Unfortunately we do not have a summary for this item at the moment

Praise for Fabulosa! The Story of Polari, Britain's Secret Gay Language: 'A Book of the Year 2019' - Times Literary Supplement 'Richly evocative and entertaining.' - The Guardian 'An essential book for anyone who wants to Polari bona!' - Attitude 'Paul Baker's exuberant, richly detailed history of Polari, a secret language used chiefly by gay men in the 1940s and 1950s, is a delightful read.' - Tatler 'Engrossing.' - Financial Times 'Baker tells the story of Polari with pride, passion and humour, making clear that camp be deliciously political.' - London Magazine 'Intriguing and often amusing . . . Baker's interviews radiate warmth and good humour.' - Spectator 'A compelling history of the linguistic lengths to which gay men had to go to hide in plain sight.' - Observer 'A riveting, funny and joyous insight into the story of Polari.' - Gay's the Word Bookseller Picks 2019 'It's the tragic torment and harassment that gave rise to Polari in the first place that must not be forgotten, and which is why this book is important.' - Daily Mail 'This is a lovely story, told with charm and a perfect eye for the anecdote.' - Gscene 'Glorious! This fascinating and elegiac account of Polari, the Lost Language of Queens, is utterly absorbing. It's history at its best: alive, vivid, fluid, warm, human and humane, and it gets as close as any book I've read to penetrating the mystery-wrapped-in-an-enigma that is camp.' - Neil McKenna 'By turns deeply edifying and hugely entertaining and unusual for succeeding at being both - a future classic!' - Damian Barr 'A fascinating and complex story, beautifully told with clarity, passion, and humour.' - David Crystal 'Shot through with his nicely dry wit, this is a fascinating and important study.' - Patrick Gale

Paul Baker is Professor of English Language at Lancaster University. His books include American and British English (2018) and Fabulosa! The Story of Polari, Britain's Secret Gay Language.