Overview
Paul Monette, from his arrival on the literary scene in 1979 until his death from AIDS complications in 1995, was one of America's most diverse and prolific writers. The Gold Diggers, originally published by Alyson Publications in 1979, was Monette's first novel-in fact, his first substantial published work of any kind. The Gold Diggers paved the way for seven other novels, most notably Taking Care of Mrs. Carroll and the posthumously published Sanctuary: A Tale of Life in the Woods. Monette also wrote four books of poetry, including Love Alone: Eighteen Elegies for Rog, as well as several screen-to-page novelizations, including Predator and Scarface.The body of writing Monette is best known for, however, is his trio of biographical works, Borrowed Time: An AIDS Memoir, Becoming a Man: Half a Life Story, and Last Watch of the Night: Essays Too Personal and Otherwise. The second of those books, Becoming a Man, won Monette a National Book Award and in turn nearly unprecedented gay-to-straight crossover readership and acclaim. And rightly so. Becoming a Man is the most moving and well-written memoir published in the last decade. It stands alone as the standard by which all other gay-themed nonfiction is judged.
The Gold Diggers is clearly among Monette's early works, lacking his later polish and clarity. Perceptive readers will nevertheless recognize flashes of Monette's growing brilliance-his ability to turn a phrase, to conceal and expose characters, to spin plots, to entertain. Ensconced within this early literary brilliance is the story of lovers Peter and Nick, Peter's longtime friend Rita, Nick's hustler/lover Sam, and the pursuit of a priceless cache of stolen artwork hidden in Peter and Nick's mansion, Crook House. The tale is timeless and engaging with a wonderful, happy ending. It is for these reasons that I am pleased to include Paul Monette's The Gold Diggers in the Alyson Classics Library. Thank you for reading.