HomeGroupsTalkMoreZeitgeist
Search Site
This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and (if not signed in) for advertising. By using LibraryThing you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your use of the site and services is subject to these policies and terms.

Results from Google Books

Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.

Loading...

The City and the Pillar {original} (1948)

by Gore Vidal

Other authors: See the other authors section.

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
1942138,665 (3.62)20
A literary "cause celebre" 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.… (more)
Loading...

Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book.

No current Talk conversations about this book.

» See also 20 mentions

Showing 2 of 2
104/23. ( )
  Bella_Baxter | Jul 9, 2022 |
I'm shocked there aren't any reviews on LibraryThing for this book yet. This is a landmark gay novel, but infamous for its tragic ending that Gore Vidal later rewrote to soften the blow. I devoured this book when I found it in my college library and think that for all of its flaws it holds up to modern scrutiny. Overdue for a reread. ( )
1 vote ManWithAnAgenda | Jan 30, 2020 |
Showing 2 of 2
no reviews | add a review

» Add other authors (5 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Gore Vidalprimary authorall editionscalculated
Osti, AlessandraTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed

Belongs to Publisher Series

You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data.
For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.
Canonical title
Original title
Alternative titles
Original publication date
People/Characters
Important places
Important events
Related movies
Epigraph
But his wife looked back from behind him and she became a pillar of salt.
--GENESIS 19:26
Dedication
For the memory of J.T.
First words
The moment was strange.
Quotations
Last words
Disambiguation notice
This LT Work is Vidal's original 1948 novel, The City and the Pillar.
Publisher's editors
Blurbers
Original language
Information from the Italian Common Knowledge. Edit to localize it to your language.
Canonical DDC/MDS
Canonical LCC

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English

None

A literary "cause celebre" 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.

No library descriptions found.

Book description
Haiku summary

Current Discussions

None

Popular covers

Quick Links

Rating

Average: (3.62)
0.5
1
1.5 1
2 3
2.5
3 5
3.5 4
4 11
4.5 1
5 4

Is this you?

Become a LibraryThing Author.

 

About | Contact | Privacy/Terms | Help/FAQs | Blog | Store | APIs | TinyCat | Legacy Libraries | Early Reviewers | Common Knowledge | 202,646,327 books! | Top bar: Always visible