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Julian's restless youth finds success by 1929
In Julian Green's fourth volume of autobiography, he returns to Paris after 3 years in Virginia. Stymied as to his next step, he enrolls in art classes and half-heartedly seeks employment. In 1923, one night he simply walks out of the family apartment to "seek pleasure" and does spend an hour or two with a semi-acceptable stranger in a seedy hotel room. Subsequently he does it again and again, fearing syphilis, and strengthening his revulsion at the way of all flesh.

In 1924, a friend persuades him to write a pamphlet: Julian's chosen subject is a criticism of how French Catholics practice their faith. He also does articles on Blake and Joyce. He is quickly invited into literary salons,and there suddenly encounters a young man (Robert?) who will love him and bring him "(y)ears of happiness."

In the next 5 years, Julian writes his first 6 novels, and so finds his vocation. An uplifting finish to his youth, but many troubling years lay ahead, for he was almost 98 at death.

FOOTNOTE

Much later, Green said he officially came out around 1950, and his sexual activity ended about 1960. Considering his strong negativity about the flesh, I have my doubts that he achieved much potency beyond the male climacteric, about 45 years of age. And indeed, I've thought his repulsion about sex might very well have psychologically neutered him early on in life--some self-conscious men's apparatus is all too vulnerable, you know. In any case, Green would have welcomed such quelling as heaven sent. ... Read more