I was utterly enthralled from the first page to the last.' Tracy Borman, Chief Historian, Historic Royal Palaces and author of The Private Lives of the Tudors

'Anthony Delaney has opened the closet door of Jane Austen’s England and found people of every style - criminalised in their own time, ignored by ours, heroically finding their own ways.' Philippa Gregory, author of Normal Women

© Anthony Delaney 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

Critics Review

Delaney writes with great precision... It's impossible not to feel invested in the drama and well-being of his most cherished characters... A hugely immersive read... Throughout the book, Delaney applies his rigorous academic discipline with a deft, joyous touch and occasional zeal. Here is a page turner one could as easily read on a beach as in a library. Queer Georgians is utterly riveting.
Irish Independent
If you’ve been intrigued by the gay romances that featured in Bridgerton, or the legend of Anne Lister, the inspiration behind Sally Wainwright’s 2019 TV drama Gentleman Jack, then Queer Georgians brings both – and more – vividly to life.
i paper
Anthony Delaney has opened the closet door of Jane Austen’s England and found people of every style - criminalised in their own time, ignored by ours, heroically finding their own ways to make individual lives, families and even communities.
Philippa Gregory, author of Normal Women
In this moving and revelatory book, Anthony Delaney gives a voice to women and men whose lives have been written out of history. At heart, Queer Georgians is about the triumph of love in adversity.
Hallie Rubenhold, author of The Five and Story of a Murder
Fascinating, exciting, vivid with stories, and scrupulously researched, the brilliant Queer Georgians tells us so much about the period and so many lives. Anthony Delaney has combed the archives, explored the sources and created a superb book that brings the Georgian world to life and all its secret lives. Wonderful.
Professor Kate Williams, author of Rival Queens
Anthony Delaney is a superb public historian, words drop off his tongue and flow from his pen with a fluency that is the envy of us all.
Dan Snow, broadcaster and author of Death or Victory
A rare combination of bold ideas, rigorous archival research, and a personal voice, Queer Georgians introduces us to a fascinating range of characters.
Emma Donoghue, author of Room and Passions Between Women
Anthony Delaney's research is sharp, his prose so elegant, and the result is a deeply thoughtful reimagining of the Georgian world... Flawless.
Dr Owen Emmerson, Historical Consultant on Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light (BBC)
An illuminating, deeply researched and deeply felt account of many remarkable lives. Anthony Delaney writes of love in every part of Georgian society - from royal residences to red-light districts - with sensitivity, wit, and learning. This is a fascinating book.
Gareth Russell, author of Queen James and The Palace
In Anthony Delaney’s Queer Georgians, the queer histories of the Georgians are reexamined through a diverse character cast and across a sweeping stage – from lavish aristocratic seats to torrid London prisons – that makes for a compulsive read. Delaney’s book offers a timely window onto a side of Georgian society that is all too rarely seen.
Emily Hauser, author of Mythica

About xigxag

Experience the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed for seamless discovery, purchase, and enjoyment of your favorite titles. Our flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less, providing affordable prices and the best audiobook deals without requiring a subscription. Perfect for gifting, xigxag also features convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

 

Beyond the listening experience, xigxag stands as an exciting alternative to big tech, embodying a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we ensure a guilt-free listening experience from a leader in audiobook innovation.

 

Effortlessly search audiobooks, access honest audiobook reviews that evaluate both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. Whether you prefer to download or stream top audiobook titles, xigxag provides the best possible listening experience anytime, anywhere, on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Discover the future of audiobooks today.