John and Lem

I thank Ted Coltman for sharing this photo, which popped up in his feed on X while he was reading the JFK section of Secret City, which we're discussing tonight.

 

A money quote from Pedro Aldomovar

I was struck by this exchange in a recent Vanity Fair interview of film director Petro Aldomovar, because our group has read both the Colm Toibin books he references (The Master in 2005 and The Magician in 2023, respectively). I'm not familiar with the Moser biography of Susan Sontag that Aldmovar praises, but color me intrigued!

There’s another book by Sigrid Nunez that you could have adapted, Sempre Susan, about Susan Sontag.

It’s true. In fact, I was a friend of Susan’s. I saw her quite often either when she was in Spain or when I went to New York to promote my films. I really liked the biography of her that Benjamin Moser wrote, which won a Pulitzer Prize. It reads like a novel. I’m not a big fan of biographies, except ones where the author has to invent details and they actually end up being truer to their subjects. Or, at least, I enjoy them more. Like the fictionalized books that Colm Tóibín wrote about Henry James and Thomas Mann, which revealed what those two complex writers were hiding behind their prose.

Reflections on "Quatrefoil"

Seven of us braved the chill this past Wednesday night to discuss James Barr's 1950 novel, Quatrefoil. The consensus was that while some aspects of the book have not aged well (hardly surprising after 74 years!), it is still well worth reading. I'd be happy to lend my copy to anyone who wants to borrow it.

One question I forgot to raise was about the book's subtitle: "A Modern Novel." Presumably, it is the frank (at least by mid-20th-century standards) discussion of homosexuality that makes Quatrefoil "modern," but might Barr have had something else in mind, too? I invite you to weigh in by posting a comment here.

Our friend Mike Mazza was once again kind enough to share his extensive notes on the novel.  Thanks, Mike! I find them useful and hope you will, too. Just note that the citations (e.g., loc 78, 8%, etc.) below refer to the Kindle edition, not the paperback.  

Note: Overall observations follow the detailed chapter notes.

Quatrefoil notes as of 240616 at 0850.

Chapter 1

—Opening in June 1946: loc 78.

—Ensign Froelich departs his ship as a pariah 

—Wilde reference as a secret code?: 167-69.

—awaiting a court martial: 195.

Chapter 2: loc 240.

—Olympics and Rainier: 244.

—Philip checks in at naval base.

—Philip tells his story to LT Bruner: 308.

—Philip details his conflict with Captain Pratt.

—Philip lies about a detail of the case to Bruner: 367-70.

—Bruner sums up his expectations of the case.

—Philip realizes his foolishness: 421.

—wariness of planned psych exam:,437.

Chapter 3: Loc 453; 8%.

—in the O club with Bruner and with Philip’s cousin

—fascinating description of Philip: 485-89.

—reference to Philip’s fiancée, Sybel Jo: 550, 553. Philip’s conflict with his cousin.

—Philip’s family history: 570.

Chapter 4: loc 639; 11%.

—Philip reflects on his future and his inner struggle 

—our on the base; Philip and the tall blonde sailor.

—explosion in workshop: p 55.

—he chops the blonde sailor’s arm off to save him from the fire: p 57.

—Philip recovering in hospital; Tim visits; gives him a massage: loc 840. A kiss.

Chapter 5: loc 857; 15%.

—info about Tim Danelaw: 896+.

—Philip reflects on the kiss from Tim: 908.

—Philip as the heir to an important small town dynasty.

—backstory of Tim Danelaw.

—backstory: Tim and Jardine: 958.

Chapter 6: loc 981; p 74; 17%.

—letter from Phillip’s mother.

—letter from Philip’s fiancée Sybel Jo: 1013.

—letter from sailor “Stuff” Manus: 1027, 1029.

—info on Stuff Manus and his relationship with Philip.

— more insight into Captain Pratt’s dysfunction ship; cf. The Caine Mutiny: 1091.

—Philip fraudulently helps Stuff earn high school diploma: 1099; note continuing theme of his lack of integrity.

—Stuff forcibly kisses Phillip: 1130.

Chapter 7

—Francis warns Phillip about Danelaw: 1184.

—Phillip greets Sybel Jo and her stepmother. Backstory of “Madame.”

Chapter 8

—Philip interested in SJ mainly for her father’s money: 1603.

—Pat Danelaw propositions Philip: 1621.

Chapter 9: loc 1687; p 126; 30%.

