Excellent book which inadvertently chronicles the United States attitude toward homosexuality over the past 75 years through the life of a very interesting, articulate, renaissance man. As a side story, it also highlights the change in cultural language and the death of the art of correspondence by mail. Much of the material for the book was derived through extensive correspondence with intercontinental friendships.
Through his long standing friendship with Alfred Kinsey and the encouragement he provided to Seward's already strong commitment to documentation, the book also explores sexuality in general and homosexuality specifically. I was intrigued by this part of his life, carefully documented to an almost shameful extent. His unabashed self awareness and honesty was both challenging and inspiring.
Seward certainly seems like the kind of person I would have loved to sit down to dinner with. Perhaps a dinner party with John Waters, Michel Foucault, a few San Francisco police officers and Rock Hudson.
Book 12
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