Luke Turner: Men at War

Men At War is a blend of history, biography and memoir about masculinity, sexuality,  how we remember the war and how that memory is exploited for political ends. Starting with Luke’s own obsession, from building kits to war films and fiction, it  explores subjects like the male body and physical fitness, memorials, jingoism, the bayonet, sex work, propaganda, the nature of bravery and how the war inspired so much literature and art. There's a cast of characters including bisexual Commando and Colditz POW Micky Burn, LGBT+ activist and prisoner on the River Kwai Dudley Cave, the late ballet dancer Henry Danton, the writers and Halifax aircrew of 158 Squadron Bomber Command, Quentin Crisp, erotic filmmaker Peter de Rome, gay Battle of Britain ace Ian Gleed, transgender RAF pilot Roberta Cowell, and many more.