Fire Island: A Century in the Life of an American Paradise by Jack Parlett (Hardcover)

Fire Island has long been a sanctuary—a thin strip of barrier beach off Long Island where the ocean meets the pines, and where generations have come to be exactly who they are. In this captivating cultural history, Jack Parlett traces a century of transformation, from quiet fishing village to legendary queer haven, revealing the island’s role as a backdrop for creativity, resistance, and joy.

This is more than a history book. It’s a love letter to a place that has sheltered artists, activists, and dreamers through decades of change. Parlett weaves together vivid stories of the writers, performers, and everyday visitors who made Fire Island a refuge and a stage—a place where freedom felt possible, even when the world beyond the ferry slip was hostile. You’ll meet the figures who danced at the Pavilion, marched for rights, and built a community that endured through plague, prejudice, and shifting tides.

Fire Island is essential reading for anyone drawn to queer history, American cultural landscapes, or the magic of coastal places that hold secrets in their sand. Parlett’s prose is as luminous as a summer afternoon on the beach, grounded in meticulous research but never losing sight of the human stories at its heart.

Whether you’ve walked the boardwalks of Cherry Grove or only dreamed of them, this book invites you to discover how one small island became a symbol of resilience, belonging, and the radical act of living freely.