About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherKnopf Doubleday Publishing Group

ISBN-101400030374

ISBN-139781400030378

eBay Product ID (ePID)2488728

Product Key Features

Book TitleCity and the Pillar : a Novel

Number of Pages240 Pages

LanguageEnglish

TopicLgbt / Gay, Coming of Age, Literary

Publication Year2003

GenreFiction

AuthorGore Vidal

Book SeriesVintage International Ser.

FormatTrade Paperback

Dimensions

Item Height0.6 in

Item Weight7 Oz

Item Length8 in

Item Width5.2 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceTrade

Dewey Edition19

TitleLeadingThe

Reviews"An artistic achievement." -The Washington Post "One of the best novels of its kind. . . . It isn't sentimental, and it is frank without trying to be sensational and shocking." -Christopher Isherwood "A brilliant exposé of subterranean life." -The Atlantic Monthly "Frank, shocking . . . extremely sympathetic, penetrating and exhortive." -New York Herald Tribune, "An artistic achievement." - The Washington Post "One of the best novels of its kind. . . . It isn't sentimental, and it is frank without trying to be sensational and shocking." -Christopher Isherwood "A brilliant exposé of subterranean life." - The Atlantic Monthly "Frank, shocking . . . extremely sympathetic, penetrating and exhortive." - New York Herald Tribune

Dewey Decimal813/.54

SynopsisA literary cause célèbre when first published in 1948, Gore Vidal's now-classic The City and the Pillar stands as a landmark novel of the gay experience. Jim, a handsome, all-American athlete, has always been shy around girls. But when he and his best friend, Bob, partake in "awful kid stuff," the experience forms Jim's ideal of spiritual completion. Defying his parents' expectations, Jim strikes out on his own, hoping to find Bob and rekindle their amorous friendship. Along the way he struggles with what he feels is his unique bond with Bob and with his persistent attraction to other men. Upon finally encountering Bob years later, the force of his hopes for a life together leads to a devastating climax. The first novel of its kind to appear on the American literary landscape, The City and the Pillar remains a forthright and uncompromising portrayal of sexual relationships between men., A literary cause c l bre when first published more than fifty years ago, Gore Vidal's now-classic The City and the Pillar stands as a landmark novel of the gay experience. Jim, a handsome, all-American athlete, has always been shy around girls. But when he and his best friend, Bob, partake in "awful kid stuff," the experience forms Jim's ideal of spiritual completion. Defying his parents' expectations, Jim strikes out on his own, hoping to find Bob and rekindle their amorous friendship. Along the way he struggles with what he feels is his unique bond with Bob and with his persistent attraction to other men. Upon finally encountering Bob years later, the force of his hopes for a life together leads to a devastating climax. The first novel of its kind to appear on the American literary landscape, The City and the Pillar remains a forthright and uncompromising portrayal of sexual relationships between men.

LC Classification NumberPS3568.O243