There are a lot of historical novelists who do the research about the clothes and maybe even the eating utensils, but they're basically taking modern people and putting them in old drag - it's sort of the 'Gone With the Wind' approach. Edmund White approachbasicallyclothe share on social
Women and gay men have something in common after all: in that they are trying to deal with this goofy egotistical monster called a man. Edmund White callcommondeal Change image and share on social
The French are pretty thin-skinned. The few times I mentioned a French writer in 'City Boy,' the relatives would ring up in high dudgeon. I once wrote a mocking review of Marguerite Duras in the 'New York Review of Books,' and good friends of mine in France got very angry. Edmund White angrybookboy share on social
I've always been impelled to say the truth. When I was 14, in 1954, I already wrote a gay novel, though I'd never read one. I felt that life handed me a great subject, gay life, that had scarcely been examined, and I was impelled to record it in all its strange detail. Edmund White detailexaminefelt share on social
New York has been the subject of thousands of books. Every immigrant group has had its saga as has every epoch and social class. Edmund White bookclassepoch Change image and share on social
Of course the success of A Boy's Own Story took me utterly off guard. Edmund White boyguardstory Change image and share on social
In the 1970s in New York, everyone slept till noon. It was a grungy, dangerous, bankrupt city without normal services most of the time. The garbage piled up and stank during long strikes by the sanitation workers. A major blackout led to days and days of looting. The city seemed either frightening or risible to the rest of the nation. Edmund White 1970sbankruptblackout share on social
I'm an atheist, I always thought, 'This is it.' If there is going to be a heaven, it should be on earth. I feel much happier than most people. I'm fairly stoic about death, but I'm not keen on dying if it's going to be long and protracted. I don't have dark nights of the soul, except occasionally. I'm such a little busy bee. Edmund White atheistbeebusy share on social
Why did mainstream America come to accept marriage equality? Gay leaders had made a convincing case that gay families were like straight families and should have the same rights. The American spirit of fair play had been invoked. Edmund White acceptamericaamerican share on social
Paradoxically, since gay men rarely have gay parents, cultural transmission must come from friends or strangers (a problem since the generations so seldom mix in gay life). Edmund White culturalfriendgay Change image and share on social