Imre: A Memorandum
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| Imre | |
| Author | Edward Irenaeus Prime-Stevenson |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Novel |
| Publication date | 1906 |
| ISBN | NA |
Imre: A Memorandum, is a novel about the homosexual relationship between two men. It was written in Europe by the expatriate American-born author, Edward Irenaeus Prime-Stevenson (b. 29 January, 1858 Madison, New Jersey; d. 23 July, 1942, Lausanne, Switzerland), who originally published it under the pseudonym of Xavier Mayne in a limited-edition imprint of 500 copies in 1906.
[edit] Plot introduction
It was described by the author as "a little psychological romance". The narrative follows the lives to two men, who by chance meet at a cafe in Budapest, Hungary. Over the course of several months they forge a friendship that leads to various revelations and disclosures, each of which are carried out with the greatest of subtlety.
[edit] Literary significance and criticism
Although Imre: A Memorandum is not the first American gay novel (John Brent by Theodore Winthrop [1861] and Joseph and His Friend: A Story of Pennsylvania by Bayard Taylor [1870] precede it), it is considered to be of some importance, as it is the first such with a happy ending.
The novel was republished on 18 February, 2003, by Broadview Literary Texts (ISBN 1551113589), in a new edition, which includes a discussion of the life of Edward Prime-Stevenson, about whom little is known, as well as an extensive annotation on the text of the novel by the publishing editor, James J. Gifford.
