What do you think?
Rate this book
Queer Lives across the Wall: Desire and Danger in Divided Berlin, 1945-1970
Queer Lives across the Wall examines the everyday lives of queer Berliners between 1945 and 1970, tracing private and public queer life from the end of the Nazi regime through the gay and lesbian liberation movements of the 1970s. Andrea Rottmann explores how certain spaces – including homes, bars, streets, parks, and prisons – facilitated and restricted queer lives in the overwhelmingly conservative climate that characterized both German postwar states. With a theoretical toolkit informed by feminist, queer, and spatial theories, the book goes beyond previous histories that focus on state surveillance and the persecution of male homosexuality.
266 pages, Paperback
Published May 18, 2023
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 20, 2023
More academic than I expected, but an excellently researched bit of much-neglected queer history, this book explores various aspects of queer living in Berlin during the Weimar Republic and the post-WW2 era, including the political shifts as they affect legal realities for queer people, and the severing of queer spaces after the Wall went up to divide East from West Berlin.
The book includes a lot of primary sources such as interviews and photographs, so it never gets as dry as the academic style might imply. It offers detailed insights into various spaces of queer self-expression, with sections on domestic/coupled life, queer-friendly bars, and life in prison, and the interviewee’s experiences rise clearly from the page, in their own words and the author’s research, often evoking the all-too-familiar feelings of rage and sympathy, but, crucially, also as an indelible, entrenched, sometimes downright mundane part of the canvas of Berlin’s history. There is a lot to cover and often it felt like this book was mostly a guide towards further reading (for example, the section on how relationships and lived-in-spaces were ripped apart when the Wall was built felt like it barely opened the door on an under-explored wealth of stories), though to be fair there was no claim of comprehensive coverage.
As someone’s who’s been fascinated by the concept of a divided city ever since I watched the Wall come down on TV as a kid, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and its focus. I learned things I'd had no clue about, such as the fact that the first person killed by border police as he tried to cross from East to West Berlin was a gay man. I wished there were even more first-person accounts, although I get that the author could only cover so much. I will probably fall down the rabbit hole of further research!
I also found this intriguing from a linguistic viewpoint, as the author writes in English but a lot of the terminology doesn’t easily lend itself to translation, being tied to a specific sub-culture in a very specific time and place. The author handles this – rather deftly – by simply including a lot of the German-language terms, accompanying them with English ones where a rough equivalency exists but often on the understanding that the equivalency is approximate rather than analogous. As a language nerd, I was intrigued by the complexity of decision-making that must have gone into this, especially when it comes to terms like “Bubi” and “Mädi” where “butch and femme” might have been tempting modern(ish) day translations that would, however, not necessarily have captured the nuances of time and setting, or her choice of “street-walking boys” (I’m not sure if this was mentioned but I’m assuming it’s based on “Stricher”) where “rentboy” might have been the more obvious choice but the author decided to include the infrastructure-based element as set in the wider context of Berlin as a setting for queer spaces. I absolutely loved the language aspect which must have been tricky to negotiate (it doesn’t seem like there’s a German-language edition, which would make for interesting comparison).
Highly recommended if you’re into queer and/or Berlin history. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
The book includes a lot of primary sources such as interviews and photographs, so it never gets as dry as the academic style might imply. It offers detailed insights into various spaces of queer self-expression, with sections on domestic/coupled life, queer-friendly bars, and life in prison, and the interviewee’s experiences rise clearly from the page, in their own words and the author’s research, often evoking the all-too-familiar feelings of rage and sympathy, but, crucially, also as an indelible, entrenched, sometimes downright mundane part of the canvas of Berlin’s history. There is a lot to cover and often it felt like this book was mostly a guide towards further reading (for example, the section on how relationships and lived-in-spaces were ripped apart when the Wall was built felt like it barely opened the door on an under-explored wealth of stories), though to be fair there was no claim of comprehensive coverage.
