In Conversation With Jonathan Butler

Jonathan Butler combines true crime, memoir, family history, and queer history in his debut book The Boy in the Dress, nominated for The Age Book of the Year 2022. The book explores the unsolved 1944 murder of his relative Warwick Meale, a young serviceman on leave during WWII.

Butler spent a decade-long journey unearthing images, studies, and archival military and police records to piece together the story of Warwick, after his interest was sparked by a picture of Warwick as a child wearing a dress and family rumours that he was gay. The book documents the story of Warwick, intertwined with the story of Butler himself, and also sheds fresh light on Australia’s queer and military history. Butler will share insight into the story and the archival research he conducted for the book, in conversation with local history librarian Kate Davis.

This event is presented in celebration of IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism, and Transphobia).