The Female-Impersonators by Earl Lind pse - Firsthand 1922 Memoir

In this review of The Female-Impersonators, the reviewer examines a rare 1922 sequel that chronicles six years of the author's career as an instinctive female-impersonator in New York's underworld. This edition is aimed at readers researching early 20th century gender variance, social history, and psychology; the single biggest reason to buy is its firsthand narrative combined with accounts of the author's androgyne associates, which provide unique contemporary perspectives not typically available in modern summaries. The review assesses readability, historical value, and psychological insight.

Key Features

• Firsthand narrative: The text delivers a direct account of six years as an instinctive female-impersonator, giving readers primary-source detail on daily life and performance contexts.
• Sequel continuity: As a follow-up to the Autobiography of an Androgyne, the book expands on earlier material and deepens understanding of the author's personal trajectory.
• Profiles of associates: The included life stories of androgyne associates broaden the scope beyond a single memoir and offer multiple lived experiences for study.
• Psychological observations: The author outlines acquired knowledge of kindred phenomena of character and psychology, useful for those studying historical perspectives on gender and identity.
• Historical context: Published in 1922, the work situates its accounts within the social and underworld milieu of early 20th century New York, valuable for historians and cultural researchers.

Who It's For

The Female-Impersonators is best for readers and researchers interested in historical gender studies, sexuality, and early psychological commentary, and for anyone seeking a primary-source memoir of queer life and performance in 1920s New York. Academics, graduate students, and serious nonfiction readers will find the firsthand perspective and associate biographies especially useful.

Those looking for contemporary clinical guidance, modern terminology, or a scholarly annotated edition may need to supplement this book with recent research, as the work reflects the language and conceptual frameworks of its publication era rather than modern clinical practice.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Rare firsthand account provides direct primary-source material for historical and cultural study.
• Expanded narrative beyond a single author through life stories of associates, enhancing comparative insight.
• Observations on character and psychology give readers historical hypotheses about identity and social behavior.

Cons

• The language and explanations reflect 1922 perspectives and may feel dated to readers seeking modern clinical clarity.

Specifications

Title	The Female-Impersonators
Author	Earl Lind pse
First published	1922
Content focus	Autobiography sequel and associates' life stories
Primary subjects	Female-impersonation, androgyne life, psychology
Setting	New York underworld, early 20th century

Our Verdict

The Female-Impersonators is a valuable purchase for historians and readers wanting an unfiltered primary account of gender performance and social life in 1920s New York; its firsthand reporting and associate biographies make it good value for research, though contemporary readers should be prepared for period-specific language and assumptions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a firsthand account?
Yes. The book recounts the author's six years working as an instinctive female-impersonator and presents personal observations.

Does it include other people's stories?
Yes. It contains life stories of the author's androgyne associates in addition to the main narrative.

Is the content modern in its terminology?
No. The work reflects 1922 language and perspectives and should be read as a historical primary source rather than a modern clinical text.