The Italian Invert: A Gay Man’s Intimate Confessions to Émile Zola

Description

In a series of revealing letters, he frankly described his sexual experiences with other men-including his seduction as a teenager by one of his father’s friends and his first love affair, with a sergeant during his military service-as well as his “extraordinary” personality. Judging it too controversial, Zola gave it to a young doctor, who in 1896 published a censored version in a medical study on sexual inversion, as homosexuality was then known. When the Italian came across this book, he was shockedto discover how his life story had been distorted. In protest, he wrote a long, daring, and unapologetic letter to the doctor defending his right to love and to live as he wished.
This book is the first complete, unexpurgated version in English of thisremarkable queer autobiography. Its text is based on the recently discovered manuscript of the Italian’s letter to the doctor. It also features an introduction tracing the textual history of the documents, analytical essays, and additional materials th