Radical Readers Discuss: Fabulosa!: The Story of Polari, Britain's Secret Gay Language

For LGBTQ+ History Month Brixton’s Radical Reading Group are reading Fabulosa! The Story of Polari, Britain's Secret Gay Language by Paul Baker.

Polari is a language that was used chiefly by gay men in the first half of the twentieth century. It offered its speakers a degree of public camouflage and a means of identification. Its colourful roots are varied ‐ from Cant to Lingua Franca and dancers' slang ‐ and in the mid‐1960s it was thrust into the limelight by the characters Julian and Sandy, voiced by Hugh Paddick and Kenneth Williams, on the BBC radio show Round the Horne.

Join us to discuss Paul Baker's funny tender history of Polari. All welcome, feel free to bring drinks and snacks. For a copy of the book please contact the library on 020 7926 1056.