As someone’s who’s been fascinated by the concept of a divided city ever since I watched the Wall come down on TV as a kid, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and its focus. I learned things I'd had no clue about, such as the fact that the first person killed by border police as he tried to cross from East to West Berlin was a gay man. I wished there were even more first-person accounts, although I get that the author could only cover so much. I will probably fall down the rabbit hole of further research!
I also found this intriguing from a linguistic viewpoint, as the author writes in English but a lot of the terminology doesn’t easily lend itself to translation, being tied to a specific sub-culture in a very specific time and place. The author handles this – rather deftly – by simply including a lot of the German-language terms, accompanying them with English ones where a rough equivalency exists but often on the understanding that the equivalency is approximate rather than analogous. As a language nerd, I was intrigued by the complexity of decision-making that must have gone into this, especially when it comes to terms like “Bubi” and “Mädi” where “butch and femme” might have been tempting modern(ish) day translations that would, however, not necessarily have captured the nuances of time and setting, or her choice of “street-walking boys” (I’m not sure if this was mentioned but I’m assuming it’s based on “Stricher”) where “rentboy” might have been the more obvious choice but the author decided to include the infrastructure-based element as set in the wider context of Berlin as a setting for queer spaces. I absolutely loved the language aspect which must have been tricky to negotiate (it doesn’t seem like there’s a German-language edition, which would make for interesting comparison).
Highly recommended if you’re into queer and/or Berlin history. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
May 26, 2023
How would you keep your relationship alive during a time when not only was being LGBTQIA illegal, but a literal physical wall and military checkpoints that seemingly appeared overnight prohibiting you from seeing your partner? Queer Lives Across the Wall sheds light on this harrowing time for LGBTQIA couples caught in the crossfire of the Berlin Wall and occupation zone. While written in academic prose the author does a wonderful job of following the lives of those affected so their stories may live on through history.
***Thank you Netgalley and University of Toronto Press for an eArc in exchange for my honest review. ***
***Thank you Netgalley and University of Toronto Press for an eArc in exchange for my honest review. ***
May 7, 2023
*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book.*
"Queer Lives across the Wall" is a great academic work that sheds light on the lives of queer people in Berlin, both East and West Berlin. Factors that are taken into account are mostly gender and class, but many further questions are being asked.
If you're interested in the real lives of queer people in Berlin, check out this book. I learned so many things and I am German.
5 stars
"Queer Lives across the Wall" is a great academic work that sheds light on the lives of queer people in Berlin, both East and West Berlin. Factors that are taken into account are mostly gender and class, but many further questions are being asked.
If you're interested in the real lives of queer people in Berlin, check out this book. I learned so many things and I am German.
5 stars
January 29, 2023
Very thorough in showing queer life in this time period in Germany, contextualized. It is an "academic" type of read, so if that's not your thing it might not be for you - that said it's worth a read anyway I think, since as it mentions, much, much of queer history to date has been focused on homosexual men over lesbians or bisexuals. The differences in East and West Germany were also interesting and something I'd not thought much about. Other things that stuck out and really resonated with me personally is how the book talked a lot aboit how various things could "give a person away" as being LGBT and make their lives in much more danger.
Well worth the read, just be aware that it's written as if intended for a university environment.
** ARC provided by NetGalley **
Well worth the read, just be aware that it's written as if intended for a university environment.
** ARC provided by NetGalley **
June 20, 2023
This is an important work that advances our understanding of queer lives in Cold War Berlin. There was such an interesting variety of people and sources that Rottman relied on to uncover some fascinating history. Especially interesting is navigating the "German" cultural understanding of gender intersecting with the east vs west identities that are being delineated after the war.
