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White, Edmund (Editor); Vidal, Gore; Bowles, Paul; Williams, Tennessee & Other Contributors.
THE FABER BOOK OF GAY SHORT FICTION.
London, England:
Faber & Faber,
1991.
Hardcover.
First Edition/First Printing.
586 pages.
Fine/Fine.
Retrospective collection of short stories. One of the most important literary anthologies of the last decade of the 20th century. The true First Edition. Precedes and should not be confused with all other subsequent editions. There is no American edition. The brilliant DJ design utilizes the stupendous painting-collaboration, "Cilindrone", by Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Francesco Clemente. Presents thirty-two pieces which "explore expressions of homosexuality in the American and English literary tradition from the turn of the century to the present day. Includes selections from some of the most important names in 20th-century literature: Christopher Isherwood, William S. Burroughs, Gore Vidal, Tennessee Williams, Paul Bowles, and James Baldwin as well as stories from acclaimed contemporary writers: Armistead Maupin, Adam Mars-Jones, Alan Hollinghurst, David Leavitt, and Allan Gurganus. Writers at the beginning of their careers, Dennis Cooper, William Haywood Henderson, and Lev Raphael, are also represented" (Publisher's blurb). Edmund White, whose contribution, "Skinned Alive", is one of the best in the anthology, is uniquely suited to edit this collection: He is the all-important bridge between Gore Vidal, the greatest living American writer, who has never used the word "gay" himself, and Dennis Cooper, with whom being American is really just about the only thing Vidal has in common. The gamut of White's selections is intended to be representative rather than comprehensive. If the collection makes people, gay or otherwise, aware of Henry James' masterpiece, "The Pupil", and read Paul Bowles' breathtakingly beautiful "Pages From Cold Point" (about a father who seduces his willing son), it shall have done its job. A "must-have" title for all Modern First collectors. This presentation copy is very prominently and beautifully signed and inscribed in blue fountain pen on the front free endpaper by the author/editor: "With all my love, Edmund White". The recipient is named, unmistakably someone White knew personally (and loved). This is an Import title, was not commercially distributed in the United States, and has been out-of-print for a very long time. This is the only such signed and inscribed copy available online and is in fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright. A rare, one-of-a-kind signed copy thus. 32 of the world's finest writers. A fine copy. (SEE ALSO OTHER GORE VIDAL, PAUL BOWLES, TENNESSEE WILLIAMS, AND EDMUND WHITE TITLES IN OUR CATALOG). ISBN 0571144721. $100.00 |
