White has done more than any other author in establishing the idea of a gay literary tradition in American fiction, particularly with seminal novel, A Boy’s Own Story, published in 1982. As well as his autobiographical works, including The Beautiful Room is Empty, and The Farewell Symphony, he has written biographies of Genet, Proust, and Rimbaud.

Below are Edmund White’s favorite books, available to purchase as a set or individually.