I cant give five stars because of the disparate treatment between trans women and trans men. Ultimately the question of trans woman vs homosexual and trans man vs lesbian during this time. This is especially crucial with the conversation of government acknowledged transition relying on surgical transition. Today we have a definition of trans person that is larger than surgical procedures - you don't persue surgical transition unless you are trans, right? Is it the same then? How does whatever the definition is at that time and place inform the examples given? If a persons neighbors and others only know them as a man, why would they be classified as a lesbian and not as a transman? Especially when their personal writing presents as masculine. I am all for not ahistorically applying modern terms to past phenomena, but at the same time isn't it irresponsible to misrepresent someone's self-presentation because of the vocabulary of the time and source?
I cant give five stars because of the disparate treatment between trans women and trans men. Ultimately the question of trans woman vs homosexual and trans man vs lesbian during this time. This is especially crucial with the conversation of government acknowledged transition relying on surgical transition. Today we have a definition of trans person that is larger than surgical procedures - you don't persue surgical transition unless you are trans, right? Is it the same then? How does whatever the definition is at that time and place inform the examples given? If a persons neighbors and others only know them as a man, why would they be classified as a lesbian and not as a transman? Especially when their personal writing presents as masculine. I am all for not ahistorically applying modern terms to past phenomena, but at the same time isn't it irresponsible to misrepresent someone's self-presentation because of the vocabulary of the time and source?
June 22, 2023
My university years are far, far behind, and to be honest, I haven’t read much scholarly work in the last years (when I say scholarly, I mean “following the rules of academia writing”). But title, blurb, and subject matter of Queer Lives across the Wall appealed to me at once, so I requested the book on NetGalley (a heart-felt thank-you to the editor for accepting me). And I wasn’t disappointed—the book turned out to be well researched, perfectly written and readable, an insightful, fascinating study of “queerdom” in both parts of Berlin from 1945 to the 1970s (with a short introduction to the pre-war and war years).
As to the structure, the author first presented her method (in depth, but potential readers shouldn’t be too worried, this part is in itself an interesting read), which I would define as qualitative (as opposed to a more quantitative approach) and which was mostly based on interviews of personally involved people as well as on a thorough search of available archives. She then discussed four essential aspects of queer people’s experiences in the divided city during those years: their homes, their places of encounter (both the bar scene and public spaces), and prisons. Despite obvious difficulties—queer people would understandably try to stay under the radar—Andrea Rottmann managed to recreate the narrative of how queers (gay men, lesbian women, transgender persons) lived in West and East Berlin and how they coped with the growingly conservative and therefore hostile climate.
I have to confess that I was immediately drawn in by the author’s easy style and her emphatic handling of the subject matter. There were lots of eye-witness quotes and personal stories that helped me better understand the struggles of queer people (plus quite a lot of photos, too) and brought that period of time closer to me. I can only guess (and marvel) at the vast amount of time she must have spent compiling all the evidence presented and was very positively surprised by how seamlessly everything came together to draw a vivid picture of 1945-70 Berlin and the experiences of its queer inhabitants. I was also impressed by the direction and the relative importance queer studies have taken since I left university as a political sciences graduate in the early 90s.
It’s hard to review non-fiction books such as this for a broader public—I don’t want to bore readers to death with methodological subtelties or give away the whole content of this study. Suffice it to say that I found it a truly astute and compelling read that I can only recommend to all those interested by our community’s past.
As to the structure, the author first presented her method (in depth, but potential readers shouldn’t be too worried, this part is in itself an interesting read), which I would define as qualitative (as opposed to a more quantitative approach) and which was mostly based on interviews of personally involved people as well as on a thorough search of available archives. She then discussed four essential aspects of queer people’s experiences in the divided city during those years: their homes, their places of encounter (both the bar scene and public spaces), and prisons. Despite obvious difficulties—queer people would understandably try to stay under the radar—Andrea Rottmann managed to recreate the narrative of how queers (gay men, lesbian women, transgender persons) lived in West and East Berlin and how they coped with the growingly conservative and therefore hostile climate.
