(Vancouver, BC) – October 11, 2011 – It took 15 years of research by Author Robert Greene to create and develop stories of gay male love set in different cultures around the World. This collection of short stories is a wonderful assortment of classic and global fables. The invention of these stories is based upon cultural awareness of gay men in history particularly the stories of gay men who live in societies where gay life is considered taboo.
One short story is based in part on the Arabic poet Abu Nuwas (b756). Many of Abu Nuwas poems/songs have strong homoerotic overtones. Abu Newas poems were especially keen on the “sexual passivity of men”. Abu Nuwas is considered one of the greatest of classical Arabic poets.
As a child, “his mother is reported to have sold him into slavery” says Greene ” Rumour has it that his grace and beauty came to the attention of a male cousin who bought his freedom” This came from studies of Arabic history. It was from this legend and others, that Greene was able to write the short story “The Journey And The Jewels” which was originally published by “Letters From Camp Rehoboth” in February 2006.
“The Journey and the Jewels” is a fiction story that tells of a young Arabic prince who learns of romantic love through a childhood servant but loses his love in a family cover up. When the prince hears of another prince in the far away land, he makes the perilous long journey to meet him. At the end of the trip, he finds both the prince and the childhood servant (who was sold into slavery) and must decide whom to love.
“Our history has been kept hidden, ” says Greene” I just want to bring together the rich heritage of historical gay romanticism. “Gays have suffered because we have been denied access to our beautiful and empowering The records and stories of gay and lesbian existence need to be revived and retold so that call people know gays and lesbians exist in their history.”
In “The Gay Icon Classics Of The World’ , Greene hopes to piece gay romantic history back one story at a time.
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