A random collection of over 1994 books and audiobooks authored by or about my transgender, intersex sisters, and gender-nonconforming persons all over the world. I read some of them, and I was inspired by some of them. I met some of the authors and heroines, some of them are my best friends, and I had the pleasure and honor of interviewing some of them. If you know of any transgender biography that I have not covered yet, please let me know.
Full title: "Outrageous Misfits: Female Impersonator Craig Russell and His Wife, Lori Russell Eadie" by Brian Bradley.
“Outrageous Misfits: Female Impersonator Craig Russell and His Wife, Lori Russell Eadie” by Brian Bradley is a captivating exploration of a life lived in defiance of convention, a story where glamour, audacity, and vulnerability intertwine in a complex portrait of love and performance. Craig Russell was a Canadian entertainer whose fame spanned continents, renowned for his dazzling impersonations of Hollywood icons such as Mae West, Judy Garland, Bette Midler, and Barbra Streisand. He became a symbol of the flamboyance and courage that marked the early drag scene, taking female impersonation from niche clubs to international stages in cities like Las Vegas, Berlin, London, and Paris. The book traces his rise from a Toronto teenager enthralled with Mae West to a stage sensation whose talents captivated audiences across the globe, detailing his work in theaters, film, and television, including his groundbreaking role in the cult classic film Outrageous!, which earned him the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the Berlin International Film Festival.
2020,
Brian Bradley,
Craig Russell,
English,
Full title: "Craig Russell and His Ladies" by David Street.
David Street’s book Craig Russell and His Ladies opens a vivid window into the life and career of Craig Russell, born Craig Eadie in Toronto in 1948, who became one of Canada’s most celebrated female impersonators and actors. From a young age, Russell displayed a fascination with performance and glamour, becoming president of Mae West’s fan club as a teenager, an experience that eventually led him to live briefly in Los Angeles as her secretary.
This early exposure to show business and the celebrity world gave him an intimate understanding of the artistry he would later bring to his impersonations. Returning to Toronto, he pursued a dual life, working as a hairdresser while performing in gay clubs, where by 1971 he had begun to build a substantial international following. His ability to capture the essence of legendary female stars such as Carol Channing, Bette Davis, Barbra Streisand, Marlene Dietrich, Tallulah Bankhead, Judy Garland, and many others set him apart as a performer of extraordinary range and skill. Audiences from Las Vegas to Berlin, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Hamburg, and Sydney flocked to see him, drawn by the precision, charisma, and humor of his performances.
1979,
Canada,
Craig Russell,
David Street,
Drag queen,
English,