I have to confess that I was immediately drawn in by the author’s easy style and her emphatic handling of the subject matter. There were lots of eye-witness quotes and personal stories that helped me better understand the struggles of queer people (plus quite a lot of photos, too) and brought that period of time closer to me. I can only guess (and marvel) at the vast amount of time she must have spent compiling all the evidence presented and was very positively surprised by how seamlessly everything came together to draw a vivid picture of 1945-70 Berlin and the experiences of its queer inhabitants. I was also impressed by the direction and the relative importance queer studies have taken since I left university as a political sciences graduate in the early 90s.
It’s hard to review non-fiction books such as this for a broader public—I don’t want to bore readers to death with methodological subtelties or give away the whole content of this study. Suffice it to say that I found it a truly astute and compelling read that I can only recommend to all those interested by our community’s past.
June 10, 2024
Mooi boek! Redelijk academisch geschreven, maar op een hele prettige manier. Basiskennis van de Duitse taal is wel een kleine pré, dat maakt het lezen net wat makkelijker.
January 25, 2023
I remember watching the news on November 9th, 1989, fascinated and perplexed by what I was seeing. Watching the footage at the Berlin Wall, I had so many questions about what that space looked like, how it was even possible to divide a city, and what it would mean for the people living there. I have read various histories of the wall and visited Berlin; the history of the wall and the stories of the people who lived in its shadow and wake continue to fascinate.
Coming across Andrea Rottmann’s, “Queer Lives Across the Wall: Desire and Danger in Divided Berlin, 1945-1970,” immediately piqued my interest. New perspectives of life beyond the wall, a presentation of the experiences of the LGBTQ+ in post-war Germany juxtaposed between East and West, with both governments continuing to administer the lives of sexual and gender minorities under legislation enacted (or maintained) during Nazi rule. Understanding how the LGBTQ+ navigated those post-war spaces, looking to rekindle the more open and permissive social situations found during the Weimar period, and hoping, in some cases, to work within the framework of the new socialist government, but finding the new government structures in both East and West to be sexually stifling and prohibitive, Rottmann explores the nature of the spaces created by members of the community, both private and public. Exploring life in the home and in immediate communities, the bar and club scene, and prisons, Rottmann explores what it meant to be Gay, Lesbian or Trans and how one found and/or created a sense of community within a hyper-heteronormative context as was experienced in the post-war period with it’s emphasis on the ‘traditional family.’ The very personal nature of the materials used, lends a very human touch to the research, including: letters, diary entries, interview materials, and photos, Rottmann effectively establishes the experiences of LGBTQ+ people across class and political identities.
Coming across Andrea Rottmann’s, “Queer Lives Across the Wall: Desire and Danger in Divided Berlin, 1945-1970,” immediately piqued my interest. New perspectives of life beyond the wall, a presentation of the experiences of the LGBTQ+ in post-war Germany juxtaposed between East and West, with both governments continuing to administer the lives of sexual and gender minorities under legislation enacted (or maintained) during Nazi rule. Understanding how the LGBTQ+ navigated those post-war spaces, looking to rekindle the more open and permissive social situations found during the Weimar period, and hoping, in some cases, to work within the framework of the new socialist government, but finding the new government structures in both East and West to be sexually stifling and prohibitive, Rottmann explores the nature of the spaces created by members of the community, both private and public. Exploring life in the home and in immediate communities, the bar and club scene, and prisons, Rottmann explores what it meant to be Gay, Lesbian or Trans and how one found and/or created a sense of community within a hyper-heteronormative context as was experienced in the post-war period with it’s emphasis on the ‘traditional family.’ The very personal nature of the materials used, lends a very human touch to the research, including: letters, diary entries, interview materials, and photos, Rottmann effectively establishes the experiences of LGBTQ+ people across class and political identities.
