Understanding the sexuality (homosexuality) of British society in the eyes of 19th - century Iranian travel writers

The Qajar era represents a critical period in the history of Iran–Europe relations. Encounters between Iranian travelers and Western social and cultural contexts significantly influenced their perceptions and inspired the production of the earliest Persian travelogues. Among these, Geramrudi’s account is particularly notable for its observations on English morals and customs, as well as its critical perspective on homosexual practices. His interpretations of these subjects have sparked considerable scholarly debate, with some viewing his account as historically reliable and others considering it fabricated or retaliatory. This study applies Max Weber’s theoretical framework alongside Alfred Schutz’s interpretive sociology to critically analyze Geramrudi’s narrative within its broader cultural and historical context. To further this analysis, representations and interpretations of same-sex relations in other contemporary Iranian travelogues are also examined, addressing the central question of how Persian travelers perceived sexuality in England, particularly regarding same-sex interactions. Methodological limitations in previous studies—including selective use of sources, neglect of the textual production context and lack of comparative analysis—underscore the necessity of the present research. A close textual and experiential reading of travel narratives concerning sexuality reveals the cultural tensions between Iran and England. The findings suggest that travelers’ accounts were shaped by lived experiences and implicit typologies embedded within the intersubjective structures of English culture. Some travel writers, preceding Geramrudi, had already addressed the topic of homosexuality in England, thereby corroborating the internal logic and coherence of his observations.