Queer Heroes of Myth and Legend: A Celebration of Gay Gods, Sapphic Saints, and Queerness Through the Ages

Great book

Got it as a gift for a friend and they loved it!!!

Poorly written, but what did anyone expect with a book? His book cover is plasticIs this like a cliff notes book little thought went into writing it and I can’t believe it’s the best seller

Let me start by clarifying: this book is by a different Dan Jones—not the medieval historian, which caused some confusion when I bought it. Audible and Goodreads have now corrected the error, but it was a surprise.As for the content—this is a light, entertaining read that offers short, accessible chapters on a wide range of mythological figures, not just from Greek and Norse myths but also from African, Asian, and Indigenous cultures + some iconic TV series and Games. The intent to celebrate queer identity across global traditions is clear and often delightful.That said, the tone is pure pop history: breezy, repetitive (“so far, so queer” gets overused), and not especially well sourced. The first chapter sets the tone by leaning heavily on The Song of Achilles rather than the Iliad, and that general lack of critical depth continues.While I appreciated most of the interpretations, the book sometimes strays into exactly the kind of revisionism it claims to avoid—like suggesting Sam and Frodo as a queer couple, which felt unnecessary and a bit forced. Queerness is broad and inclusive; it doesn’t require every close male friendship to be romantic or sexual.Enjoyable as a colourful, inclusive collection, just don’t expect scholarly analysis—or the historian Dan Jones.

This is a real gem of a book. It's fun, funny and interesting and provides a great over view of queer myths and legends.