July 20, 2025
I really enjoyed the academic style of this book. It felt like reading four papers that had been tied together and well researched. At the same time this is a book that is rich with stories and touches on the lives of a variety of queer people living in post WW2 Berlin. The book examines how queer people of the time found community in their home, bars, public areas, and prisons. The author split this into four parts and examined each of these areas. Records were referenced, often police reports, as well as personal accounts and letters. There were also pictures of and often from the people being explored. This book also illustrates how the construction of the Berlin Wall and being suddenly not allowed to travel from East or West Berlin to the other side affected the lives of queer people. The author explored how this affected social life, bar life, and even the people who lost their lives. I also appreciated that several stories that queer people wrote were touched on and that even the reception of these stories is explored. I also liked that the author took the time to touch on other books that have researched this time period and then ended with pointing out areas of research that she didn’t include in her book that could use further exploration. I felt like I learned a lot about the time period and how queer people lived their lives by reading this.
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 9, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and the University of Toronto Press for a digital ARC - pub date 6/20/2023. Heavily researched, very detailed, meticulous in its structure and presentation. I admit that I expected something less scholarly and more story-based ala interviews and personal diaries so it proved more challenging than I anticipated. This is not a bad thing, though. Rottmann clearly dug through the sparse and varied archives to build her thesis here and to truly sketch out the state of living for queer people in both East and West Berlin from post-WWII until the 70's. Everything was presented in a clear, level voice - just the facts, you know. But there was humanity here, too, and the wealth of information the author found in the hidden places almost overwhelmed.
For a split city with two very different appearance goals, there were a lot more parallells than divergences when it came to how they treated their queer citizens. The author touched on the various spaces open to queer people - the private sector (home), the public sector (bars, clubs, train stations, parks, etc), and the inevitable resulting location of prison when a society insists on criminalizing portions of their population. Rottmann brought an understanding of German history and personality to the table in discussing each section - covering legal aspects, social aspects, personal and everything in between. When was home safe or not safe? When was a favorite bar a sanctuary versus being a dangerous outing? How did Berlin's queer citizens cope with the swinging rules and opinions of those in charge? Even more surprisingly to my expectations, the author proved clearly that West Berlin and East Berlin were, in many ways, running neck and neck in who treated their queer population better or worse. The "better" place to live all depended on how you presented, what year it was, what your job was. Both sides of the Berlin Wall offered happiness and heartache, freedom and restriction. As Rottmann shows, it all depends on the moment and you.
For a split city with two very different appearance goals, there were a lot more parallells than divergences when it came to how they treated their queer citizens. The author touched on the various spaces open to queer people - the private sector (home), the public sector (bars, clubs, train stations, parks, etc), and the inevitable resulting location of prison when a society insists on criminalizing portions of their population. Rottmann brought an understanding of German history and personality to the table in discussing each section - covering legal aspects, social aspects, personal and everything in between. When was home safe or not safe? When was a favorite bar a sanctuary versus being a dangerous outing? How did Berlin's queer citizens cope with the swinging rules and opinions of those in charge? Even more surprisingly to my expectations, the author proved clearly that West Berlin and East Berlin were, in many ways, running neck and neck in who treated their queer population better or worse. The "better" place to live all depended on how you presented, what year it was, what your job was. Both sides of the Berlin Wall offered happiness and heartache, freedom and restriction. As Rottmann shows, it all depends on the moment and you.
September 8, 2023
This research about the situation of Queer people in East and West Berlin after World War II shows how they found ways to express their identity despite the heteronormative laws that authorities at both sides of the Berlin Wall maintained after the Third Reich.
What I liked: The author did a great job on the research and the analysis. This is an interesting book that explores several spaces that were key for understanding the experience of Queer people in Berlin such as their homes, public spaces, bars and nightclubs, and the prison. The author includes photos and quotes of some individuals that she presents as characters or examples of different situations. In that way, the reader gets to know Tommy, Eddy and Hilde, Eva, and Grundmann, among others. I believe that showing the experiences, hardships, and resilience of these people (real queer people) is probably the main contribution of this book. Her analysis is interesting and allows the reader to have a deeper understanding of the different meanings of some details in their stories. I also learned a lot with this book. It surprised me to know that trans people could get a pass so they would not be detained by the police, for example. As the author points out, there are many aspects of intersectionality that could be taken into account regarding the life of Queer people in Berlin at that time, but this book is an amazing first step towards understanding that important chapter of Queer history.
