[ilds] Bisexuality and Beyond

[Denise Tart & David Green]

Durrell sometimes engages in this activity, prankish or not, which may make him unacceptable to some in the gay community.

Bruce, and others,

Considering his intention to write 'upper class porn' LGD's 'exploration of modern love' and consequent embrace of the five sexes, as it were, was clearly intended to shock, or at least be controversial. at the time of writing, given the prevailing morality of the time (late 50s), the quartet could have been banned. certainly it was considered risque in my country. Actually I dont think the censors got it so it went through to the keeper (or backstop as you Americans might say) and a craze for Justine bloomed amongst the smart set.
As to Durrell's own sexuality, despite the sometimes charge of misogyny (which may stem from suppressed homosexuality), he comes across biographically speaking as very much the hard drinking hetero. in his own texts, especially the more personal narratives, there is a clear affection for certain male characters but I detect nothing of the homo eroticism that one finds say, in Robert Dessaix who is as camp as a row of frilly tents, to coin a phrase, and doesn't mind you knowing it.

David


From: Bruce Redwine 
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 5:20 AM
To: ilds at lists.uvic.ca 
Cc: Bruce Redwine 
Subject: Re: [ilds] Bisexuality and Beyond


Anne, 


I tend to disagree with Joseph Boone about Durrell having negative views towards Lesbians.  The quip below I would treat as one character's off-color humor and not as the view of M. Durrell himself, obviously.  The full characterization of Livia, however, is another matter, and since I haven't gone beyond Monsieur (a novel I've read twice and still can't hold in memory), I can't comment.  Maybe someone else can and elaborate. 

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