Tales of the Suburbs Review: An Entertaining Alternative History of Queer Britain
Generations of readers have cherished Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City novels, which chronicled queer life starting in 1976 in the eclectic glamour of San Francisco's Barbary Lane. However, even Maupin's characters eventually relocated, as seen in the recent instalment Mona of the Manor, where key figures navigate life in the Cotswolds. Social historian John Grindrod nods to Maupin in his fantastically entertaining alternative history of queer life in Britain, Tales of the Suburbs, which shifts focus from city-based freedom to the stories of those who grew up in suburban areas.
Defining the Suburbs with Lightness and Depth
The suburbs resist easy definition, and Grindrod handles this with a light touch. Sometimes marked by social class, sometimes by geography, these facets blur into each other. His locations range widely from London's commuter belt to hamlets, farms, and towns, including the edges of Portsmouth and Hull, pockets of Glasgow and Wilmslow, and a tiny village in Lincolnshire. In one poignant tale, a gay builder is protected from homophobic abuse in a pub by the local darts team, showcasing the unexpected support found in these communities.
Personal Connection and Rich Research
Grindrod, who grew up in Croydon and now lives with his partner in Milton Keynes, opens the book with an anecdote about the thrill of discovering next-door gaybours. His personal fascination and connection to the subject enable him to weave an intelligent and sensitive collection of stories. He intersperses research from libraries, archives, books, newsletters, and reports with original interviews, making this not just a social history but also a political, architectural, and cultural exploration. For instance, he links the popularity of bay windows to the rebellious Arts and Crafts movement, adding architectural depth to the narrative.
Humour and Observational Flair
The book is filled with wonderful moments of humour, citing Alan Bennett, Caroline Aherne, and Jack Rooke as the sharpest observers of suburban life. Grindrod's writing shares this observational flair. In 1985, a young lesbian gave up her dream of joining the RAF due to bans on homosexuality in the armed forces, taking a job in a department store instead. For all of its shortcomings, at least it's not illegal to be a lesbian in Debenhams, he notes, a line rich in tragicomedy reminiscent of Victoria Wood.
Short Stories and Deeply Researched Chapters
Many brief chapters almost double as short stories, such as one about picking up a dentist at a pub and meeting his family, or another about a young woman in rural Somerset whose father comes out to her and introduces her to a tiny underground gay club in Taunton. These tales are wonderfully strange and novelistic. The more deeply researched chapters offer time travel to scenes of brutal police raids, same-sex soldier sweethearts, and furtive telephone chat lines, highlighting protests, prosecutions, and acts of great courage.
Historical Context and Community Vitality
The Aids epidemic steals many lives in these accounts, and adults still reckon with the lifelong impact of Section 28, which banned the promotion of homosexuality in schools until its repeal in 2003. These historical currents flow in and out of human lives, manifesting as abusive graffiti on garage doors, family estrangements, or strengthened bonds. Community is vital across the decades, with group meetings—from goth nights to coffee evenings and a Bennett-esque gay treasure hunt in Tunbridge Wells—bringing power to those discovering their identities.
A Note of Optimism for the 21st Century
Grindrod suggests that the 21st century has completely rewritten the rules of LGBTQ+ culture, allowing him to end on an optimistic note. Some subjects fled the suburbs as soon as they could, some stayed, some returned to care for sick parents, and some came back simply because it felt like home. In its fondness for the complexities of lives behind—and in front of—those twitching curtains, Tales of the Suburbs is ultimately about what it means to call somewhere home.
Tales of the Suburbs: LGBTQ+ Lives Behind Net Curtains is published by Faber (£18.99).