(I'd like to thank the author and NetGalley, as I received a free advanced reader copy. I'm giving an honest review voluntarily.)
What I liked: The author did a great job on the research and the analysis. This is an interesting book that explores several spaces that were key for understanding the experience of Queer people in Berlin such as their homes, public spaces, bars and nightclubs, and the prison. The author includes photos and quotes of some individuals that she presents as characters or examples of different situations. In that way, the reader gets to know Tommy, Eddy and Hilde, Eva, and Grundmann, among others. I believe that showing the experiences, hardships, and resilience of these people (real queer people) is probably the main contribution of this book. Her analysis is interesting and allows the reader to have a deeper understanding of the different meanings of some details in their stories. I also learned a lot with this book. It surprised me to know that trans people could get a pass so they would not be detained by the police, for example. As the author points out, there are many aspects of intersectionality that could be taken into account regarding the life of Queer people in Berlin at that time, but this book is an amazing first step towards understanding that important chapter of Queer history.
(I'd like to thank the author and NetGalley, as I received a free advanced reader copy. I'm giving an honest review voluntarily.)
June 20, 2023
***Just to preface this I read it on netgalley for free in return for a review**
Most books on queer history tend to focus on gay men where this one focuses more on gender and lesbians which is amazing. Its very academic and brilliantly put together. I really enjoyed learning the history of queer people during this time period. Its very well put together and you can tell a lot of thought and care went into writing it. The pictures in it were a nice addition its cool to see queer history along with reading about it. I think it might even help you connect more with it because you can see their existence.
I’m particularly fond of the ‘Home’ section. Learning about how queer people made and lived in spaces back then was fascinating to learn. I had no idea about the Frauen-familien or women families before I read this. Its so informative.
This is definitely a good book for anyone looking to find more about trans and lesbian history.
Most books on queer history tend to focus on gay men where this one focuses more on gender and lesbians which is amazing. Its very academic and brilliantly put together. I really enjoyed learning the history of queer people during this time period. Its very well put together and you can tell a lot of thought and care went into writing it. The pictures in it were a nice addition its cool to see queer history along with reading about it. I think it might even help you connect more with it because you can see their existence.
I’m particularly fond of the ‘Home’ section. Learning about how queer people made and lived in spaces back then was fascinating to learn. I had no idea about the Frauen-familien or women families before I read this. Its so informative.
This is definitely a good book for anyone looking to find more about trans and lesbian history.
January 21, 2023
First off, thank you to Netgalley for this ARC.
As a German person, I can wholeheartedly say while we do learn a lot about the Nazi regime and what it meant in the times of and after WWII, queer history is no part of schools' schedules. And it should be since, as this book showed me, there is so much!
While the book does feel very academic in style, I liked that it was interspersed with letters, newspapers and private reports from the time. You can really see the passion the author put behind it to illustrate the queer daily lifes in Berlin post-WWII. Having the names and tons of photos from back then also eases the scientific tone of the book, and creates an interesting and insightful scope.
Definitely recommend if your interested in queer history of Germany post-WWII.
As a German person, I can wholeheartedly say while we do learn a lot about the Nazi regime and what it meant in the times of and after WWII, queer history is no part of schools' schedules. And it should be since, as this book showed me, there is so much!
While the book does feel very academic in style, I liked that it was interspersed with letters, newspapers and private reports from the time. You can really see the passion the author put behind it to illustrate the queer daily lifes in Berlin post-WWII. Having the names and tons of photos from back then also eases the scientific tone of the book, and creates an interesting and insightful scope.
