Product Description

'Stephen Barber's biography of Edmund White is both a work of literary merit and the ideal companion to its subject's life and achievements . . . profoundly insightful . . . illuminating . . . This is a book to be recommended, not only to Edmund White's many readers, but to those who care for the valency of a new critical language finding rapport with a constantly exciting subject' The Times

'He calls it a "biography"; I believe it to be something rarer than this. It is simultaneously a presentation of Edmund White's actual life and oeuvre, with specific details and ananalyses, and of a more general creative spirit being acted on by a time, a society, a culture and in turn giving back to it, even affecting it . . . Stephen Barber is a cultural historian of real distinction . . . and he gives us here superb, rich, unjudgemental portraits of multi-stranded societies at given times . . . A brilliant and often profound book . . . he rises to heights of which his subject (and friend) must surely himself be proud' Independent on Sunday

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #951151 in Books
• Published on: 2000-08-11
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Customer Reviews

An excellent companion to the work of a great gay writer
This is a great literary biography. It combines solid research into the life and work of Edmund White, one of the most imaginative and passionate gay writers of the last half century, with the kind of human touches that bring biography alive. Stephen Barber moves effortlessly from White's life to his work and back again, painting a fascinating portrait not only of White's own adventures and career, but providing the reader with profound insights into the bigger picture of gay life and culture in America and Paris, from Stonewall to AIDS and beyond. The discussion of White's writing stays fresh and relevant to his literary ideals and the context of his life - it makes you want to go back and read his books all over again. The book is also fairly balanced - it avoids taking sides in the bitter debates that have raged over what gay male culture and identity should be, and instead tries to present a range of different perspectives and possibilities. Readable, entertaining, informative and thought-provoking - I highly recommend this book.

An excellent companion to the work of a great gay writer
This is a great literary biography. It combines solid research into the life and work of Edmund White, one of the most imaginative and passionate gay writers of the last half century, with the kind of human touches that bring biography alive. Stephen Barber moves effortlessly from White's life to his work and back again, painting a fascinating portrait not only of White's own adventures and career, but providing the reader with profound insights into the bigger picture of gay life and culture in America and Paris, from Stonewall to AIDS and beyond. The discussion of White's writing stays fresh and relevant to his literary ideals and the context of his life - it makes you want to go back and read his books all over again. The book is also fairly balanced - it avoids taking sides in the bitter debates that have raged over what gay male culture and identity should be, and instead tries to present a range of different perspectives and possibilities. Readable, entertaining, informative and thought-provoking - I highly recommend this book.