Jacob Bloomfield's 'Drag: A British History' Examines Gender Performance from 1870 to 1970

Jacob Bloomfield's book 'Drag: A British History' offers an academic yet accessible exploration of male drag performance in Britain between 1870 and 1970, challenging contemporary views of drag as inherently transgressive. Published by University of California Press, the work argues that drag historically straddled queer radicalism and mass entertainment, exemplified by figures like Danny La Rue, a glamorous Royal Variety performer who avoided freakish connotations. Bloomfield dates a shift toward radical drag to the 1969 Stonewall riots and the 1970 founding of the British Gay Liberation Front. The book highlights popular cross-dressing revues by interwar ex-servicemen and analyzes Arthur Lucan's 'Old Mother Riley' character, which resonated with working-class audiences through comedic complexity. State censors at the Lord Chamberlain's Office often flustered over drag's sexual themes, yet audiences largely embraced it. Despite the UK's drop to 17th place on Rainbow Europe's LGBTI-friendly index since 2015, drag's popularity persists, as seen in Netflix's 2022 Polish series 'Queen'. Bloomfield contends that even abstract modern drag prompts gender reflection, though historical figures like La Rue, who rejected the drag label, complicate retrogressive perceptions. The study emphasizes the British class system and societal nostalgia, avoiding an all-encompassing survey to focus on specific eras and performances.