Definitely recommend if your interested in queer history of Germany post-WWII.
February 21, 2023
It is a passionately written and deeply researched book that provides in-depth examination of queer history in post-WWII Berlin. The author‘s passion for the topic shines through in every page and I really appreciated that the book also gives voice to stories and experiences of queer women.
One of the undeniable strengths is its in-depth examination of letters and oral interview transcripts. The author meticulously examines the language used in these documents and provides a nuanced analysis of the meaning behind all the words.
The book adopts academic style, with the author providing lots of explanation of what will be written in the chapter and closing with a conclusion. However this fact does not make the book any less enjoyable to read.
ARC provided by NetGalley. Thank you.
One of the undeniable strengths is its in-depth examination of letters and oral interview transcripts. The author meticulously examines the language used in these documents and provides a nuanced analysis of the meaning behind all the words.
The book adopts academic style, with the author providing lots of explanation of what will be written in the chapter and closing with a conclusion. However this fact does not make the book any less enjoyable to read.
ARC provided by NetGalley. Thank you.
January 15, 2025
A very interesting and academic glimpse at life for queer people (particularly lesbian and trans people) in Berlin post-WW2. Split into different sections of life (home, pub, parks/streets, prison), the author explores the experiences of a handful of people to illustrate queer history. It’s a bit frustrating as there’s not a lot of information, but it’s also pointed out that a lot of the history has been lost, which is why books like this are so important to preserve what’s left.
A good read for anyone interested in queer history, and particularly around the language used to describe themselves and their lives. There are a lot of footnotes that include the original interviews in German, which was really interesting as well!
A good read for anyone interested in queer history, and particularly around the language used to describe themselves and their lives. There are a lot of footnotes that include the original interviews in German, which was really interesting as well!
March 14, 2023
Great overview of a part of history that not many are exploring. Clearly academic work, but done in a way that felt accessible. It's interesting to note the common threads of Queer culture that existed and continue to exist across the globe. This book left me thinking hard about inclusion and affirmation in today's world and the unfair expectations our heteronormative society places on the Queer community to "assimilate" or have Queerness "look straight". This text left me questioning even more about how can society at large learn more from the ways the LGBTQIA+ has survived and thrived in the face of so much opposition.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
January 20, 2023
(ARC exchanged for an honest review via NetGalley) This was a brilliant, meticulously and passionately researched book about the lives of queer people in a post WWII world. The dedication revealed to unearthing this information alone (which was revealed in the introduction) is nothing short of awe-worthy. Having names and photographs of queer trailblazers in Berlin was endlessly fascinating and I cannot recommend this book enough.
January 25, 2023
Thank you, University of Toronto Press, UTP, for allowing me to read Queer Lives across the Wall early.
I lived in Europe for a while in the eighties and visited Berlin a couple of years ago. The wall is one of those things from our history that drew my attention. I never read anything about queer people and the wall, though, and I'm so glad thatr I did now. It's a welcome addition to all the history books about the wall. Really interesting and insightful!
I lived in Europe for a while in the eighties and visited Berlin a couple of years ago. The wall is one of those things from our history that drew my attention. I never read anything about queer people and the wall, though, and I'm so glad thatr I did now. It's a welcome addition to all the history books about the wall. Really interesting and insightful!
March 31, 2023
This book is wonderfully written and clearly a labor of love. The writing style leans academic without being dry and is thorough without dragging. I enjoyed the letters, interview transcripts, and diaries (have to love a primary source) and I thought the author provided strong in-depth examinations of these accounts. I loved reading such a nuanced book about the experiences of queer Berliners post-WW2.
May 3, 2023
I received a free Netgalley copy in exchange for an honest review. This was an incredibly well researched book. It had a lot of really awesome information. It is obvious that this book is well researched and filled with awesome information. It is very academically written. It reads as several academic papers combined into a book. So if you don't have an interest in that this isn't the book for you. If you do have an interest you are going to learn so much and love it!
