Wow, what an amazing life, and an essential for folks interested in LGBT or leather history.

Justin Spring does a great job of letting Samuel Steward speak for himself through his letters and writings. I'm glad he does: Steward is a brilliant writer: witty, imaginative, erudite and far-reaching in his interests and his network of friends. HIs dedication to sex and sex-recording is fascinating and provided Dr. Kinsey with a wealth of information that continues to have an impact on our culture today. (Most notably, that no one library has all of Steward's work - academic libraries don't want his pornographic material, porn collectors aren't interested in his correspondence with Gertrude Stein and Alice Toklas - it speaks to that same level of schizophrenia that continues to plague the LGBT community today.)

I felt as if I was reading that essential "connector" book about my community's history. Steward's archival information paints an amazing picture of gay life in the 20's through the 60's. Pre-Stonewall, he was a man who chose not to succumb to the expectations of his time. He was sexually active for his entire adolescent and adult life, and rejected the notion that he should feel ashamed or guilty about it. His friends and lovers ranged across two continents. Close friends included Gertrude Stein and Alfred Kinsey, and Sonny Barger (head of Hell's Angels). Lovers included Rudolph Valentino, Thornton Wilder, Rock Hudson, and literally hundreds of sailors.

For LGBT activists, leather culture fans, literary historians, and those who appreciate a well-written biography, I recommend this book.