'Berlins lesbische Frauen' - the publication that rocked Weimar Berlin

1920s Weimar Berlin was the capital of decadence where everyone was dancing on the edge of the volcano. Many tourists came just for the nightlife, especially gay men such at Christopher Isherwood - the originator of the stories that became 'Cabaret' - for Berlin was the gay capital of the world back then. But the partying and new sexual freedoms were but a moment of glitter before the devastating rise of Fascism - as 'Cabaret' demonstrates. My novel, A Secretive Life, features a 1920s Berlin cabaret star, Steffi - and it is through her that my novel captures the Berlin cabaret scene, its 'devine decadence' and horrific underbelly. Another Berlin character is the real-life Ruth Roellig - journalist, travel writer, novelist, lesbian - and devoted owner of a pet monkey. Ruth Roellig wrote the LGBT era-defining Berlin Travel Guide Berlins lesbische Frauen published in 1928 (pic of front cover above). It was reprinted several times, and finally banned by the Nazis c1938. More than a travel guide, it was actually a helpful directory for and about lesbians living in that crazy city - from how to find a doctor, a dressmaker, or a discrete private detective to which were the lesbian-friendly politicians or solicitors - and of course which were the best (and worst) gay clubs. Berlin's Lesbian Women had it all! - with photos and cartoons. This is 20th century LGBTI+ history, rarely told - especially where the lesbians take centre stage. There'll be more on Ruth Roellig in my next post. In the meantime, here's some original Berlin cabaret life
With a production of 'Cabaret' running at London's Playhouse staring Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley it's a pointed nod to the politics of the times - then and now. Here's a link to my novel A Secretive Life - which explores this Berlin scene in detail: https://www.amazon.com/Secretive-Life-Sara-Hardy-ebook/dp/B09DKLSH93/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

https://www.amazon.com.au/Secretive-Life-Sara-Hardy-ebook/dp/B09DKLSH93

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