—Philip’s unease at the prospect of facing a psychiatrist: 1690.

—at the ballet. Tense exchange.

Chapter 10: loc 1822; p 136; 32%.

—the Danelaws’ remarkable house; dinner party; showing of Tim’s artwork.

—final piece: Philip as a catlike hybrid: 1894.

—Tim and Philip alone; discussion of Gide, Corydon: 1957-60.

—Tim and Pat reveal their impending divorce to Philip : 2022.

Chapter 11: loc 2025; p 150; 36%.

—Philip models nude for a painting by Tim: 2078+.

—Tim’s philosophy of painting: 2085.

—Philip considers his relationship with Tim in light of that with Stuff Manus.

—Philip and Tim discuss Proust, art; Stuff Manus: 2137. Explicit mention of homosexuality.

Chapter 12: Loc 2163; p 160; 38%.

—Mike Mallory introduced.

—trip to Canada with the Danelaws.

—Philip discusses his family wealth and his ancestry:2304-15.

—Philip on guitar treats group to ballads. Odd moment between Mike and Tim makes Philip unsettled.

Chapter 13: Loc 2363; p 174; 41%.

—Philip meets with his counsel, Lee Bruner.

—Bruner asks directly about homosexuality: 2406.

—Bruner tells Philip his case has been dropped; he is free.

Chapter 14: Loc 2545; p 187; 45%. NOTE: very critical chapter.

—victory party hosted by Pat Danelaw.

—After another portrait sitting, Tim admits his desire to Philip: 2634.

—Subtle allusion to Dorian Gray?—2648.

Chapter 15: Loc 2665; p 196; 47%.

—accidental revelation of Tim’s portrait of Philip to the guests. Description of remarkable painting.

Chapter 16: Loc 2739; p 202; 48%.

—trip to San Francisco on business with admiral.

—Philip visits Tim’s hotel room: 2820. Intense encounter with much left to the imagination.

Part 2—Oklahoma—Summer—1946

Chapter 17: Loc 2917; p 215; 51%.

— the morning after.

—Bruner sees them in a compromising situation; specter of blackmail: 3029.

Chapter 18: Loc 3041; p 224; 53%.

—Philip’s fear of being outed by Bruner.

—Philip’s dehumanizing disregard for Sybel Jo: 3067.

—Mike confronts Philip: 3120.

—Philip strategizes to avoid scandal; he asks Sybel Jo to marry him as soon as possible; 3199. Later, he taunts Bruner.

Chapter 19: Loc 3220; p 237; 57%.

—party at the Danelaw house.

— Phillip fears that Madame overhead him and Tim. Plotting by Phillip.

Chapter 20: Loc 3327; p 245; 58%.

—Phillip home in Devereaux to try to ward off scandal.

—The Froelich family black servants: p 247.

—Phillip tells a partially truthful version of his problem to his mother Victoria.

Chapter 21: Loc 3499; p 258; 61%.

—Tim arrives in Devereaux. He meets Victoria and Fanchon.

—Tim feels he understands Phillip’s background and family history better 

—description of family house 

Chapter 22: Loc 3673; p 271; 64%.

—Phillip gives Tim a tour of the family house.

—Phillip explains his cover story/lie to Tim: 3742. Note recurring theme of Phillip’s dishonesty.

—“the dominant position”: recurring theme?: 3758.

—Wilde reference (in context of conservatory flowers): 3773.

—Phillip like the heir of an ancient duchy: 3798.

—story of the pet cheetahs.

Chapter 23: Loc 3835; p 283; 67%.

—house tour continues.

—Phillip’s books.

—backstory of Phillip’s father Julius.

—prep for Phillip’s birthday party.

—Phillip and Tim go swimming: 3989+.

Chapter 24: Loc 4014; p 296; 70%.

—The party; Phillip greets his godparents Felix and Minna.

—controversy over serving wine in a dry state: 4059-64. Discussed later: 4110-12.

—Tim and Phillip argue; issues of class and culture. 

—Tim gives Phillip gift of an emerald ring.

Chapter 25: Loc 4153; p 306; 73%.

—Phillip’s “debut.”

—Tim and Fanchon (Phillip’s sister) speak.

—Victoria gives Phillip brandy for him and Tim: 4242.

—Phillip recalls his grandfather and plays records for Tim: 4258-69.

