The Very Heart of It

New York Diaries, 1983-1994

Hardcover
$40.00 US
On sale Jun 03, 2025 | 560 Pages | 9780593801802
From the renowned novelist, journalist, and critic, an exquisite collection of journal entries from the 80s and 90s, tracking a young, gay author’s literary coming of age during the AIDS crisis.

In 1983, Thomas Mallon was still unknown. A literature professor at Vassar College, his days were spent travelling from Manhattan to campus, reviewing books to make ends meet, and searching the city for his own purpose and fulfillment. The AIDS epidemic was beginning to surge in New York City, the ever-bustling epicenter of literary culture and gay life, alive with parties, art, and sex.

Though he didn’t know it, everything would soon change for Mallon. Riding the success of his first book, A Book of One’s Own, he became a fixture within the city’s literary scene—crossing paths with cultural giants, becoming an editor at GQ, and writing critically acclaimed books—all of which he captured through daily journals. But in some ways, it was the worst possible time for a gay coming of age in the city, as one of his lovers succumbed to AIDS and the illness of others was both a heartbreaking reality and a constant reminder of his own exposure.

Tracing his own life day by day, Mallon catalogued all that those years encompassed: the hookups, intensifying politics, personal tragedies, as well as his own blossoming success and eventual romantic happiness. The Very Heart of It is a deft and bewitching look into the daily life of one of our most important literary figures, and a keepsake from a bygone era.
© Michael Lionstar
THOMAS MALLON is the author of eleven novels, including Henry and Clara, Dewey Defeats Truman, Fellow Travelers, Watergate, and Landfall. He is a frequent contributor to The New Yorker, The New York Times Book Review, and other publications. In  2011 he received the American Academy of Arts and Letters' Harold D. Vursell Memorial Award for prose style. He has been the literary editor of GQ and the deputy chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities. He lives in Washington, D.C.

thomasmallon.com View titles by Thomas Mallon

About

From the renowned novelist, journalist, and critic, an exquisite collection of journal entries from the 80s and 90s, tracking a young, gay author’s literary coming of age during the AIDS crisis.

In 1983, Thomas Mallon was still unknown. A literature professor at Vassar College, his days were spent travelling from Manhattan to campus, reviewing books to make ends meet, and searching the city for his own purpose and fulfillment. The AIDS epidemic was beginning to surge in New York City, the ever-bustling epicenter of literary culture and gay life, alive with parties, art, and sex.

Though he didn’t know it, everything would soon change for Mallon. Riding the success of his first book, A Book of One’s Own, he became a fixture within the city’s literary scene—crossing paths with cultural giants, becoming an editor at GQ, and writing critically acclaimed books—all of which he captured through daily journals. But in some ways, it was the worst possible time for a gay coming of age in the city, as one of his lovers succumbed to AIDS and the illness of others was both a heartbreaking reality and a constant reminder of his own exposure.

Tracing his own life day by day, Mallon catalogued all that those years encompassed: the hookups, intensifying politics, personal tragedies, as well as his own blossoming success and eventual romantic happiness. The Very Heart of It is a deft and bewitching look into the daily life of one of our most important literary figures, and a keepsake from a bygone era.

Author

© Michael Lionstar
THOMAS MALLON is the author of eleven novels, including Henry and Clara, Dewey Defeats Truman, Fellow Travelers, Watergate, and Landfall. He is a frequent contributor to The New Yorker, The New York Times Book Review, and other publications. In  2011 he received the American Academy of Arts and Letters' Harold D. Vursell Memorial Award for prose style. He has been the literary editor of GQ and the deputy chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities. He lives in Washington, D.C.

thomasmallon.com View titles by Thomas Mallon

National Depression Education and Awareness Month

For National Depression Education and Awareness Month in October, we are sharing a collection of titles that educates and informs on depression, including personal stories from those who have experienced depression and topics that range from causes and symptoms of depression to how to develop coping mechanisms to battle depression.

Read more

Books for LGBTQIA+ History Month

For LGBTQIA+ History Month in October, we’re celebrating the shared history of individuals within the community and the importance of the activists who have fought for their rights and the rights of others. We acknowledge the varying and diverse experiences within the LGBTQIA+ community that have shaped history and have led the way for those

Read more