MartinBauman

AtthedawnoftheReaganeraMartinBauman,nineteen,clever,ambitiousandinsecure,isenrolledataprestigiouscollegewithahard-wonplaceunderthetutelageofthelegendaryandenigmaticStanleyFlint,amanwhocanmakeorbreakwritingcareerswiththeflickofawearyhand.Martinispoisedonthethresholdofthewritinglife,histwindesirestogetintoprintandtofindhiswayoutofthecloset.Movingthroughthecentury'smostlicentiousdecade-thedecadeofcocaine,wildparties,hugeadvancesandthetragiccomedownofAIDS-MartinmaturesfrombrilliantstudenttoapprenticeinaManhattanpublishinghousetofullyfledgedmemberoftheNewYorkliterarybratpack.Yetdespitehisapparentsuccess,hisemotionalandcreativedesiresrefuse,stubbornly,tobesatisfiedandhiseveryachievementishauntedbytheaustereandtroublingimageofliteraryperfection,hiselusivementor,StanleyFlint.Subtle,erotic,honestandfunny,DavidLeavitt'sdeliciouslysharp,multi-layereddissectionofliteraryandsexualmoreslaysbarethelifeoftheartist,inallhisvenal,envious,self-loathing,poignantglory.