Background
Leavitt, David Adam was born on June 23, 1961 in Pittsburgh. Son of Harold Jack and Gloria (Rosenthal) Leavitt.
( Thirty years ago, David Leavitt first appeared on the l...)
Thirty years ago, David Leavitt first appeared on the literary scene with a gutsy story collection that stunned readers and reviewers. Just twenty-three, he was hailed as a prodigy of sorts: "remarkably gifted" (The Washington Post), with "a genius for empathy" (The New York Times Book Review) and "a knowledge of others' lives . . . that a writer twice his age might envy" (USA Today). "Regardless of age," wrote the New York Times, "few writers so effortlessly achieve the sense of maturity and earned compassion so evident in these pages." In "Territory," a well-intentioned, liberal mother, presiding over her local Parents of Lesbians and Gays chapter, finds her acceptance of her son's sexuality shaken when he arrives home with a lover. In the title story, a family extended through divorce and remarriage dances together at the end of a summer party--in the recognition that they are still bound by the very forces that split them apart. Tender and funny, these stories reveal the intricacies and subtleties of the dances in which we all engage.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1620407043/?tag=2022091-20
( Set in the 1980s against the backdrop of a swiftly gent...)
Set in the 1980s against the backdrop of a swiftly gentrifying Manhattan, The Lost Language of Cranes tells the story of twenty-five-year-old Philip Benjamin, who realizes he must come out to his parents after falling in love for the first time with a man. Philip's parents are facing their own problems: pressure from developers and the loss of their longtime home. But the real threat to the family is Philip's father's own struggle with his suppressed homosexuality, realized only in Sunday afternoon visits to gay porn theaters. Philip's revelation to his parents leads his father to a point of crisis and provokes changes that forever alter the landscape of the family's lives.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1620407027/?tag=2022091-20
(This portrait of a family and its emotional struggle to c...)
This portrait of a family and its emotional struggle to come to terms with the death of Louise Cooper, the independent matriarch. It is written by the author of "The Lost Languages of Cranes" and "Family Dancing" a collection of short stories.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/155584202X/?tag=2022091-20
(Louise Cooper has been battling cancer for over twenty ye...)
Louise Cooper has been battling cancer for over twenty years. Her growing resentment towards her suburban life and her husband, Nat, compounded by his affair, have left her longing for the life she dreamed of having in her youth. Meanwhile her family are facing other challenges. Her son Danny, a lawyer in San Francisco, has discovered his lover is growing obsessed with online sex, and her daughter, a lesbian protest-singer, announces herself pregnant after performing DIY artificial insemination with everyday kitchen utensils. This is a rich exploration of a family facing inexorable change.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1408854708/?tag=2022091-20
( Set against the rise of fascism in 1930s Europe, While ...)
Set against the rise of fascism in 1930s Europe, While England Sleeps tells the story of a love affair between Brian Botsford, an upper-class young English writer, and Edward Phelan, an idealistic employee of the London Underground and member of the Communist Party. Though far better educated than Edward, Brian is also far more callow, convinced that his homosexuality is something he will outgrow. Edward, on the other hand, possesses "an unproblematic capacity to accept" both Brian and the unorthodox nature of their love for each other--until one day, at the urging of his wealthy aunt Constance, Brian agrees to be set up with a "suitable" young woman named Philippa Archibald . . . Pushed to the point of crisis, Edward flees, volunteering to fight Franco in Spain, where he ends up in prison. And Brian, feeling responsible for Edward's plight, must pursue him across Europe, and into the chaos of war.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1620407086/?tag=2022091-20
( A beautifully photographed book featuring delicious rec...)
A beautifully photographed book featuring delicious recipes from the Ligurian region of northwest Italy, the birthplace of ravioli and pesto Lucio Galletto grew up on Italy's sunny northwest coastline, working in his family's seafood restaurant, and this book documents his return to his homeland to investigate the exciting evolution of the region's cooking during his 25-year absence. He found a new breed of chefs, farmers, and fishermen adapting traditions to the environmental concerns of the 21st century. Still using the wonderful array of local herbs, vegetables, and seafood, they apply a lighter touch and a more adventurous spirit. Stunningly photographed, this book presents the fruits of his travels—180 delicious recipes that respect the experience of the past and anticipate the demands of the future; dishes that are fun to cook, beautiful to look at, and a pleasure to share. Includes dual measures.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1742374867/?tag=2022091-20
(An anthology of fifty witty and engaging essays and remin...)
An anthology of fifty witty and engaging essays and reminiscences captures the delights of Italy, sharing thoughts on such topics as cappuccino, window shopping, pasta, umbrella pines, and other aspects of the Italian landscape, people, and culture. IP.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0811812278/?tag=2022091-20
( David Leavitt’s deliciously sharp novel is a multilayer...)
