The City and the Pillar: A Novel
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.
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.
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.
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Community Reviews
This was interesting to read as a view into the times, but I wouldnât say it was necessarily a great book. It was interesting, but also it has misogyny and slurs (not super unexpected at the time, but I feel like I need to give a disclaimer). The plot is sort of meandering, and the two endings (original and rewrite) arenât as different as I expected. Itâs very much a coming of age/reckoning with self kind of story.
When this book was released, it was a huge scandal because it had a gay protagonist who was portrayed as sympathetic instead of sinful. It was originally published in 1948, right after WWII, with a rewrite in 1968. (This rewrite was not due to the subject matter. It was just a matter of Vidal feeling the ending wasnât quite right.) Vidal was blacklisted from many newspapers and magazines following this release, and he ended up using pseudonyms to get around this. Whatâs interesting is Vidal didnât label himself as gay. He believed in gay sexual acts, not gay love. He had a partner for many years. He considered himself unlabeled but at times used the word bisexual (he believed everyone was bisexual, though). You have to wonder how he would have felt and defined himself if heâd been born today.
While the portrayal of homosexuality was revolutionary at the time (sorry I keep saying âat the timeâ), it really focuses on strong masculinity and puts down effeminate gayness. But still, thereâs a lot of confusion and pain I understood in our MC⦠his inner life really endeared me to him. I would recommend reading this with historical interest, but if youâre looking for any gay classic, read Maurice instead.
âHe would suffer. He would know pain.
With infinite care and patience, he set about destroying his own happiness.â
Rating: 3
Category: Unacceptable to Publish
p.s. Iâm writing this on a plane :D
When this book was released, it was a huge scandal because it had a gay protagonist who was portrayed as sympathetic instead of sinful. It was originally published in 1948, right after WWII, with a rewrite in 1968. (This rewrite was not due to the subject matter. It was just a matter of Vidal feeling the ending wasnât quite right.) Vidal was blacklisted from many newspapers and magazines following this release, and he ended up using pseudonyms to get around this. Whatâs interesting is Vidal didnât label himself as gay. He believed in gay sexual acts, not gay love. He had a partner for many years. He considered himself unlabeled but at times used the word bisexual (he believed everyone was bisexual, though). You have to wonder how he would have felt and defined himself if heâd been born today.
While the portrayal of homosexuality was revolutionary at the time (sorry I keep saying âat the timeâ), it really focuses on strong masculinity and puts down effeminate gayness. But still, thereâs a lot of confusion and pain I understood in our MC⦠his inner life really endeared me to him. I would recommend reading this with historical interest, but if youâre looking for any gay classic, read Maurice instead.
âHe would suffer. He would know pain.
With infinite care and patience, he set about destroying his own happiness.â
Rating: 3
Category: Unacceptable to Publish
p.s. Iâm writing this on a plane :D
"Nothing that ever was changes. Yet nothing that is can ever be the same as what went before."
I have mixed feelings on The City and the Pillar. On one hand, it has such genuinely beautiful language and an emotional plot. On the other, Vidal's editorializing gets in the way of the enjoyment quite a bit. However, I still recommend that you read it; truly a gay classic, in the best and worst sense.
I have mixed feelings on The City and the Pillar. On one hand, it has such genuinely beautiful language and an emotional plot. On the other, Vidal's editorializing gets in the way of the enjoyment quite a bit. However, I still recommend that you read it; truly a gay classic, in the best and worst sense.
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