Description
Book SynopsisThe members of the literary circle known as the Violet Quill -- Andrew Holleran, Felice Picano, Edmund White, Christopher Cox, Michael Grumley, Robert Ferro, and George Whitmore -- collectively represent the aspirations and the achievement of gay writing during and after the gay liberation movement. David Bergman's social history shows how the works of these authors reflected, advanced, and criticized the values, principles, and prejudices of the culture of gay liberation. In spinning many of the most important stories gay men told of themselves in the short period between the 1969 Stonewall Riots and the devastation of the AIDS epidemic during the 1980s, the Violet Quill exerted an enormous influence on gay culture. The death toll of the AIDS epidemic, including four of the Violet Quill's seven members, has made putting such recent events into a historical context all the more important and difficult. The work of the Violet Quill expresses the joy, suffering, grief, hope, activism, an
Trade Review"Only a scholarly expert in gay literature and cultural history could produce a book as comprehensive, compelling and informative as The Violet Hour. Yet Bergman avoids pedantry entirely, making his work as much of a treat to read as any of the best writings of men he is writing about." -- Mark Panos, Gay Life " The Violet Hour by David Bergman explores the aspirations and achievements of the gay writers known collectively as the Violet Quill." -- Out Magazine "Bergman's book is an interesting mix of literary scholarship and personal memoir." -- Gene Hayworth, The Independent Gay Writer "a readable page-turner...a fascinating group biography" -- Martha E. Stone, The Gay & Lesbian Review "It is a notable and worthy contribution to gay history and literary analysis." -- Gary L. Atkins, Seattle University, The Journal of American History "[Bergman] is extremely well-versed...and his study should prove a rich source." -- Arthur L. Little, Jr., American Literature "A perceptive and heartfelt study." -- Sean O'Toole, Journal of the History of Sexuality
Table of ContentsThese Shrieking Violets Gay Writing Before the Violet Quill Two Journeys Race and the Violet Quill Beauty and the Beach Love and Sex AIDS