David Leavitt’s deliciously sharp novel is a multilayered dissection of literary and sexual mores in the get-ahead eighties, when outrageous success lay seductively within reach of any young writer ambitious enough to grab it. Martin Bauman nineteen, talented, and insecure is enrolled at a prestigious college and wins a place under the tutelage of the legendary Stanley Flint, a man who makes or breaks careers with the flick of a weary hand. An irresistibly entertaining epic, erotic, honest, and funny, Martin Bauman draws one character so masterfully that this character will stick in the reader’s mind as strongly as Magwitch or Harry Lime” (Philadelphia Inquirer).
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0618154515/?tag=2022091-20
( Why has Florence always drawn so many English and Ameri...)
Why has Florence always drawn so many English and American visitors? (At the turn of the century, the Anglo-American population numbered more than thirty thousand.) Why have men and women fleeing sex scandals traditionally settled here? What is it about Florence that has made it so fascinating--and so repellent--to artists and writers over the years? Moving fleetly between present and past and exploring characters both real and fictional, Leavitt's narrative limns the history of the foreign colony from its origins in the middle of the nineteenth century until its demise under Mussolini, and considers the appeal of Florence to figures as diverse as Tchaikovsky, E.M. Forster, Ronald Firbank, and Mary McCarthy. Lesser-known episodes in Florentine history--the moving of Michelangelo's David, and the construction of temporary bridges by black American soldiers in the wake of the Second World War--are contrasted with images of Florence today (its vast pizza parlors and tourist culture). Leavitt also examines the city's portrayal in such novels and films as A Room with a View, The Portrait of a Lady and Tea with Mussolini.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1632863758/?tag=2022091-20
( David Leavitt brings the wonders and mysteries of Flore...)
David Leavitt brings the wonders and mysteries of Florence alive, illuminating why it is, and always has been, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The third in the critically-acclaimed Writer and the City Series-in which some of the world's finest novelists reveal the secrets of the cities they know best-Florence is a lively account of expatriate life in the 'city of the lily'. Why has Florence always drawn so many English and American visitors? (At the turn of the century, the Anglo-American population numbered more than thirty thousand.) Why have men and women fleeing sex scandals traditionally settled here? What is it about Florence that has made it so fascinating-and so repellent-to artists and writers over the years? Moving fleetly between present and past and exploring characters both real and fictional, Leavitt's narrative limns the history of the foreign colony from its origins in the middle of the nineteenth century until its demise under Mussolini, and considers the appeal of Florence to figures as diverse as Tchaikovsky, E.M. Forster, Ronald Firbank, and Mary McCarthy. Lesser-known episodes in Florentine history-the moving of Michelangelo's David, and the construction of temporary bridges by black American soldiers in the wake of the Second World War-are contrasted with images of Florence today (its vast pizza parlors and tourist culture). Leavitt also examines the city's portrayal in such novels and films as A Room with a View, The Portrait of a Lady and Tea with Mussolini.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1582342393/?tag=2022091-20
(Imagine breaking the law without fear. Imagine piles of m...)
Imagine breaking the law without fear. Imagine piles of money that literally grew on trees. Those dreams became reality for David Mac after the young man from Michigan settled in Madison County, Arkansas. This is his tale about life as a marijuana moonshiner in the Ozark Mountains, and the corrupt sheriff who made it all possible. It's a story about drugs and arson, murder and suicide, friendship and betrayal. Most importantly, this book reveals one of Arkansas' darkest secrets, and demystifies one of its greatest legends. Sheriff Ralph Baker, the man who befriended David Mac, and taught him what it means to be an outlaw. This is Mac's story of damnation and redemption. From the first marijuana seed he planted, to the Devil's bargain Mac struck with Sheriff Baker, this book explores their harrowing journey on the twisted outlaw trail. Along the way, the unlikely duo of lawman and outlaw discovered that greed ruins even the best-laid plans, and the Devil always gets His due. Although the hills and hollows echoed with whispers after the sheriff's alleged suicide, no one dared to reveal the hidden truth behind his double life. Until now.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1403376131/?tag=2022091-20
(As enchanting and irresistible as Italy itself, these evo...)
As enchanting and irresistible as Italy itself, these evocative and personal essays by expatriates David Leavitt and Mark Mitchell conjure up the varied delights and delicacies of Italy, where the now live. In alternating essays - published here for the first time - the authors vividly render the joys and surprises of their adopted homeland, including iced cappuccino, umbrella pines, the nuances of language, window shopping, the names and shapes of pasta, boys leaning against a wall, and pavement art made of dried flowers.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/185702589X/?tag=2022091-20
( A horror/sci-fi/fantasy mash-up brimming with intense s...)
