Queer readers have always found themselves in the classics — sometimes in open portrayals, more often in coded friendships and "romantic friendships" that the authors couldn't name. Many of these books are now in the public domain in the United States, so you can read them free.

Openly queer, and in the public domain

  • The Well of Loneliness (1928), Radclyffe Hall — the landmark lesbian novel that was banned in Britain after an obscenity trial. Public domain in the US since 2024.
  • Orlando (1928), Virginia Woolf — a poet who lives for centuries and changes sex halfway through; a love letter to Vita Sackville-West. Public domain in the US since 2024.
  • Joseph and His Friend (1870), Bayard Taylor — often called the first American gay novel.
  • Imre: A Memorandum (1906), Edward Prime-Stevenson — a rare happy ending between two men, published privately.

Coded, subtextual and endlessly reread

  • Carmilla (1872) — the vampire who loves women, and the template for sapphic gothic.
  • The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890) — used as evidence against Oscar Wilde at his trials.
  • Raffles: The Amateur Cracksman (1899) — a gentleman thief and his devoted companion Bunny; E. W. Hornung was Arthur Conan Doyle's brother-in-law.
  • Mrs Dalloway (1925) — Clarissa's memory of kissing Sally Seton is "the most exquisite moment of her whole life".

Why the public domain matters

Public-domain texts can be republished, adapted, annotated and translated by anyone. That's why so many queer retellings — and so many steampunk and gothic romances — reimagine these books. If you want the modern take, browse queer fantasy, lesbian & sapphic fiction and gay fiction.