Acquired Tastes XLIII: Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 191 - Avon Publications, Part 4 of 4

Acquired Tastes XLIII: 

Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 191

Avon Publications

Part 4 of 4

Avon Publications is one of the leading publishers of romance fiction. At Avon's initial stages, it was an American paperback book and comic book publisher. The shift toward romance novels occurred in the early 1970s with multiple Avon romance titles reaching and maintaining spots on bestseller lists, demonstrating the market and potential profits in romance publication. 

As of 2010, Avon became and remains an imprint of HarperCollins.

The interesting thing about Avon Publications is that they have always known the value of a gay audience, even back in the 1950's. This is particularly true in the 1970s when it comes to the imprint's support and proliferation of the bestselling books of Gordon Merrick, whose work we will take a look at in the final post of this series on Avon Publications.

I searched a number of archives held by university libraries - some of which are quite excellent (Cornell) and some were puzzling (Toronto - sorry, biographies, social studies, and theatrical plays do not qualify as gay pulp fiction). In any event, it all took way more time than I cared to spend, but down the rabbit hole I went. In the end, it was worth it, for I learned about several writers I was unfamiliar with and am not interested in reading.

I have decided to offer a mere sampling of the vintage gay-oriented titles Avon has offered throughout the years. If you happen to know of one or have a favorite Avon title I missed, please leave its title and author in the comments section. Keep in mind that there are at least three more posts regarding this imprint, and one of those will be dedicated to the works of Gordon Merrick. That said, I would love to track down more gay pulp fiction titles published by this imprint.

Today, and as a conclusion to our series of posts about Avon Publications, we will take a look at the work of author Gordon Merrick and illustrator Victor Gadino.

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Gordon Merrick, Author

William Gordon Merrick was a Broadway actor, wartime OSS field officer, best-selling author of gay romance novels, and one of the first authors to write about homosexual themes for a mass audience.
 
Merrick enrolled in Princeton University in 1936, studied French literature, and was active in campus theater. He quit in the middle of his junior year and moved to New York City, where he became an actor, landing the role of Richard Stanley in George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart's The Man Who Came to Dinner. Merrick became Hart's lover for a time, but tired of the theater, with its endless nights playing the same role.

In 1941, Merrick quit Broadway to become a reporter. Exempt from the draft because of hearing problems, Merrick moved to Washington, D.C., where he got a job with the Washington Star. He later worked for the Baltimore Sun, before returning to New York City to write for the New York Post. His years as a reporter helped him to develop a love of writing as well as a writing style.

Eager to participate in World War II, Merrick got a job with the Office of Strategic Services, the forerunner to the Central Intelligence Agency. He was sent to Algeria as a counter-intelligence officer, rising to the civilian rank of captain. He was then diverted to France and took up residence in Cannes. Because he spoke excellent French, the OSS gave him papers listing him as a French citizen. He was case officer for the double agent code-named "Forest".

In August 1945, Merrick returned to the United States. He again sought work as a reporter, but did not find employment, so he went to Mexico and began writing novels.

Merrick's first novel, The Strumpet Wind (1947), was successful in the United States. The somewhat autobiographical novel is about a gay American spy in France during World War II. Homosexual themes are minimized in the novel, which explores concepts of individual liberty and freedom. The spy's director is a dazzlingly handsome, but sadistic, bisexual.

With the money he earned from his success, Merrick returned to France to continue writing.

In 1956, when Merrick was 40, he met Charles Gerard Hulse, a 27-year-old American dancer and actor who was working in Paris at the time. Hulse became his lifetime companion. The following year, they began living together, though Hulse returned to the U.S. for four years to work as a dance instructor in Marin County, California.

In 1960, Hulse returned to Paris to be with Merrick; the two remained together until Merrick’s death.

In 1970, 10 years after moving to Hydra, Merrick published his second successful novel and his best-known book, The Lord Won't Mind. The book appeared on the New York Times Best Seller List for 16 weeks in 1970. It was the first in a trilogy which included One for the Gods (1971) and Forth into Light  (1974). A film version of the trilogy has been in development since 2004, and remains in pre-production

In all, Merrick wrote 13 books, 8 of which were published by Avon Books. Oddly, and perhaps dut to the books focus on physical beauty, large penises and privilege, Merrick’s works are rarely included in anthologies, or discussions of American gay authors.

In his later works, Merrick rejected socially imposed roles and labels, insisting that each gay person question the assumptions underlying his life. Gordon Merrick broke new ground that has only recently become fertile.

Merrick died of lung cancer at the age of 71 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on March 27, 1988. He was survived by his partner of 29 years, Charles G. Hulse, along with a brother and some nephews.


Victor Gadino, Illustrator

Victor Gadino is an award-winning artist and has created artwork for the corporate, publishing, and entertainment fields.  He holds a Master of Fine Arts from the elite Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY.  Gadino began his career as a cover illustrator during the 1970s. His best known work are the covers he illustrated for Gordon Merrick’s backlist of books which were reissued in paperback format by Avon. Gadino illustrated all of Merrick’s covers.

At the time, these cover illustrations were considered controversial images, as mainstream publishers had yet to represent same-sex couples in such a highly eroticized and romantic fashion. The artist's knack for sensual paintings held a touch of whimsy, therefore, his art seemed perfectly suited the books.

Gadino worked steadily through the 1980s for publishers such as Harlequin and Avon, illustrating romance covers.

He currently lives in New York, where he continues to design artwork for books, films, and advertisements.

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The Lord Won't Mind

Author: Gordon Merrick

Illustration: Victor Gadino

Avon Publications

1970

 01404 

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 One For The Gods

Author: Gordon Merrick

Illustration: Victor Gadino

Avon Publications

1971

 01435-1 

Alternate Cover

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 Forth Into Light

Author: Gordon Merrick

Illustration: Victor Gadino

Avon Publications

1974

35782 

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 An Idol For Others

Author: Gordon Merrick

Illustration: Victor Gadino

Avon Publications

1977

 00971

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 The Quirk

Author: Gordon Merrick

Illustration: Victor Gadino

Avon Publications

1978

 38992

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 Now Let's Talk About Music

Author: Gordon Merrick

Illustration: Victor Gadino

Avon Publications

1981

77867

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 Perfect Freedom 

Author: Gordon Merrick

Illustration: Victor Gadino

Avon Publications

1982

80127

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The Great Urge Downward

Author: Gordon Merrick

Illustration: Victor Gadino

Avon Publications

1984

 55583

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And that's all for now.

Next week, another vintage gay pulp imprint.

Until then...

Thanks for reading!

Dance Into The Light - Phil Collins