000 01984n a2200229 a 4500
001 034540
005 20231009192621.0
008 120518s2006 nyu 000 1 eng d
010 _a2007274351
020 _a9780786718108
042 _alccopycat
050 0 0 _aPS3543.I26
_bA6 2006
082 _aFIC VID
100 1 _aVidal, Gore, 1925-
245 1 0 _aClouds and eclipses
_b: the collected short stories
_c/ Gore Vidal
260 _aNew York
_b: Carroll & Graf Publishers ;
_c, c2006.
300 _ax, 166 p.
_c; 21 cm.
505 0 0 _aThree Stratagems -- The Robin -- A Moment of Green Laural -- The Zenner Trophy -- Erlinda and Mr. Coffin -- Pages from an Abandoned Journal -- The Ladies in the Library -- Clouds and Eclipses.
520 _aThis volume collects the short fiction of Vidal, including the recently rediscovered story from which the book takes its title. All eight pieces date to the author's early career and, with the exception of the title story, were previously published in 1956. Diverse, engaging, and full of surprising twists and turns, the stories take the general theme of homosexual encounter from various points of view. The writing is crisp; the images, crystal clear and often breathtaking. In "The Zenner Trophy," two young men are expelled from their boarding school when caught in a homosexual act. In "Ladies in the Library," three ladies (or are they Macbeth's three witches?) appear to cause the death of a previous owner of the house in which they are taking tea. In "A Moment of Green Laurel," the protagonist meets his earlier self in the park. The final story, "Clouds and Eclipses," remained unknown because it was based on a true story involving the family of Tennessee Williams. Williams had requested that the story not be published until all the family members involved were deceased. Vidal is best known for his novels and essays, but his short stories are of equal excellence.
655 7 _aShort stories, American
942 _cMO
999 _c244683
_d244683