What a Glorious Time It Was!: Being Young in the Exuberant Seventies

by Dotson Rader, Victor Bevine (Reading)

Dotson Rader arrived in New York in 1963, a young stranger to the city, knowing no one, owning nothing - until a few lucky events opened up an extraordinary new world for him. Through his words, we enter this ardent, unforgettable world of writers, artists, radicals, and sexual rebels in a time of unprecedented cultural freedom and defiance. Against the backdrop of the women's rights, gay liberation, civil rights, and anti-war movements, a singular new period of experimentation and liberation is born. Here, Dotson Rader chronicles what it was like to be young in America in the extraordinary time he calls, “the glory days".

At the center of What a Glorious Time It Was! is the close friendship between Rader and celebrated American novelist Truman Capote, whose personal struggles embodied the conflict of this rebellion against society, body, and mind, and the cost at which it came.

Brazen, humorous, and heartbreaking, What a Glorious Time It Was! appeals to memoir listeners looking to dive into remarkable lives unlike their own.

Genres: Audiobook

Audio CD

Published November 15, 2022

Reviews

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short Audible memoir describes the relationship between Dotson Rader and Truman Capote following their meeting in the 1960's in NYC until Capote's sad end in the 1980's. At first, I wasn't sure whether this was a memoir or fictionalized because some of the contents are so bizarre and gritty. But I shouldn't have been surprised that it was memoir because of Capote's larger-than-life hedonistic lifestyle.

[Maggie Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this in the free section of Audible and because I had just finished Daisy Jones and the Six, also set in the 70's, I thought it would be a quick follow up listen. The parts about Truman Capote were heartbreaking. Such a lost soul, looking for love. Other parts were ugly and raw and left me wanting to watch a Disney movie.

[Carly Schultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seems very name-droppy and I know that it’s interesting to hear about the stories of people in the public eye, but this wasn’t super entertaining as much as “oh look how crazy my life was” and sort of in a braggy way. The storyline of Truman Capote was interesting but definitely heartbreaking.

[Tobi ﾄﾋﾞ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This made me happy

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's another short thing I picked up at random while browsing Audible's Plus selection. An entertaining memoir of gay life in New York in the 70s, framed around the author's friendship with Truman Capote. A little much unnecessary namedropping, otherwise I quite enjoyed this.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

#WhatAGloriousTimeItWas by #DotsonRader
...
Radar writes a melencholic memoir centered on times with Truman Capote in NYC at the heiggr of the late 60s and 70s. The story feels more remorseful and reflective tham celebratpry, but takes a more serious peek at fampus friems Capote.

[John Geddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and an interesting snapshot of New York life at that time. The really interesting part was hearing about Truman Capote for a personal friend.

[Regis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Raw and honest. Clinical narration.