Giovanni's Room
An American in Paris, engaged to one person and in love with another, in Baldwin's shortest novel.
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The City and the Pillar
by Gore Vidal
A young man carries one attachment through a world determined to make him live as someone else.
- 1948
The story, briefly
Spoiler-freeJim Willard knows whom he desires, but the life around him expects conventional heterosexuality. Vidal follows the damage created when masculinity is built around denying what a man already knows about himself.
What's inside
A young American spends years carrying his love for another man through travel, war, and the demand that he conform.
Why we recommend it
Masculinity and denial
Its protagonist is not confused about his desire; the damage comes from building no honest life around it.
What this book explores
Book editions
Paperback
- Paperback
Reader reviews
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References
References
The sources below include the primary text, editions, scholarship, archival materials, and other records that informed this page. They document The City and the Pillar, its publication, and its place in literary history.
1The City and the Pillar — Open Library ISBN catalogue
Official recordOpen Library, Internet ArchiveUsed forOpen Library ISBN catalogue used to verify the title, ISBN, and publication metadata.
2The City and the Pillar — Google Books edition record
Official recordGoogle BooksUsed forGoogle Books catalogue record used to cross-check the title and edition metadata.
3The City and the Pillar — Internet Archive ISBN catalogue
Official recordInternet ArchiveUsed forInternet Archive ISBN catalogue used to cross-check the edition and its availability in library holdings.
4The City and the Pillar — Library of Congress books catalogue
Official recordLibrary of CongressUsed forLibrary of Congress books catalogue used to cross-check the bibliographic record by ISBN.
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Why these sources are here
The primary text is the baseline reference for every book page. Additional references document publication history, interpretation, and historical context where that evidence is available.
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