Queerguru wants to add their congrats to the winners of this year’s POLARI PRIZE for the best new queer literature. The ‘Polaris’ the gift of the literary salon of the same name that was founded by writer and journalist Paul Burston are THE most prestigious awards of their kind and are highly sought-after. (Sort of a cross between the Man Booker Prize and The Oscars…)
Last night in London’s Southbank it was announced that Diana Souhami had won the 2021 Polari prize for No Modernism Without Lesbians. It is an account of a group of gay women who helped to begin the modernist movement. Souhami has previously written biographies of prominent queer creatives Radclyffe Hall and Gluck, as well as a book about Gertrude Stein’s relationship with Alice B Toklas.
Douhami tweeted earlier today Thrilled to win the Polari Prize. At my age (81). The trophy’s on my desk as my reward and talisman. All praise to Paul Burston who ensures the gamut of queer voices get heard.
No Modernism without Lesbians is published by Zeus Books
Another happy face at the Awards Evening was that of criminal barrister Mohsin Zaidi, He won the Polari First Book Prize for his memoir A Dutiful Boy about his experience of growing up gay in a devout Muslim household and being in denial about his sexuality.
A Dutiful Boy is published by Penquin Books UK
P.S. The Next Polari Salon is on World AIDS Day Wednesday 1st December 2020 @ 7pm at HEAVEN Hosted by author Paul Burston with special guests - Neil Bartlett - legendary theatre director, performer and author, reading from his new short story collection Address Book (Queerguru's interview with Neil will be published Nov 4th) Diana Souhami - trail-blazing historian and Polari Prize winning author of No Modernism Without Lesbians Adam Zmith - debut author of Deep Sniff - A History of Poppers and Queer Futures, sharing tales of celebs, nightclubs and cheeky bottles of poppers (Read Queerguru's review HERE) Plus live performance from award-winning drag queen and LGBTQ+ activist Son of a Tutu. Book Tickets HERE
Labels: 2021, Paul Burston, Polari Prizes
