The Secret Public

Author: Jon Savage

c 1945 to c 1960 | c 1960 to c 1970 | c 1970 to c 1980 | Popular culture | Gay & Lesbian studies

Published on 5^th June 2025 by Faber & Faber in the United Kingdom.

Paperback / softback | 784 pages
131mm x 198mm x 51mm | 626g

A GUARDIAN AND EVENING STANDARD BOOK OF THE YEAR'Fascinating.' NEIL TENNANT'The missing story of the heart of pop.' JOHNNY MARR'Superb.' Alexis Petridis'Dazzling.' GUARDIAN'So much spine, spunk and guts.' NEW STATESMAN'Utterly engrossing.' THE WIRE'Erudite.' OBSERVERA monumental history of the LGBTQ influence on popular culture, from the award-winning, Sunday Times-bestselling author.

An electrifying look at key moments in music and entertainment history between 1955 and 1979, which helped move gay culture from the margins to the mainstream and changed the face of pop forever - from the ambiguous sexuality of stars such as Little Richard in the 1950s through to David Bowie, glam rock and Sylvester's 'You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)'.

The Secret Public is a searching examination of the fortitude and resilience of the gay community through the lens of popular music and culture; it reflects on the freedom found in divergence from the norm and reminds us of the need to be vigilant against those seeking to roll back the rights of marginalised groups.