The Edmonton Queen

by Darrin Hagen

This book, based on a award-winning one-queen play from four-time Sterling Award winner Darrin Hagen, is a portrait not only of one life but of a decade in the glamerous and decadent world created by a dynasty of young drag icons. In the club called Flashback, a generation of queens sashayed to stardom. Small town boys became someone or something else as they accessorized their loneliness and alienation as gay men and discovered instead a community spirit. Some are dead now, some have gone on to other things, but the family they were is remembered fondly, humerously and ironically in this brilliant witty book.

Genres: LGBT, Canada

256 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1997

Reviews

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some interesting stories but the lack of narrative structure and poor writing kind of made me wish I hadn't started. This may not be Hagen's strongest medium. Would be more interested in these stories if delivered differently.

[Dynah Thirst · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I typically avoid nonfiction, and especially memoirs. However, I heard part of one of the final chapters read at a drag show this summer, and it really struck a chord.
I'm glad I did read this. It's a view of a world I could never be able to be a part of no matter who I am; I was born too late. But still it's incredible reading the stories and listening to the voices of that time of exploration and experience.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the original version of this book, then bookcrossed it as part of an Alberta literary challenge. I was therefore rather stoked to come across this updated version in a local used book store. I appreciated and enjoyed the additional contributions from some of the queens in the book, and I loved the romp through local landmarks. I just wish I could have seen the original play.

[William Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me nostalgic for the Edmonton I never knew existed. It was one the of rare books that I didn't want to finish because I didn't want it to be over.

[bryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

i am literally obsessed with this. old gay edmonton how i yearn for you

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly written. These are the stories from Darrin Hagen's award winning play. This book will make you laugh, it is crazy and fun. The real life characters are all larger than life and so is the hair...the bigger the hair the closer to God! A hilarious look at a whole decade. As it says on the book jacket "There's more here than sex, drugs and haberdashery."

[Monique Methot · Rating 4 out of 5]

How can I call myself and Edmontonian without reading this book? I can't believe it took me so long to get to it. I really appreciate Darrin being the heart and memory of the 80's and 90's Drag community, so many stories, and we've lost so many. Heartfelt, nostalgic, funny, a must-read for any Edmontonian!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darrin's hilarious novel is an introduction into the world of Canada's drag queen scene. As a local, it was delightful to learn more about Edmonton’s queer history and learn what it takes to be a Queen.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essays about drag queen life in Edmonton in the 1980s. I found this collection to be rollicking and heartbreaking and really enjoyed it. Lots of camp in here too.