You don't have to be British to enjoy reading "Queer London: Perils and Pleasurers in the Sexual Metropilis, 1918-1957" (Matt Houlbrook, University of Chicago Press, 2005). A lecturer at the University of Liverpool, Houlbrook takes a scholarly approach to describing how gay culture evolved in the 20th century. Of particular interest is the venues that went in and out out favor. The art of street cruising was perfected along with the the ability to improvise public (parks, urinals) and private (cinemas, bars) spaces.