ONE IN TWENTY

Bryan Magee made two documentaries on homosexuality in England, on which this book is based, synthesizing and summarizing a great many findings which recurred to such an extent that they are substantially true in most cases. Without ever raising an eyebrow or his voice, Magee has stated a great many facts, about male and female homosexuality, physical, psychological, social (their attitudes, the world's) and the modest figure of the title as against Jess Stearn's will indicate that it is much more reasonable in its approach. Two of the most interesting things here to emerge: (a) it is the recessive father, not the possessive mother, the deficient relationship with the father rather than the over-intense relationship with the mother, accounts for the male homosexual (made, not born); (b) psychoanalytic claims to the contrary, the ""cure"" through therapy does not stand up. British in derivation, this discusses necessarily the inequity of British laws but all the societal aspects, taboos, etc. are universal. The section on lesbianism is sketchier, but then this usually is a more discreet relationship, and of course he does not comment (nor has any book that we know of) on the seemingly rising incidence of homosexuality in this society (or is it just more overt?). But he does say a great deal, sensibly, simply and well without a trace of prurience.