February is LGBT+ History month, and as such Redbrick Culture are celebrating queer lives and biographies. In the first article of its kind, Harvey Eaton explores the extraordinary talent of photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, as well as some of his life's controversies and tragedies.

Culture writer Harvey Eaton recommends some of the best books by black female authors to read, not only in Black History Month, but all year round, celebrating 'the enormous contribution to literature made by people of colour'