A Gay Diary: 1933-1946

by Donald Vining

The stirring chronicle of one man's remarkable life. Covering the years 1933-1946, Donald Vining's Diary portrays a long-vanished age and the lifestyle of a gay generation all too frequently forgotten. A touching and revealing volume documenting the surprisingly vibrant culture that existed decades before Stonewall, A Gay Diary is not to be missed by anyone interested in gay American history.

Genres: Queer, History, Gay, Biography Memoir, LGBT

592 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1979

Reviews

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkable personal record, but even more crucially, indispensable documentation of the lives of gay men in the pre-Stonewall era. An aspiring playwright and short story writer, Vining's diaries—of which this was the first of five massive volumes that were eventually published—benefit immeasurably from his eye for sharp, vivid details, as well as an almost journalistic style and sensibility (ever a harsh self-critic, in the short introduction he wrongly dismisses his writing as "often poor"). What a pleasure and privilege to receive such intimate access to a person's life, and especially so when it's as interesting as Vining's. I'm not quite ready to commit to another year-long reading project yet, but I'll definitely be continuing on to the next volume at some point in the future.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent history of gay life of the period, great insights. Really enjoyed the discussion of being anti-war during WWII and the various jobs he held during the period. Also plenty of gay drama to provide a bit of levity to the whole thing. Really get a sense of Donald Vinings personality.