The City and the Pillar: A Novel by Gore Vidal

Jim and Bob are all American teens who spend their last night of summer together. Jim leaves home in search of Bob, his only love.



Rating: Four Stars****

Genre: GLBT

Summary: Jim and Bob are a handsome pair. They are popular for their looks and athleticism, and all the women wish to be with them. Even though Bob talks about liking women and even has a girlfriend, Jim has fantasies about Bob. One night these fantasies come true when Bob and Jim spend their last night of summer in a cabin retreat because Bob will be graduating soon from high school. A night of playful wrestling turned into three days of affection between the two. Bob leaves to New York, and once Jim graduates the following year, he leaves in search of him. After an unsuccessful search, he joins the service and lives a life experimenting and living with Shaw, a closeted Hollywood star. He also meets and is lives with a tormented writer, Sullivan, but then leaves him because he cannot come to terms with being without Bob. After years away from home, Jim finally reunites with Bob that leads to a tragic ending.

Evaluation: As one of the first novels about homosexuality, the story is contemporary and interestingly relevant. Jim is often hit on by women, and even though he never comes out as being 'gay', he can never sleep with a woman and his liveliness only shows for Bob.

Read-a-likes: Blackbird by Larry Duplechan and Michael Nava
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
Gore Vidal: Sexually Speaking: Collected Sex Writings 1960-1998