NEW YORK (AP) – Andrew Sean Greer, a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, reflects on the impact of reading Edmund White for the first time during the summer of 1989, just as he was beginning his second year at Brown University and coming out. Greer discovered White's acclaimed coming-of-age novel, “A Boy’s Own Story,” and noted the groundbreaking nature of the work, particularly its lack of shame or self-hatred often present in gay literature of that era. Greer, whose novel “Less” won the Pulitzer for fiction in 2018, remarked, “Reading was all we had in those days – the private, unshared experience that could help you explore your private life. Ed invented so many of us.”
White, recognized as a pioneer in contemporary gay literature, passed away at the age of 85 this week. His legacy includes influential works like “A Boy’s Own Story” and “The Beautiful Room Is Empty,” which provided validation and a sense of identity to countless younger writers. Authors including Greer consider White's writing as more than just an influence; it represents a rite of passage. Robert Jones Jr., author of the National Book Award finalist “The Prophets,” emphasized how White challenged conventional American assumptions regarding desire, love, and sex.
Jones recounted his experience as a teenager in the 1980s while reading “A Boy’s Own Story.” He found the book in a gay neighborhood in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, a space he described as “the safest place for a person to be openly queer in New York City.” Reflecting on that period, Jones noted the overwhelming media narrative centered on AIDS, fostering an environment of fear and stigma surrounding queerness. He articulated the personal significance of White’s work, stating it was the first time literature affirmed that queer men have a childhood and that his own desires were natural, countering the negative narrative surrounding homosexuality.
Since the 1970s, White authored over 25 books, which encompassed novels, memoirs, plays, and biographies, including “The Joy of Gay Sex,” a response to the best-selling “The Joy of Sex.” In recognition of his contributions to literature, the Edmund White Award for Debut Fiction was established by the Publishing Triangle, honoring new voices in gay literature. Carol Rosenfeld, chair of the Triangle, remarked on White’s supportive nature towards young writers, encouraging them to explore and expand their individual visions.
The award has recognized numerous emerging authors since its inception in 2006, including the works of Myriam Gurba and Joe Okonkwo. Earlier this year, Jiaming Tang received the award for “Cinema Love,” a story exploring the lives of gay men in rural China. Tang, who read “A Boy’s Own Story” in his early 20s, expressed the profound influence both White and the book had on his gay coming-of-age journey, highlighting White's unique ability to capture the complexities of growing up gay.
Tang praised White’s writing style, describing it as filled with “intimate specificity and humor,” remarking that the author effectively encapsulated the “electric excitement and crushing loneliness” that gay men experience during adolescence. He concluded by stating, “There’d be no gay literature in America without Edmund White,” underscoring the author's monumental impact on the literary landscape.
