Author Archives: Gabriel François

Queer Lives: Gilles Dowek, 1966-2025

The brilliant mathematician and computer scientist, an alumnus of the École Polytechnique, died of cancer in Paris on July 21, 2025, at the age of 58. In 2007, he published a fascinating short book on the history of mathematics: The … Continue reading

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An Art-Filled Weekend in Chicago 

Despite the ridiculous name change (Painting His World) – to make it more “inclusive” according to the Chicago curator Gloria Groom, I enjoyed the Caillebotte exhibition at the Art Institute (Painting Men). The focus and commentary beside the works remain … Continue reading

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Random Links 

How ‘Gay’ Became an Identity in Art: Two groundbreaking exhibitions in Chicago explore the shift in portrayals of same-sex attraction. They are being staged at a fraught moment. (New York Times) How a Times Reporter Eluded a Ban on the Word … Continue reading

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Cabinet secret

St Sebastian, Guido Reni, c. 1615, Musei di Strada Nuova, Genoa D’où la possibilité qui t’est donnée de te constituer dans chaque musée que tu visites ton cabinet secret personnel, accessible à tous, mais où nul à part toi et … Continue reading

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Random Links

La marche des fiertés 2025 par Willam Marx (Le Monde). He’s Here, He’s Queer, He’s the Future King of England, a new Off Broadway play (New York Times).

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Straight Acting: Queer Shakespeare

From the introduction (Prologue) of Straight Acting: The Hidden Queer Lives of William Shakespeare, Will Tosh, Seal Press, 2024, the best book I have read on this topic: I don’t see the need to look for incontrovertible signs that Shakespeare the … Continue reading

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Yiyin Li remembers Edmund White

A friendship of voracious readers: https://yalereview.org/article/yiyun-li-edmund-white-tribute:

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Queer Lives : Edmund White, 1940-2025

According to the Guardian, Edmund White, an acclaimed novelist of gay life, « died on Tuesday evening while waiting for an ambulance after experiencing symptoms of a stomach illness. His death was confirmed to the Guardian by his agent, Bill … Continue reading

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Gaydar in À la recherche du temps perdu

Baron de Charlus attends his first Verdurin dinner party at La Raspelière with Morel and he misinterprets Dr. Cottard’s gaze as some kind of sexual advance: « Pour M. de Charlus, qui pensait peut-être aux dangers (bien imaginaires) que la présence … Continue reading

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Queer Lives : Angelo Rinaldi, 1939-2025

Angelo Rinaldi, the French writer and literary critic, died in Paris on May 7. He will be remembered for his sharp, uncompromising reviews published in L’Express between 1972 and 1998 – a selection of which was recently reissued by the small press … Continue reading

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