by Lady Chablis
First published 1996
Benjamin Edward Knox knew from childhood that she was meant to be a girl. Born in Quincy, Florida in 1957, she survived abuse and complicated relationships with local authority figures during her teenage years. Her transformation began in a Tallahassee club where drag performer Miss Tina Devore became her mentor and guide. Moving to Atlanta's club scene, Chablis began hormone treatments and perfected her stage persona. She eventually founded the Savannah League of Uptown White Women, hosting elaborate dinner parties filled with gossip and cocktails. The Lady Chablis shares her journey with trademark wit and wisdom, including personal recipes like Brenda's Kickin' Chicken, beauty advice, and her own social register. This memoir captures both the humor and heartbreak of finding your true self in the American South.
Genres: autobiography, memoir, non-fiction, biography-memoir, transgender
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, self-discovery
Setting: Atlanta, Florida, Quincy, Savannah, Tallahassee, United States
Period: 1957-
207 pages · Hardcover · Pocket Books
Content warnings: abuse