One of the unknowing effects of living as an elder partial Shut-in in lockdown is that you don’t speak,…much. I really don’t notice either. I read write go online listen to music, and such, but don’t have many actual conversations. So I began to recite. This evening I began to read passages from a book by Christopher Isherwood. “Christopher, and his Kind 1929~1939”.
About the physical volume.
I bought it on December, 10th in the year 1976. I was 26, and a gay activist. It was inscribed to me by Mr. Isherwood who was by chance at the book store. The Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop. He was a kindly fragile bright personality.
At the time I thought him elderly.
I think I may be older than him now. So I read portions of three chapters aloud. This reminded me of my broadcast days when I would read stories to the listeners in the deep of night. This over many years. Now I read again. Only now for an audience of one. Still it was as fulfilling now as it was for all those years.
The owners of the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop were fucking bastards. They despised lovers of teenage boys and would go into a rage if you asked about any books even remotely related to the subject. I hope they all rot in hell.
ReplyDeleteI remember years ago going to this bookstore and asking for a book by vonGloeden and they freaked out. Judenrats!
ReplyDeleteI knew several that worked there over the years. That attitude was the owner's, and his lover's not the staff's
ReplyDeleteLater he hired separatist lesbians, and that was it.
They stopped carrying anything no matter the author related to the subject. Thomas Mann's Death in Venice was removed.
They stopped carrying my innocent Angel, and faerie books at this time.
There was another gay book shop ...A Different Light.
That was more open to all kinds of attitudes, and materials. They carried the video movies...You are not Alone For a Lost Soldier, and other titles on the subject.
For years till they closed they carried what few titles that could legally be sold...including my little books of drawing, and anarchist queer peace stuff.
A friend of mine worked for years at A Different Light in SF. I liked the place. I think they held onto the BL titles for as long as it was politically possible for them to do so.
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