Queer as folklore

This book takes the reader around the world on a journey to discover the queer stories behind the characters of folklore, from werewolves and faeries to demons and aliens.

Longlisted for the 2025 Polari Prize
Winner of Best Non-Fiction Book at the British Fantasy Society Awards 2025


‘The essays offer a welcome rebuke to those who would prefer to brand queerness as a subversive interloper only now being injected into traditional tales... Coward’s passionate and idiosyncratic tour of folk literature holds plenty of charm.’
Publishers Weekly

‘Coward shows himself to be an artful hand at simultaneously being the enthused archaeologist whilst also an engaging writer who deftly skirts both the realms of intellectual and popular culture.’
Attitude magazine

‘Essential for every seeker of hidden histories.’
Patrick Ness, author of the 'Chaos Walking' series

‘This book is a joy and a revelation.’
Divina De Campo

‘I learned something fascinating on every page.’
Christine Burns MBE

‘A magically queer celebration of darkness and light.’
Paul Baker, author of Fabulosa!

‘A glorious folkloric hug for those who have always felt different.’
Rhianna Pratchett, video game writer and journalist

‘Does the important work of writing queer people back into the idea of the traditional.’
Kit Heyam, author of Before We Were Trans

‘Mind-bogglingly compendious, queer as hell, and beautifully tender to all us fairies, unicorns and misunderstood demons.’
Will Tosh, author of Straight Acting

‘Meticulously researched ... Absolutely irresistible.’
Matt Baume, podcaster and author of Hi Honey, I'm Homo

Sacha Coward has worked in museums and heritage for over ten years. For the past three years, he has been freelancing as a historian, public speaker, tour guide and researcher. He has run LGBTQ+ focused tours for museums, cemeteries, archives and cities around the world. Sacha is passionate about queer history, mythology, folklore and storytelling in all their many forms. Queer As folklore is his first book.