LGBTQ+ Classic Books You Need To Read
If you’re a fan of classic literature and love stories with queer themes, unforgettable LGBTQ+ characters, and groundbreaking queer authors, then oh bestie, do I have a list for you! LGBTQ+ classic literature has been pushing boundaries, shaking up the status quo, and giving us all the feels for centuries. Whether you’re craving queer romance novels, dramatic gothic vibes, or stories that scream resilience and rebellion, these books have it all.
From secret sapphic affairs to gay classics, and trailblazing tales of self-acceptance, this list is packed with must-read queer classic novels. Grab a cup of tea, get comfy, and let’s explore the best LGBTQ+ classic books you need to read!
19th Century: Gothic Horror, Forbidden Love, and Hidden Desires
Carmilla (1872) – Sheridan Le Fanu
Before Dracula was even a thing, Carmilla was already delivering major gothic novel energy with one of literature’s earliest sapphic relationships. This eerie, seductive story follows Laura, a young woman who falls under the spell of the mysterious and mesmerizing Carmilla. It’s got forbidden love, queer desire, and ALL the gothic vibes—basically, everything you need for a moody, candlelit reading session.
The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890) – Oscar Wilde
A beautiful man who refuses to age, a cursed portrait, and a whole lot of queer subtext? Sign me up. Oscar Wilde’s only novel follows the morally questionable (but ridiculously attractive) Dorian Gray, who sells his soul for eternal youth. Wilde—who was literally put on trial for homosexuality—infuses the book with themes of desire, secrecy, and self-destruction, making it a must-read in LGBTQ+ classic literature.
Early 20th Century: Identity, Rebellion, and Breaking Taboos
Maurice (written 1913-1914, published 1971) – E.M. Forster
A gay love story with a happy ending? In classic literature?! Written in secret and published after Forster’s death, Maurice follows Maurice Hall as he navigates his love for men in a society that basically says, “Nope, not allowed.” It’s romantic, it’s hopeful, and it’s a game-changer in early queer literature.
Orlando: A Biography (1928) – Virginia Woolf
If you love gender-bending stories, Orlando is calling your name. Woolf really said, “What if I write a novel where the main character literally changes gender and lives for centuries?” Inspired by her lover Vita Sackville-West, Orlando is a witty, genre-bending masterpiece that explores gender identity, fluidity, and what it means to exist beyond society’s expectations. It’s weird. It’s wonderful. You need it.
The Well of Loneliness (1928) – Radclyffe Hall
This book was so controversial that it was literally put on trial for obscenity in the UK (yes, really). The Well of Loneliness, considered one of the first openly lesbian novels, tells the heartbreaking story of Stephen Gordon, a woman who falls in love with another woman and struggles to find acceptance. While it’s not exactly a lighthearted read, its status as a pioneering sapphic novel makes it a must-read.
Nightwood (1936) – Djuna Barnes
This modernist novel is like stepping into a dream—intense, poetic, and wildly unique. Set in bohemian Paris, Nightwood is all about passionate, tangled queer love affairs, and it’s packed with gorgeous (and sometimes dizzying) prose. If you love books that make you feel like you’re floating through a surreal fever dream, this one’s for you. It’s complex, it’s experimental, and it’s one of the most unique explorations of LGBTQ+ identity in literature, making it a cult favorite.
Mid 20th Century: Forbidden Love and Bold New Voices
Funeral Rites (1947/48) – Jean Genet
Dark, poetic, and gloriously subversive, Funeral Rites dives deep into gay love, betrayal, and desire in Nazi-occupied France. Genet, an openly queer author, wasn’t afraid to get bold and radical with his storytelling, making this one of the most daring LGBTQ+ classics out there.
The City and the Pillar (1948) – Gore Vidal
One of the first gay novels to openly portray same-sex desire, The City and the Pillar follows Jim Willard, a young man searching for love and identity in a world that refuses to accept him. When it was published, it sent shockwaves through the literary world—and honestly, it’s still just as powerful today.
Another Country (1962) – James Baldwin
James Baldwin’s Another Country is raw, unflinching, and way ahead of its time. It follows the tragic figure of Rufus Scott, a Black jazz musician, and the lives of those around him, exploring bisexuality, interracial relationships, and the deep loneliness that comes with feeling like an outsider. Baldwin’s writing? Unmatched.
City of Night (1963) – John Rechy
This bold and gritty novel took the literary world by storm. City of Night pulls back the curtain on the underground world of male prostitution, shining a light on queer experiences that were rarely acknowledged in mainstream literature at the time. Rechy drew from his own life, including his experience with the Cooper Do-nuts Riot—one of the first known uprisings against police harassment of the queer community. Raw, unfiltered, and electric, this book is a landmark in gay literature.
A Single Man (1964) – Christopher Isherwood
This book is basically one long, intimate heart-to-heart. A Single Man follows George, a grieving English professor in 1960s Los Angeles, as he tries to navigate life after the death of his partner. Isherwood, a powerhouse in gay literature, beautifully captures the quiet struggles of queer life in a world that doesn’t always understand.
Late 20th Century: Celebrating Queer Life and Community
Dancer from the Dance (1978) – Andrew Holleran
Set in the dazzling, hedonistic gay scene of 1970s New York, Dancer from the Dance follows a young man who trades his conventional life for the exhilarating (and often heartbreaking) world of queer nightlife. It’s poetic, bittersweet, and captures the highs and lows of LGBTQ+ existence like nothing else.
Tales of the City (1978-2024) – Armistead Maupin
Warm, hilarious, and bursting with heart, Tales of the City introduces us to a found family of wonderfully eccentric characters in 1970s San Francisco. This iconic 10-novel series was groundbreaking for its time, and it remains an absolute gem in queer literature. Think of it as the cozy, chaotic group hug you never knew you needed.
LGBTQ+ classic literature has given us love, rebellion, heartbreak, and joy for centuries. These books paved the way for the queer representation we have today, and they still resonate with readers who want to see themselves reflected in literary history. Whether you’re here for gothic horror, groundbreaking queer love stories, or just really well-written books about LGBTQ+ identity, there’s a queer classic waiting for you.
Which of these LGBTQ+ classics have you read? Any favorites I missed?