June 19, 2023
the collection of queer joy and power here is simply beautiful. rottmann brings to light a previously under-researched topic and helps us to understand what reality was like for queer berliners in the 20th century. it is very academically driven and written so for those who are looking for a relaxing non-fiction read, maybe save this for when you have more time to put in. but overall, a great read!
i received a free arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
i received a free arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 15, 2023
I think this would work great as a text in a university classroom since it's very academic. It has great research on Queer people on both sides of the Wall in Cold War Germany (post WWII-70s). Usually the nonfiction I read is more informative than academic and I didn't realize going into it that it would feel more like reading a textbook than anything, but it was still interesting and well researched and includes some photographs as well.
Thanks to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
Thanks to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
June 26, 2023
**arc review**
This was the first time I’ve read a book like this in a few years since graduating with a degree in social anthropology and it was cool to get back into this style of academic writing about a topic that really interests me. I think I found the chapter about queer subjectivities in women’s prisons the most interesting.
This was the first time I’ve read a book like this in a few years since graduating with a degree in social anthropology and it was cool to get back into this style of academic writing about a topic that really interests me. I think I found the chapter about queer subjectivities in women’s prisons the most interesting.
August 1, 2023
Looking at a specific point in time, Rottmann successfully dives into the queerness of history, giving context for a time and place when literal and metaphorical walls were built to divide people. While at times the writing was the slightest bit dry, the importance of the text and stories within shine bright.
February 14, 2023
Way more of an academic read than I was expecting but I learned so much about queer history after WW2. It taught me so much that I didn’t know.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an ARC of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an ARC of this book.
June 20, 2023
Andrea Rottmann addresses right away the difficulty of writing Queer Lives Across the Wall due to the limited public information of lesbians and transsexuals in history. This is not to say that Rottman doesn’t do an excellent job of sharing stories and giving us glimpses into everyday life, party life, farm life, and urban life. Rottman takes us through it all.
I found it all very fascinating and mundane at the same time. I find “us” to be kind of boring - I say this as a rainbow. It’s not as if we are creatures behind glass performing odd tricks. We just live our lives or attempt to in many cases whether in the past or in the present. From a sociological perspective, I love non-fiction biographies that look at lives in the past. What makes rainbow biographies and histories different is the type of bigotry and how we cope, adapt, and try to survive it.
Rottman gives a viewpoint of life in Germany where many were known to be “free”, but were they really? I gobbled this book up. It is a quick read with lots of information. If you love history, then add this Queer Lives Across the Wall to your list.
I found it all very fascinating and mundane at the same time. I find “us” to be kind of boring - I say this as a rainbow. It’s not as if we are creatures behind glass performing odd tricks. We just live our lives or attempt to in many cases whether in the past or in the present. From a sociological perspective, I love non-fiction biographies that look at lives in the past. What makes rainbow biographies and histories different is the type of bigotry and how we cope, adapt, and try to survive it.
Rottman gives a viewpoint of life in Germany where many were known to be “free”, but were they really? I gobbled this book up. It is a quick read with lots of information. If you love history, then add this Queer Lives Across the Wall to your list.
May 25, 2025
One of the most interesting books I have read in a very long time.
This is a detailed view of LGBTQ+ lives in Cold War Berlin, referencing archives and police records, drawn into narratives and contexts to bring light to how queer people lived their lives on both sides of the divided city.
I look forward to re-reading this book and using it to update Wikipedia with these important histories.
I received an ARC from Netgalley with no expectation of endorsement.
This is a detailed view of LGBTQ+ lives in Cold War Berlin, referencing archives and police records, drawn into narratives and contexts to bring light to how queer people lived their lives on both sides of the divided city.
I look forward to re-reading this book and using it to update Wikipedia with these important histories.
I received an ARC from Netgalley with no expectation of endorsement.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews