I read this book a few years ago, so it’s not the freshest response. Regardless, I can’t believe this name isn’t mentioned more in queer studies/LGBT history discussions. This woman, born a man, pretty much started the transgender experience.
The way she explains herself was both illuminating and frustrating. She was decorated British military officer, she went to the best school, living amongst the wealthy class. There was an element of rosy, euphemistic speech to describe what she went though. I remember wanting to know more of the actual details of the process she went through to become a woman. It was glossed over as this harrowing experience in a luxury secret hideaway in Africa where she came out as her true self. Her surgeries were done in the late fifties, early sixties, and for modern readers familiar with the surgery options offered today it, there are a lot of unanswered questions.
The witch hunt for gory details hounds any discussion of pre/post op transgendered people, so, admittedly my frustration with the memoir butts a thin line. Regardless, it was fantastic to see this story in print. To have this voice, from that time, explain the unique pains of being in the wrong body is incredibly valuable. As a gay man, I bring this book up often. My community needs to work harder to keep its history alive. This book already went out of print once. Three cheers for NYRB bringing it back, and keeping it going with a new introduction. My only complaint.. why did this book get a different style cover?
