“…the book was first published by a French porn specialist in 1954…”
What they really mean is that the tense new Ewan McGregor film, Young Adam, is an adaptation of an old Olympia Press novel. You know, those plain, green cover dirty books I like to collect now and again. Beyond watching the British censors’ anticipatory skittishness, I’m looking forward to seeing whether the novel will go the same route as Gordon. Word has it that one John Caldor has the rights to the book and it will be republished in England. On this side of the pond, Grove Press reprinted the novel in March, 2003. Will it rise above its old dirty book origins now that a movie about to bring it new legitimacy? Will it be positioned as Trainspotting revisited but with barges and retro no less? Either way, it’s funny to see Alexander Trocchi gets new life as a “Scottish beat writer” and it’s more proof that yesterday’s dirty books are today’s literary sensation.
Speaking of dirty books revisited…
OK, this isn’t really a dirty book, but Patricia Highsmith‘s The Price of Salt (writing as Claire Morgan) saw several editions since its 1951 debut. The first edition is often costly — $150.00 dollars or more isn’t uncommon — but the later editions are pretty affordable. I’m actually thinking about adding it to my way-too-tall pile of ToRead books, a pile that is increasingly including English gay/lesbian of the WWII generation. Not to mention the Andrew Wilson biography that’s the focus of the NY Times article.
OK, I just have to ask: Could a history of whores mocking men:
“Men want to be duped,” says the experienced pro, “and while they realise they’re being conned and that, when you’ve left their side, you’ll mock them and brag about it even to your maids, they still prefer fake caresses to real ones without the sweet talk … The cornerstone of a whore’s art is knowing how to feed gammon to the gullible.”
have resulted in bad lovers among the Mafiaoso? (NY Times, if you care to pay for it; Slate for a summary of the article. The NY Times article has some depth about the Don’s relationshion with marriage, mistress, and outright whores.)
At least you won’t have to pay (yet) for an interesting look at the possible evolutionary impact of women’s need for iron via meat. “I’m into your meat, baby,” takes on a whole new meaning, doesn’t it?
FYI: If you’re a Salon subscriber, let me just say that the review is better than the interview. But the polemic itself is something I wrestle with everyday and you know what? Being a realist and a cultural rebel about love and marriage have helped both endure. So yeah, I’m looking forward to this book arriving in the mail soon enough.
