This is a rare and unread vintage collectors edition of THE CITY AND THE PILLAR by GORE VIDAL. It was originally published in 1948 by E.P. DUTTON & COMPANY, INC. but this SIGNET BOOKS edition was published in 1961. The book is 192 pages long and measures 5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches. This book is a must-have for any fan of classic gay literature. A 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. Don't miss your chance to own this rare and unique book! See photos for condition.

SYNOPSIS
"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."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gore Vidal (1925-2012) was an American novelist, essayist, playwright, and screenwriter. He was a public intellectual and political commentator, and he was known for his sharp wit and his willingness to challenge conventional wisdom. Vidal was born into a wealthy family in New York City. He attended St. Albans School, a private school in Washington, D.C., and he later studied at Exeter College, Oxford. He published his first novel, Williwaw, when he was only 19 years old.

Vidal's most famous novel is The City and the Pillar, which was published in 1948. The novel is about a young man who comes to terms with his homosexuality. It was one of the first novels to deal with homosexuality in a sympathetic way, and it was a landmark work of gay literature.

Vidal was also a prolific essayist and playwright. His essays were often controversial, and he was a frequent critic of American society and politics. His plays were also provocative, and they often dealt with themes of sexuality and power.

Vidal was a complex and contradictory figure. He was a brilliant writer and a sharp critic, but he was also arrogant and elitist. He was a gay man who was often critical of the gay rights movement, and he was a lifelong Democrat who was often critical of the Democratic Party.

Despite his flaws, Vidal was a towering figure in American literature and culture. He was a fearless writer who was not afraid to challenge the status quo, and he left behind a body of work that will continue to be read and discussed for years to come.

Here are some of Gore Vidal's most famous works:

NOVELS
Williwaw (1946)
The City and the Pillar (1948)
The Dark Side of the Renaissance (1968)
Myra Breckinridge (1968)
Julian (1964)

ESSAYS
Reflections on a Sunlit Garden (1963)
Sex, Death and Politics (1981)
United States of America (1992)
Dreaming War and Other Essays (2002)
The American Empire: Essays on the Political Culture (2004)

PLAYS
The City and the Pillar (1950)
Death of a Salesman (1951)
The Best Man (1960)
Romulus and Remus (1965)
An Evening with Gore Vidal (1992)

Vidal was a recipient of numerous awards, including the National Book Award, the Edgar Allan Poe Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and the PEN American Center's Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

I'm selling my collection of vintage 1950-1980s gay pulp paperback novels, pictorial magazines, physique photography and magazines, artwork & other LGBTQ ephemera.