Description

Flamboyance ignites every aspect of our lives, from art and entertainment to ritual and protest. The word conjures exuberance and unashamed passion; in thought, expression and dress. Yet historically the term ‘flamboyant’ has been reserved for the over-the-top and the outre, invoked at times as a pejorative innuendo or worse.

In his fascinating new book, Jack Parlett argues for its value as an empowering and creative force, illuminating the ways in which flamboyance is a fundamental aspect of human conduct that both marks and transcends difference.

Taking in an eclectic array of examples, from Gothic architecture to the orange flowers of Dungeness, and populated by figures such as Oscar Wilde, James Baldwin, Elton John, Amy Winehouse, Lil Nas X and Chappell Roan, this is a book about flamboyant art and the art of flamboyance. And having both aspired to it and rejected it, Jack recounts his personal relationship to flamboyance while also finding new meanings of the word, exploring its surprises and contradictions, and reconnecting with its radical power.

Publisher Review

This gorgeously written and incisive study of flamboyance, by a rising star among cultural historians, will change the way you see the people and things that simply will not behave * Telegraph * [A] rare book that combines intellectual rigour, deep research and compelling memoir… I loved Flamboyance and will carry it with me for years to come — Shannon Reed Jack Parlett has magically crafted an open-hearted portrait of not only queer history but also the very foundations of pop culture. Flamboyance never falters in its generosity — Lovell Holder