One In Twenty by Bryan Magee

One In Twenty

A Study of Homosexuality in Men and Women

Bryan Magee

From 1966: This book has been written by a professional author and television writer who set out to discover all he could about homosexuality and about homosexuals. He sought them out wherever he could find them ; he visited their homes, attended their clubs, questioned them, corresponded with them, observed them, analysed them, and finally here he reports on them. For this, in the author’s words, is what he is doing – reporting- and very fully does he report on many facets of homosexuals and their existence. The first part of the book concerns homo sexuality in general? What it is, when it arises, what sort of people homosexuals are, how they live, what is their view of homo sexuality and of society, and what is society’s view of them. Part two deals with male and part three with female homosexuality. In each case the author reports on the specific sexual practices homosexuals indulge in, the kind of life they lead, the laws concerning them, and the advantages and disadvantages of life as a homosexual.

As the author says he reports, but as the blurb’ says he also explains ; sometimes he almost seems to plead for more understanding of homosexuality and its problems. The writing is simple, clear, and much of what is said has the ring of authenticity about it ; it is easy to believe that this is really what homosexuals are like, how they think, and how they behave. There is occasionally a plausible flavour to the writing which disguises the possible fallacies in some of the generalizations made. I find it difficult to believe, for instance, that beyond masturbation, cunni lingus, and tribadism there are ‘an infinite number ‘ of other practices indulged in between lesbians ; or that heterosexual, anal intercourse is ‘ widespread ‘ in many Roman Catholic countries ; or that some of the famous figures of history named here were in reality homosexuals. The author occasion ally writes that he knows of ‘more than one case ‘ or ‘ has heard of a lesbian doctor who,’ ere, which reminds one that this book is after all not a scientific volume. It would be more convincing for doctors and scientists if some of the evidence in support of various statements it contains was reviewed. Many will find it hard to accept that one in twenty people are ‘ predominantly homo sexual.’ The author himself says that this is astonishing ; so astonishing that a brief review of some of the evidence upon which this figure was arrived at might make it more credible. Nevertheless Mr. Magee has written an interesting, informative, and sympathetic account of a difficult subject, and his book deserves to be read carefully by anyone wishing to study this problem further. ~ C. J. Dewhurst, The British Medical Journal, Vol. 2, No. 5509 (Aug. 6, 1966).

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Details

ISBN	9780436271014
Genre	LGBT Studies/Social Sciences
Publication Date	1966
Publisher	Secker and Warburg
Format	Hardcover
No. of Pages	192
Language	English
Rating	NotRated
BookID	9231