Revolutionary bodies provides a detailed study of the erotics and politics of the male body in Irish fiction. Some of the authors discussed in the book include: Oscar Wilde, Brendan Behan, John Broderick, Colm Tóibín, Keith Ridgway, Jamie O'Neill, Micheál Ó Conghaile and Barry McCrea. The book critically analyses the emergence of contemporary Irish gay fiction since 1993, especially its most notable genres: the coming out romance and the historical romance. It assesses the role of the novel in the evolution of Irish LGBT politics, mapping a literary and cultural space where the utopian aspirations of sexual liberation have clashed with the reformism and neo-liberal political rationality of identity politics.

Revolutionary bodies offers a unique critical intervention into our understanding of queer Irish cultures in the wake of the 2015 referendum and the Varadkar election.

Reviews

'Revolutionary Bodies is an important and timely publication that provides a strong critique of the forces that have resulted in these dark and hopeless times, whilst also seeking, like some of the works it discusses, to guide us hopefully.'
Heather Liard, Estudios Irlandeses

'Effusive and utopian readings are sheltered by the strong theory of dialectical critique throughout [...] this book offers insight into how queer theories of embodiment and desire might help to organise alternative forms of collectivity in the age of neoliberalism.'
Patrick Mullen, Irish University Review

Introduction
1 Brendan Behan
2 John Broderick
3 Colm Tóibin
4 Romances: coming-out and gay historical
5 Three contemporary novels
Conclusion
Index