A horror/sci-fi/fantasy mash-up brimming with intense scenes, imminent doom, and surprising twists! --Kevin T. Johns's debut novel announces a bold new voice in young adult horror.-- Nate Bourdain and his friends are thrilled to discover an ancient book of magic hidden in the school library; they now have the means to stand up to villains that make high-school life such a battle. But, when the book's dark magic releases a fictional killer into the real world, the teens must prove they have what it takes to be heroes, or fall as bloody victims in their own horror story turned real. ˃˃˃ The Page Turners is Freaks and Geeks meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer By combining frightening supernatural threats with the - sometimes more horrifying - challenges of teenage life in a small town, author Kevin T. Johns has not only crafted a thrilling debut novel, but a thought provoking one as well. ˃˃˃ A lyrically written and startlingly bleak vision of l ife as a teenage outsider Dripping in angst and soaked in blood, The Page Turners manages to capture the best elements of genre fiction, while always keeping the reader with one foot still firmly rooted in the real world. ˃˃˃ Don't miss the first book in a must read trilogy With book II soon to be released, now is the time to read book I in the Page Turners trilogy. Scroll up and grab a copy today!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0992004101/?tag=2022091-20
novelist university professor writer
Leavitt, David Adam was born on June 23, 1961 in Pittsburgh. Son of Harold Jack and Gloria (Rosenthal) Leavitt.
Bachelor, Yale University, 1983.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Leavitt is a graduate of Yale University and a professor at the University of Florida. He has also taught at Princeton University. His published fiction includes the short-story collections Family Dancing (finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award), A Place I've Never Been, Arkansas and The Marble Quilt, as well as the novels The Lost Language of Cranes, Equal Affections, While England Sleeps (finalist for the Los Angeles Times Fiction Prize), The Page Turner, Martin Bauman, The Body of Jonah Boyd and The Indian Clerk (finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award and shortlisted for the IMPAC Dublin Award).
Leavitt, who is openly gay, has frequently explored gay issues in his work. In 1993, Leavitt was sued over the publication of his novel While England Sleeps by the English poet Stephen Spender. Spender accused Leavitt of using elements of Spender's memoir World Within World in the novel, and brought suit against Leavitt for copyright infringement.
Viking-Penguin, Leavitt's publisher at the time, withdrew the book. In 1995, Houghton Mifflin published a revised version of While England Sleeps with a preface by the author addressing the novel's controversy. In "Courage in the Telling: The Critical Rise and Fall of David Leavitt," Drew Patrick Shannon argues that the critical backlash that accompanied the Spender incident "allowed to reinforce the boundaries between gay and mainstream literature that Leavitt had previously crossed".
Subsequent reviews of Leavitt's work were more favorable. The Spender episode provided Leavitt with the basis for his novella "The Term-Paper Artist". Two of Leavitt's novels have been filmed: The Lost Language of Cranes was directed by Nigel Finch and The Page Turner (released under the title Food of Love) was directed by Ventura Pons.
The rights to a third, The Indian Clerk, have been optioned by Scott Rudin.
( A beautifully photographed book featuring delicious rec...)
( Set against the rise of fascism in 1930s Europe, While ...)
( Set in the 1980s against the backdrop of a swiftly gent...)
(An anthology of fifty witty and engaging essays and remin...)
( David Leavitt’s deliciously sharp novel is a multilayer...)
(As enchanting and irresistible as Italy itself, these evo...)
( David Leavitt brings the wonders and mysteries of Flore...)
( Why has Florence always drawn so many English and Ameri...)
( Thirty years ago, David Leavitt first appeared on the l...)
(This portrait of a family and its emotional struggle to c...)
( A horror/sci-fi/fantasy mash-up brimming with intense s...)
(Louise Cooper has been battling cancer for over twenty ye...)
(Imagine breaking the law without fear. Imagine piles of m...)
(30 Reissue)
(Romanzo)
(Poetry.)
(First)
Author: Family Dancing, 1984 (National Book Critics Circuit award nomination 1984, Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists and Novelists association-Faulkner award nomination 1985), The Lost Language of Cranes, 1986, Equal Affections, 1988, A Place I've Never Been, 1990, While England Sleeps, 1993, (with Mark Mitchell) Italian Pleasures, 1996, Arkansas, 1997, The Page Turner, 1998, Martin Bauman or a Sure Thing, 2000, The Marble Quilt, 2001, Florence, A Delicate Case, 2002. Co-editor: The Penguin Book of Gay Short Fiction, 1994, Pages Passed from Hand to Hand, 1997. Contributor to periodicals including Esquire, Harper's, New Yorker, New York Times Book Review, Village Voice, others.
Member Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists and Novelists association, The Author's Guild.