Edmund White, a leading gay writer known for works like 'A Boy’s Own Story' and his biography of Jean Genet, has died aged 85. A witness to the Stonewall Inn raid in 1969, White became a prominent voice in gay literature, co-authoring 'The Joy of Gay Sex' and writing autobiographical novels exploring gay male experience. He lived in Paris for many years and was recognized for his literary contributions, including awards and academic positions, despite facing homophobia and personal struggles.
Edmund White obituary
Edmund WhiteBooksUnited StatesLGBTQ+ rightsWorldNew YorkParisAids and HIVJean Genet
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Edmund White, a leading gay writer known for works like 'A Boy’s Own Story' and his biography of Jean Genet, has died aged 85. A witness to the Stonewall Inn raid in 1969, White became a prominent voice in gay literature, co-authoring 'The Joy of Gay Sex' and writing autobiographical novels exploring gay male experience. He lived in Paris for many years and was recognized for his literary contributions, including awards and academic positions, despite facing homophobia and personal struggles.
Trending- 1 1939: Edmund White born.
- 2 June 1969: White was present when police raided the Stonewall Inn.
- 3 1973: 'Forgetting Elena' published.
- 4 1977: Co-authored 'The Joy of Gay Sex'.
- 5 1980: 'States of Desire' published.
- 6 Early 1980s: Gay men in New York were galvanized into a collective response to the unfolding Aids crisis.
- 7 January 9, 1982: White attended the meeting where the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) was formed.
- 8 1982: 'A Boy’s Own Story' published.
- 9 1983: White moved to Paris with his then lover James Purcell.
- 10 1985: 'Caracole' published.
- 11 1988: 'The Beautiful Room Is Empty' published.
- 12 1993: His biography of Genet published; appointed Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
- 13 1994: 'Our Paris' and 'The Burning Library' published.
- 14 1997: 'The Farewell Symphony' published.
- 15 1998: White returned to New York.
- 16 1999: An accessible and chatty biographical study of Proust appeared.
- 17 2001: 'The Flaneur' published.
- 18 2003: 'Fanny, A Fiction' published.
- 19 2004: 'Arts and Letters' published.
- 20 2005: His autobiography 'My Lives' published.
- 21 2007: 'Hotel de Dream' published.
- 22 2008: His biography of the symbolist poet Rimbaud appeared.
- 23 2009: 'City Boy' published.
- 24 2013: Married Michael Carroll.
- 25 2014: 'Inside a Pearl' published.
- 26 2018: 'The Unpunished Vice' published.
- 27 2023: 'The Humble Lover' published.
- 28 2025: 'The Loves of My Life' published.
- 29 Died aged 85.
- Significant literary legacy in gay literature
- Became an inspiration and scandalous celebrity
- Caused a permanent break with Susan Sontag due to thinly veiled portraits in 'Caracole'
- Received numerous awards and honors, including Chevalier/Officier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, National Book Critics’s Circle award, and David Kessler award
- Many of his friends and lovers died of Aids
What: Edmund White, a prominent gay writer, has died at the age of 85. He was known for his autobiographical novels, his biography of Jean Genet, and his significant contributions to gay literature and advocacy.
When: Died aged 85; Stonewall Inn raid in June 1969; 'The Joy of Gay Sex' published in 1977; 'A Boy’s Own Story' in 1982; moved to Paris in 1983; 'Genet' biography in 1993; returned to New York in 1998; married Michael Carroll in 2013; 'The Loves of My Life' published in 2025.
Where: Manhattan, New York; Paris, France; Cincinnati; Cranbrook academy near Detroit; University of Michigan; Fire Island (model for fictional island); Princeton University.
Why: Natural causes (implied by obituary). His life's work was dedicated to exploring and documenting the gay male experience, contributing significantly to LGBTQ+ literature and visibility.
How: Through his extensive writings (novels, biographies, essays, autobiography), his presence at key historical moments (Stonewall), and his academic career.