Burt’s book offers a collection of LGBTQIA+ poetry from after 1969. What makes this collection work so well is that it provides not only the poems, but also analyses of the work that place it in historical and literary context. Even if I didn’t like every poem presented, I still learned a lot about the authors, their influences, and their contemporaries. In that vein, I think this book is very successful and would be great for student or scholarly use.

The book’s primary weakness is one that Burt openly acknowledges in the work itself: it could feature more LGBTQIA+ writers with identities outside of gay and lesbian. Likewise, it could feature more racially and ethnically diverse authors. As mentioned, Burt does try to include as many identities as possible, but maybe there’s room for a follow up book with more focus on these less represented (and anthologized) authors.

Lovely collection of queer focused poetry., definitely a voice that we need to hear more from. Appreciate the packaging, title and presentation.