—Tim and Phillip discuss Phillip’s grandfather; was he homosexual?: 4311.

Chapter 26: Loc 4324; p 318; 76%.

—Breakfast in the family mansion: 319.

Controversy over a type of saddle—more father/son conflict: 4383-89.

—Phillip and Tim on a drive.

—Phillip condemns the anti-alcohol law: 4420-24.

—Phillip kills a snake and tells Tim s related childhood story.

Chapter 27: Loc 4495; p 330; 79%.

—Long discussion between Phillip and Tim.

Chapter 28: Loc 4634; p 340; 81%.

—Conversation between Phillip and Tim continues; homosexuality addressed directly: 4647.

—“the sexual pariah”: 4653.

—Tim tells Phillip about his journey from art to medicine, and his relationship with Vincent Jardine, an older homosexual man: 4671-77.

—They discuss Pat: 4697 to 4702.

—philosophical/historical discussion of homosexuality: 4710+.

—Difference and tolerance: 4724.

—they discuss depression and suicidal thoughts: 4765.

—note the wariness of “degeneracy”: 4801.

Chapter 29: Loc 4817; p 353; 85%.

—Phillip’s reunion with his horse Pelops: 4817-19.

—Phillip has a talk with his mother.

—Phillip has a talk with his sister Fan: 4879+.

—Fan addresses the question of whether Grandfather Dev was homosexual, and if Phillip “inherited the taint”: 4944.

—question of psychiatry.

—note Fanchon’s philosophy of stoic self-reliance and duty: 4956-58.

—“limp wrist” stereotype: 4974; important theme.

—effeminacy vs manliness; public vs private life.

—“decency” and progress: 5052.

—revelation that Joe Voth is broke: 5064.

Chapter 30: Loc 5083; p 372; 89%.

—Phillip back in Seattle. He breaks the engagement.

—amphibious simile: 5112.

—News of the death of Uncle Felix: 5153.

Chapter 31: Loc 5214; p 381; 92%.

—back at the Fleurs du Mal island retreat.

—theological discussion of homosexuality: 5240-47.

—revelation of the disposition of the Devereaux fortune: 5276-78. (Has a fairy tale quality)

—Tim helps Phillip translate his grandfather’s letters: 5301.

—the relationship as “an experiment in personality over conventionality”: 5341.

—Tim’s advice (strikes me as classist, elitist, patriarchal and conformist): 5367-74.

Chapter 32: Loc 5406; p 395; 95%.

—The couple’s closeted military life together.

—books about homosexuality: 5447+.

—Phillip reflects on his relationship with his horse, Pelops, and the stud business with the horse.

—phone call from Stuff Manus: 5493.

Chapter 33: Loc 5498; p 402; 96%.

—Phillip’s reunion with Stuff.

—dinner followed by tense encounter in hotel room.

—Tim confronts Phillip and hits him.

Chapter 34: Loc 5592; p 409; 98%.

—Tim works to avoid a scandal; Phillip is discharged from the Navy.

Chapter 35: Loc 5659; p 414; 99%.

—Tim dies in a plane crash; Phillip overcomes the urge to commit suicide.

————-

Overall thoughts on the book:

An important milestone in gay literature. Also interesting as a novel of naval life. Some aspects of the book probably haven’t aged well: it’s focus on wealthy, privileged white men; its often demeaning portrayal of women characters; its paternalistic and stereotypical portrayal of its two black characters.

It brings up many noteworthy themes in relation to homosexuality: theology, social conventions, closeted life, etc.

Additional thoughts added June 16, 2024:

The book, in the philosophy voiced by Tim, seems to promote a view of homosexuality grounded in a romanticized concept of the ancient Greek homosexual tradition: an older man as the lover/mentor of the younger, and with the younger eventually taking on the responsibilities of heterosexual marriage and fatherhood.

The book also seems to prize a societally acceptable mode of masculinity. This seems to go hand in hand with a fear of “degeneracy.”

The book is s really interesting counterpoint to the classic gay novel City of Night, by John Rechy, which has a story grounded in the world of drag queens and poor/underclass men.

A book a day...

It's been quite a while since I last counted up how many books our merry band has discussed during our first quarter-century, but I just did and came up with 362! That total doesn't include our "fifth Wednesday" discussions of non-LGBTQ books, an experiment that ran off and on over the past decade. (If it did, we'd be close to the 400 mark.) Even so, that amounts to nearly a year's worth of books!