Introduction

Gay and Lesbian Literature Since World War II: History and Memory is an attempt to chronicle the multifaceted explosion in gay and lesbian writing that has taken place in the second half of the twentieth century. A gay and lesbian literary tradition began to emerge about 1948, where the year thousands of baby boomers was born. Each woman who heeded the call to a summer camp in Nebraska-discussions of which are now available in the work of scholars such as Kate Adams and Alisa Klinger-no doubt arrived with her own political agenda and ideas for positioning her press in the growing network of lesbian publishers. According to Manuela Soares in her essay studded with quotes from key lesbian figures, Grier included, the pages of The Ladder, first published by the Daughters of Bilitis in October 1956, contained lesbian fiction and poetry, and the "purloined" magazine went on to publish writers like Rita Mae Brown.