#caveat that i am casually acquainted with at least one author on this list lol

[xslytherclawx-writes]

hey i’m reading your ravenclaw au (love it so much so far!) and i was wondering if you had a list of older queer literature? because i’d like to start reading more of it!

thank you so much!!!

well, with the caveat of "what defines 'older'?"

first, there's the literature I've titled Ravenclaw AU after:

the poetry of Arthur Rimbaud (less overtly queer works-wise and a lot is meant to be as shockingly disturbing as possible but he did very much run away with Verlaine lol)

the works of Thomas Mann in general - Death in Venice is considered a classic (though I'd look up content warnings if you're sensitive to certain things), but I quoted Tonio Kröger which is a short story

Maurice by E.M. Forster

(Philippe Besson is a contemporary writer, but I'd recommend his works regardless)

Walt Whitman has a few poems on the subject of male beauty etc. that are flowery enough to be quoted outside

Ronald M. Schernikau!!! He died in the 90s at a young age, but regardless, I would consider him of a previous generation of queer literature - born in East Germany, emigrated to the West with his family, moved back to East Germany of his own free will (and studied in Leipzig like truly). I quoted kleinstadtnovelle, but die tage in l. is also highly recommended - though with the caveat that idk if his work has ever been translated and it's not stylistically an easy read for non-native speakers

(Aciman is also a contemporary writer, but again: highly recommended)

Klaus Mann! Yes, related to Thomas Mann (he's his son). I haven't actually read Mephisto though I've owned it for like a decade lol

the poetry of Wilfred Owen

Works / authors that I haven't referenced but would also recommend:

The Charioteer by Mary Renault

Gertrude Stein's works

the poetry of Allen Ginsberg. was the dude shit? yes. but his poetry is amazing.

Gore Vidal!

Larry Kramer!!!

Tony Kushner!

Patricia Highsmith

Edmund White's A Boy's Own Story (and subsequent books) is like... extremely fucked and very much a product of its time, but I think it's very good

and you didn't ask but contemporary works i'd recommend include:

literally anything Cat Sebastian has ever written, especially if you like Ravenclaw AU, because she specializes in coziness (my favorites are Two Rogues Make A Right and Peter Cabot Gets Lost)

How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee

Olivia Waite's works are very good as well - she specializes in F/F romance

KJ Charles if you like plottier romance (but they are romance)

Again reiterating: André Aciman and Philippe Besson!

I have not read Sarah Waters but people who I trust highly recommend her works.

But if you're looking for books that have similar vibes to Ravenclaw AU, definitely look at Cat Sebastian, even though she's a contemporary writer; most of the older works I've listed are not as, um, cozy.