Joseph and His Friend: A Story of Pennsylvania
1870
Bayard Taylor
New York : G.P. Putnam & Sons
American
Novel
361pp
Gay Men, Bisexual, Special Friendships
Is life to be so sacrificed to habit and prejudice? I said that Faith, like Law, was fashioned for the average man: then there must be a loftier faith, a juster law, for the men—and the women—who cannot shape themselves according to the common-place pattern of society,—who were born with instincts, needs, knowledge, and rights—ay, rights!—of their own!
Summary
Considered America's first gay novel. An inexperienced young farmer, Joseph, marries a greedy and woman named Julia who insists that he invest in her father's oil operation. Joseph meets a man named Philip in a train crash; they swiftly become romantic friends. When Julia suddenly dies after an argument about her monetary scheming, the community turns to blame Joseph until Philip proves his innocence in trial. Following Philip's advice, Joseph leaves to travel and come to great experience; he returns and soon falls in love with Philip's sister although Philip's feelings remain unchanged.
More Info
Also see:
"Off the Shelf #3: The World of Joseph and His Friend: Nineteenth Century American Writing and Same-Sex Love" (June 11, 2015) by Rob Ridinger.
Content & Trigger Warnings
(highlight to reveal)
SUICIDE: by arsenic. suspected and disproved, instead;
DRUG OVERDOSE: a woman regularly consumes arsenic and dies from it.
Editions
The Atlantic Monthly (Jan 1870-Dec 1870) Serialized.
New York : G. P. Putnam & Sons (1870) first edition title page from Wikimedia. Seen at Whitmore Rare Books (p12). Second print is green with added preface. Published thru at least 1893.
London : S. Low, Son and Marston (1870) Published thru at least 1881.