How Often, Hons, Do I Read Non-Fiction??????????? Well, This Was Worth It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         I have always loved Christopher Bram's fiction, so I had to find out what his non-fiction writing was like.  It is compelling enough; however, the amount of knowledge one gains from "Eminent Outlaws" is dependent of what one already knows.  In my case, darlings, it was too much.

                                          He starts with Gore Vidal, Truman Capote, and Tennessee Williams, writers I cut my teeth on when young, so there was not much to learn there.  A lot follows, involving Allen Ginsberg and "Howl," which is interesting, not to mention the ambiguous fascination of pretentious and macho Norman Mailer with anything homosexual.  Norman, is that you?  What the hell is up with that?  Guess Norm had issues he never explored.  But, hell, who would want him, anyway????????

                                            Christopher Isherwood is the author handled best in the entire book, and the development of "Cabaret" will be quite fascinating to Theater Queens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           When the book moves away from this, to things like Donald Vining and "A Gay Diary" it is at its most interesting.  Indeed, the least notorious, most marginalized writers come off as the real heroes of this history, as they did not get the attention they sought, and yet have somehow managed to endure.  Modestly, Bram gives himself short shrift, even though there is so much more to him than "Father Of Frankenstein."  And he faces the impossible task of trying to restrain mentioning Larry Kramer, a man  who refuses to be restrained.

                                              But that Edmund White. What a pompous, overemphasized pig. His writing is only so-so, yet he gets more mention than David Leavitt.  I mean, hang it up, Ed!  You've had your days in the sun, like Grizabella--and I never found them so glowing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               For me, this was a cursory history.  For others, less attuned, it may be more definitive.  But Bram's writing never flags; even when his subjects do.  And how about that William F. Buckley?  With that attitude, and his teeth, he was a Borderline Queen!  But, like Mailer, who would have wanted him?  Those teeth; ouch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                 Of course, I prefer Bram's fiction.  But, on its own "Eminent Outlaws" has his equally fine style, and serves a purpose, even if it is the only game in town!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!