New Zealand's gay culture grew rapidly during the middle decades of the twentieth century. In Southern Men, Chris Brickell showcases three collections of private snapshots that show men at home and at war, spending time at the beach and showing off their physiques. These 215 images document men's lives, travels, friendships and leisure in the years before gay liberation. Excerpts from letters, diaries and interviews accompany the pictures and tell of love affairs on active duty, nude sunbathing, gossip, long-term relationships, and a community in the making.
