Synopses & Reviews
Twenty-three writers join together to explore the life and work of Larry Kramer, pioneer AIDS activist and acclaimed author of
The Normal Heart and
Faggots, in this original collection. The Academy Award-nominated screenwriter, producer, novelist, playwright, and co-founder of GMHC and founder of ACT-UP is one of the few visible gay role models we have for young people today. This unique volume focuses on Kramer as activist, writer, and personality. A controversial figure in the worlds of activism and letters, Kramer embodies the phrase, "the personal is political." This collection proves the impossibility of separating the activist from the writer and why perceptions of Kramer run from genius to provocateur.
Synopsis
Larry Kramer, America's highest-profile gay man, is known world-wide as an activist, polemicist, essayist, playwright, novelist, film producer and scriptwriter, and -- since 1988 -- as a person living with HIV. As the founder of Gay Men's Health Crisis and ACT UP, he has revolutionized the way we look at medicine and disease. His film adaptation of Women in Love, his novel Faggots and his play The Normal Heart have created controversy around the world.
In this premiere anthology, leading writers and observers of the gay, AIDS, theatre, film and literary communities attempt to assess Kramer's unique contribution -- in each of his many fields of activity -- to American public life and specifically to the gay community.
About the Author
Lawrence D. Mass is a physician, writer and activist. He is a co-founder of Gay Men's Health Crisis.
Table of Contents
Works by Larry Kramer * Preface * Introduction: Larry versus Larry: The Making of a Writer/Activist--Lawrence D. Mass *
Part I: Biography * A Normal Heart: The Larry Kramer Story--Patrick Merla *
Part II: Sex, Politics and History * A Meaning for All Those Words: Sex, Politics, History and Larry Kramer--John D’Emilio * Kramer as Prophet--Gabriel Rotello * An Enemy of the People--Arnie Kantrowitz *
Part III: Psychology, Politics and Literature * Larry and the Wall of Books--Andrew Holleran *
Faggots Revisited--Christopher Bram * GPT: Time and
Faggots --Mark Merlis * Faggot Psychology: Encountering the Gay Shadow and the Gay Soul Figure in
Faggots --Douglas Sadownick * The Normal Heart Condition According to Auden--Alfred Corn * A Mouthful of Air--Michael Denneny *
Part IV: Voices, Audiences and the Theater * Three Screeds from Key West: For Larry Kramer--Tony Kushner * Kramer vs. Kramer, Ben and Alexander: Larry Kramer’s Voices and His Audiences--John M. Clum * The Abnormal Talent: Larry Kramer’s Electro-Shock Treatment for the World Theater--David Willinger * Larry Kramer and Gay Theater--Michael Paller * Larry Kramer at the Public Theater--Gail Merrifield Papp *
Part V: Personal and Political * We Must Love One Another Or Die: Larry Kramer, AIDS Activism and Monumental Social Change--Rodger McFarlane * The Mother of Us All--Maxine Wolfe * A Legacy of Anger--Michelangelo Signorile * Notes on Black and Larry Kramer--Canaan Parker * Friendship and Antagonism: The Passionate Tactics of Larry Kramer--Anthony S. Fauci * Three Friends--Calvin Trillin * Christmas Dinner with Uncle Larry--Sarah Trillin *
Part VI: Interview * Interview with a Writer--Lawrence D. Mass
Works by Larry Kramer * Preface * Introduction: Larry versus Larry: The Making of a Writer/Activist--Lawrence D. Mass * Part I: Biography * A Normal Heart: The Larry Kramer Story--Patrick Merla * Part II: Sex, Politics and History * A Meaning for All Those Words: Sex, Politics, History and Larry Kramer--John D’Emilio * Kramer as Prophet--Gabriel Rotello * An Enemy of the People--Arnie Kantrowitz * Part III: Psychology, Politics and Literature * Larry and the Wall of Books--Andrew Holleran * Faggots Revisited--Christopher Bram * GPT: Time and Faggots --Mark Merlis * Faggot Psychology: Encountering the Gay Shadow and the Gay Soul Figure in Faggots --Douglas Sadownick * The Normal Heart Condition According to Auden--Alfred Corn * A Mouthful of Air--Michael Denneny * Part IV: Voices, Audiences and the Theater * Three Screeds from Key West: For Larry Kramer--Tony Kushner * Kramer vs. Kramer, Ben and Alexander: Larry Kramer’s Voices and His Audiences--John M. Clum * The Abnormal Talent: Larry Kramer’s Electro-Shock Treatment for the World Theater--David Willinger * Larry Kramer and Gay Theater--Michael Paller * Larry Kramer at the Public Theater--Gail Merrifield Papp * Part V: Personal and Political * We Must Love One Another Or Die: Larry Kramer, AIDS Activism and Monumental Social Change--Rodger McFarlane * The Mother of Us All--Maxine Wolfe * A Legacy of Anger--Michelangelo Signorile * Notes on Black and Larry Kramer--Canaan Parker * Friendship and Antagonism: The Passionate Tactics of Larry Kramer--Anthony S. Fauci * Three Friends--Calvin Trillin * Christmas Dinner with Uncle Larry--Sarah Trillin * Part VI: Interview * Interview with a Writer--Lawrence D. Mass