Reading from Behind: A Cultural Analysis of the Anus: Exquisite Corpse

A playful romp through 'high' and 'low' culture, from The Big Bang Theory to the novels of Gore Vidal, opening up the hidden anal dimensions of culture, inviting us to giggle and overcome our sexual fears.

Jonathan A. Allan holds the Canada research chair in queer theory at Brandon University, Canada.

Introduction: No Wrong Doors: An Entryway 1. Anal Theory, or Reading from Behind 2. Orienting Virginity 3. Topping from the Bottom: Anne Tenino's Frat Boy and Toppy 4. Orienting Brokeback Mountain 5. Spanking Colonialism 6. Unlocking Delmira Agustini's 'El Intruso' 7. Shameful Matrophilia in Doña Herlinda y su hijo 8. Vengeful Vidal

Looks at the subject of the 'booty' with remarkable enthusiasm.
Jonathan Allan has come up with a whole theory of the arsehole.
Readers outside the academy will be rewarded with a fine example of textual analysis-and, possibly, a new appreciation of the anus as the most democratic and empowering of our body parts.
A serious work of theory, exploring the backside as a site of humiliation and disgust.
Allan's work is, in a sense, groundbreaking ... opening up a whole new field of study ... Allan's book should be required reading.
Assholes are like opinions: Everyone has them - but no one has more opinions on assholes than Jonathan Allan.
A remarkably fresh and original contribution to contemporary queer studies. I am confident that, withReading from Behind, Allan will emerge as a widely respected critical voice of his generation.
Entertaining and informative.
Allan reorients studies of anality.