Camp has a rich, vibrant, discursive history. Since Susan Sontag’s Notes On “Camp” propelled camp further into discussions surrounding pop culture 60 years ago, questions have continued to be asked about this elusive sensibility. What is camp, and who is it for?

Paul Baker offers a glorious celebratory investigation into camp in his latest book, Camp!, which succeeds his brilliant explorations of Polari and Section 28. Opening with an accessible, far-reaching scope, Baker tracks the rise of camp globally through a joyous journey into the lives of key figures in popular culture, charting the ways in which camp has been able to capture and convey both joy and tragedy when nothing else can, from the early 18th century to the golden age of Hollywood, and more recently as drag has become internationally recognised and enjoyed.

It’s a book that beautifully articulates and vividly illustrates the significance of camp and its playful power that continues to be harnessed in the darkest moments in life, inviting us to join in with its unique charm and glory. Championing its vitality in sociopolitical and historical protests, subversion, and survival, Baker’s book is a shimmering and necessary assessment of camp. Hitherto too often misunderstood and dismissed, Camp! is a triumphant testament to an attitude that has indeed conquered the world.