Sphere swoops ‘ground-breaking’ book about drag history

Sphere has swooped P.S. Burn This Letter Please by Craig Olsen, a non-fiction book about the lives and loves of drag queens and sex workers in 1950s New York. Commissioning editor Callum Kenny acquired world all-language rights directly from the author.

According to Sphere, the book is the "first of its kind", and is in line with its aim to commission books that uncover the histories of marginalised people. It will be published in hardback, e-book, and audio in August 2023, with a B-format paperback following in 2024.

The book is based on a cache of letters that had been kept secret for 60 years when Olsen discovered them in 2014. The writers of these documents were drag queens hustling in 1950s New York, where being LGBTQ+ was illegal. 

In the book, Olsen pieces together their lives, seeking to understand the real-world consequences of subverting the gender binary at that moment in history. He weaves his own experience as a drag performer with anecdotes from the performers he tracked down. The book also features an introduction from "RuPaul’s Drag Race" season nine winner Sasha Velour, and the audiobook will be read by Vancouver-based drag performer Tony Casey (a.k.a. Shanda Leer).

Olsen is an entrepreneur who has worked across art, podcasting, production and interior design. He sits as chairman of the board for Barak Ballet and is a trustee of the Edward F Limato Foundation.

Olsen said: “These historic letters open a window into the underground drag scene of 1950s New York City, a forgotten era where being openly gay and performing in drag were considered taboo and dangerous. Through the first-hand accounts of those involved, the letters provide insight into the experiences of unsung pioneers of drag, highlighting both inspiring and tragic stories. The book, P.S. Burn this Letter Please, tells a touching tale of friendship and perseverance among brave individuals who risked everything to pursue their passion by living their truth simply by being themselves.”

Kenny said: “To be a custodian of these letters – artefacts of queer history – is an absolute honour. This book is an unforgettable and deeply moving encounter with a generation of incredible survivors, and a necessary account of the origins of modern drag culture, before "Paris is Burning" and "Drag Race" brought the art form to the mainstream. The letters reveal a community of recognisably gossipy, kind, hopeful, horny and resilient queer people whose world has rarely been documented. I couldn’t be prouder to shine a light on their lives.”