Why read The Bitterweed Path?

Book cover of The Bitterweed Path: A Rediscovered Novel

Book description

This long out-of-print and newly rediscovered novel tells the story of two boys growing up in the cotton country of Mississippi a generation after the Civil War. Originally published in 1950, the novel's unique contribution lies in its subtle engagement of homosexuality and cross-class love. In The Bitterweed Path ,…

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Historical fiction

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Bitterweed Path as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Lance Ringel

Author

Perhaps the most powerful story surrounding The Bitterweed Path concerns the creation of the novel itself. This tale of cross-class, same-sex love set in late 19th century rural Mississippi – a place and time so well evoked you can feel the heat – was originally published in 1950(!). They say historical novels reflect the time in which they’re written at least as much as the time in which they’re set, and there’s a distinct obliqueness to the writing here. That does not detract from the astonishing eroticism of main character Darrell’s first glance at Roger, the boy he will…

From Lance's list on gay male historical romances grounded in time.