We Can Be Heroes: A Survivor's Story

£4.495
FREE Shipping

We Can Be Heroes: A Survivor's Story

We Can Be Heroes: A Survivor's Story

RRP: £8.99
Price: £4.495
£4.495 FREE Shipping

In stock

We accept the following payment methods

Description

Paul Burston is the author of six novels and four non-fiction books and editor of two short story collections. If you like or love David Bowie then you’ll adore this book, though my favourite line is reserved for another great musical icon, Kate Bush: “To be fair,” Burston writes, “Few things in life are as dramatic as 'The Dreaming' by Kate Bush.” I laughed out loud: so true, so perfect. Joelle Taylor - ‘ What a bloody brilliant piece of work. What a bloody brilliant life. I’m inspired, moved, reminded, held, enraged, and consumed with a strange joy. Just remarkable . ’

In a sometimes emotional conversation, we also discuss our mutual friend Derek Jarman, the late drag legend Regina Fong and contemporary performance artist David Hoyle.Jonathan Harvey - ‘We stand on the shoulders of giants. One of those giants is Paul Burston, and his memoir about his life, his activism, the AIDS crisis, Bowie and much more is told in his own bold, smart, inimitable style. ’ NetGalley reviewer - ‘ Paul Burston seems to have lived at least six lives in one and each is worthy of its own biography. Burston's memoir is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the struggles and triumphs of the queer community.

I’m grateful that he wrote the memoir while sober and well after the events he describes, because I don’t think he could have described them as thoroughly, carefully, delicately, and with as much of his own flourish as he does here if he had instead just pieced together journals written at the times of the events. His writing is impeccable, and he manages to combine journalistic style with a personal tone that is reminiscent of a long-form essay, but better. If I could offer any advice to my younger self, I’d tell him two things. One, there are plenty of people who can drink alcohol and experiment with drugs without putting themselves in life-threatening situations. I first came across Bartlett in the late '80s with his landmark play, A Vision of Love Revealed in Sleep – which began as a one-man performance piece and was later developed into a full scale production. And Queer kids? They’re the best of us, even though they are not of us. They are smart and wise. They are kind and nonjudgmental. They are supportive of their found families, wherever they may be. They are resilient. And when they are given the opportunity, they blossom. They can be happy, healthy, well-adjusted kids. Not in DeSantis’s America, mind you, the one where teachers cannot help their students who come out to them as gay (see: “Don’t Say Gay” legislation link). Not in the world in which they are prevented from taking part in team activities because their gender doesn’t fit nicely into a cookie cutter world in which we do not live. Not in the world where they are scapegoated and called perverse and told that their parents or supportive adults in their lives are “groomers” because they love and respect them for who they are regardless of gender or sexuality.groundbreaking gay activism over many decades to the wild years of intoxication and compulsive sex, I so admired Burston ’s ruthless honesty and brave emotional vulner ability. ’ Neil's heroes and heroines include Bette Bourne, Bette Midler, Juan Goytisolo, Rose Marie and Siouxsie Sioux. Louise Swanson - ‘ Paul ’ s story is one of trauma, danger, excess and pain, but also one of compassion, strength, fight and bravery. I defy anyone not be moved by this powerful memoir.’ For many years, David presented as Dusty – drag DJ and club promoter extraordinaire, self-proclaimed queen of Soho.

Russell T Davies - ‘Paul Burston is the best of us. A great activist, a great journalist, a great man. This memoir is brutally honest, powering through the AIDS crisis, gay shame, addiction, all the way through to hope and redemption. If you ’re in trouble, read this: Paul shows that you can survive. W onderful. ’I cannot recommend this memoir strongly enough. As a reader it worked for me on multiple levels, and it will connect with readers of any age because it is so dazzlingly and honestly told. And there’s a lot to learn too - if you want to know what real activism looks like then you’ll find plenty of it here, not just through Burton’s work with ACT UP (for which we must all be grateful), but in so many other micro acts of queer resistance and bravery.



  • Fruugo ID: 258392218-563234582
  • EAN: 764486781913
  • Sold by: Fruugo

Delivery & Returns

Fruugo

Address: UK
All products: Visit Fruugo Shop