In a novel, I think you have a contract with the reader to make the character representative - of a moment in history, a social class... for instance, I wanted to make the boy in 'A Boy's Own Story' more like other gay men of my generation in their youth and not like me. Edmund White boycharacterclass share on social
Fiction is the thing I esteem most in my own work; I feel that, even if it's no good, only I could have written those books. Edmund White bookesteemfeel Change image and share on social
My father was a misanthrope who slept all day and stayed up all night so that he wouldn't have to see people. He ran a business with a large staff but would go there at night and leave things for them to do during the day when he wasn't there. Edmund White businessdayfather share on social
One of the side benefits of staying in the closet is you can have a much bigger career. Edmund White benefitbigcareer Change image and share on social
I longed for literary celebrity even as I saw with my own eyes how little happiness it brought. Edmund White bringcelebrityeye Change image and share on social
Paris can be like the land of the Lotus-Eaters. You can't leave. Edmund White eaterlandleave Change image and share on social
I think I could be a cook. Everybody always says I'm good, though I think it's quite gruelling as a profession. Edmund White cookgoodgruelling Change image and share on social
The culmination of a long struggle was 2013, which could clearly be labeled the Year of the Gay. State after state had legalized gay marriage, despite intense opposition from the religious right. Edmund White culminationgayintense Change image and share on social
Looking back, I can see that the women I loved, at least early on, were status symbols. I suppose, in that sense, I was my mother's true disciple. She'd taught me that a good man, though elusive, could transform one's whole life once he was caught. Edmund White backcatchdisciple share on social
Originally I was opposed to gay assimilation and targeted gay marriage as just another effort on the part of gays to resemble their straight neighbours. Edmund White assimilationeffortgay Change image and share on social
