Reclaiming the Heartland

Reclaiming the Heartland

Lesbian and Gay Voices from the Midwest

Karen Lee Osborne and William J. Spurlin, editors

OUT OF PRINT

A look at lesbian and gay life from a unique vantage point—that of the Midwest.

This important and diverse new collection by writers and artists who have lived in the Midwest presents a wide range of fiction, poetry, memoir, essays, and photography, adding a vital point of view to the canon of lesbian and gay literature.

It seems obvious, and yet isn't, that not only are there lesbians and gay men living in the Midwest, but the Midwest offers a dynamic, if different, locus of lesbian and gay life. All too often, the discussion focuses on cities on the East and West coasts—New York, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco. Through their selection of works to be included in this volume, Osborne and Spurlin challenge the common portrayal of the Midwest as repressive and backward, pointing out the danger inherent in defining lesbian and gay identity and community too narrowly.

Reclaiming the Heartland is composed of works as diverse in form as they are in point of view: "Christmas in the Midwest" by Maureen Seaton is a poem about a woman who brings her lesbian lover home in hopes of acceptance and validation from her parents; in D. Travers Scott's story "Digestion" a group of urban gay male friends engages in a lively debate about gender conformity, all the while enjoying an exquisitely prepared dinner; the protagonist in "Luke Giovanni's Canoe" beautifully recalls her father's intense, private battle to protect the wildlife near their home in Michigan.

An essential addition to every gay and lesbian bookshelf, Reclaiming the Heartland explores the complexity of queer identity and demonstrates that beyond signifying a geographic space, the Midwest is also a perspective, a way of positioning oneself in the world.

"Reclaiming the Heartland: Lesbian and Gay Voices from the Midwest is one of the finest anthologies I've read recently, and its appeal goes far beyond the assumed target. Spurlin's well-written and straightforward introductory essay does a fine job of conveying the historical and geographic context of this beautiful and eclectic collection." —Bay Guardian Literary Supplement

"Wonderful writing." —The Advocate

"Reclaiming the Heartland: Lesbian and Gay Voices from the Midwest is a first-rate anthology of gay and lesbian writing that includes poetry, stories, memoirs and essays. Reclaiming the Heartland is a winner." —LIT: Chicago New City's Literary Supplement

"An interesting and well-written collection of prose and poetry." —Lesbian Review of Books

Karen Lee Osborne is a novelist who teaches literature at Columbia College in Chicago. Among her published works are Carlyle Simpson (1986) and Hawkwings (1991).

William J. Spurlin is Visiting Scholar at Columbia University in New York. He edited The New Criticism and Contemporary Literary Theory (1995).

256 pages | 6 halftones | 5 7/8 x 9 | 1996



Reclaiming the Heartland *Lesbian and Gay Voices from the Midwest* Karen Lee Osborne and William J. Spurlin, editors		OUT OF PRINT
A look at lesbian and gay life from a unique vantage point—that of the Midwest. This important and diverse new collection by writers and artists who have lived in the Midwest presents a wide range of fiction, poetry, memoir, essays, and photography, adding a vital point of view to the canon of lesbian and gay literature. It seems obvious, and yet isn't, that not only are there lesbians and gay men living in the Midwest, but the Midwest offers a dynamic, if different, locus of lesbian and gay life. All too often, the discussion focuses on cities on the East and West coasts—New York, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco. Through their selection of works to be included in this volume, Osborne and Spurlin challenge the common portrayal of the Midwest as repressive and backward, pointing out the danger inherent in defining lesbian and gay identity and community too narrowly. Reclaiming the Heartland is composed of works as diverse in form as they are in point of view: "Christmas in the Midwest" by Maureen Seaton is a poem about a woman who brings her lesbian lover home in hopes of acceptance and validation from her parents; in D. Travers Scott's story "Digestion" a group of urban gay male friends engages in a lively debate about gender conformity, all the while enjoying an exquisitely prepared dinner; the protagonist in "Luke Giovanni's Canoe" beautifully recalls her father's intense, private battle to protect the wildlife near their home in Michigan. An essential addition to every gay and lesbian bookshelf, Reclaiming the Heartland explores the complexity of queer identity and demonstrates that beyond signifying a geographic space, the Midwest is also a perspective, a way of positioning oneself in the world. "Reclaiming the Heartland: Lesbian and Gay Voices from the Midwest is one of the finest anthologies I've read recently, and its appeal goes far beyond the assumed target. Spurlin's well-written and straightforward introductory essay does a fine job of conveying the historical and geographic context of this beautiful and eclectic collection." —Bay Guardian Literary Supplement "Wonderful writing." —The Advocate "Reclaiming the Heartland: Lesbian and Gay Voices from the Midwest is a first-rate anthology of gay and lesbian writing that includes poetry, stories, memoirs and essays. Reclaiming the Heartland is a winner." —LIT: Chicago New City's Literary Supplement "An interesting and well-written collection of prose and poetry." —Lesbian Review of Books Karen Lee Osborne is a novelist who teaches literature at Columbia College in Chicago. Among her published works are Carlyle Simpson (1986) and Hawkwings (1991). William J. Spurlin is Visiting Scholar at Columbia University in New York. He edited The New Criticism and Contemporary Literary Theory (1995). 256 pages \| 6 halftones \| 5 7/8 x 9 \| 1996