The Gay Place, Billy Lee Brammer
The Gay Place, Billy Lee Brammer
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The Gay Place
Being Three Related Novels

Author: Billy Lee Brammer

Narrator: George Guidall

Unabridged: 17 hr 51 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Recorded Books

Published: 02/20/2008

Categories: Fiction, Political

Synopsis

Since its 1961 publication, Billy Lee Brammer's book inspired by Lyndon B. Johnson has gained a cult following. It has been praised by the New York Times, Gore Vidal, and Larry King, and has been ranked alongside All the King's Men as one of the great American political novels. Brammer, who served on Lyndon Johnson's staff, uses his knowledge as a political insider to show the good and the bad of politics. Three interlocking tales each feature a different protagonist-a state legislator, a junior senator, and the governor's press secretary-and illuminate the figure of Arthur 'Goddam' Fenstemaker, a master politician and the governor of Texas. Considered a ruthless, exuberant politician, Fenstemaker works for the ultimate good of the people, even though he often employs questionable methods. After receiving glowing critical acclaim for The Gay Place, Brammer was unable to write another novel praised so highly. Consequently, this novel stands alone in its portrayal of Texas-and American-politics. "[A] classic American political [novel] ... stunning, original, intensely human ... It will be read a hundred years from now."-New York Times Book Review

Reviews

Goodreads review by Forrest

The quintessential novel about Austin. This passage says it all: It is a pleasant city, clean and quiet, with wide rambling walks and elaborate public gardens and elegant old homes faintly ruined in the shadow of arching poplars. Occasionally through the trees, and always from a point of higher grou......more

Goodreads review by ALLEN

What Robert Penn Warren did for Louisiana politics with ALL THE KING'S MEN, the late Billy Lee Brammer tried to do with Texas politics in THE GAY PLACE. The results may not be perfect, but they are potent enough that I'm giving this one four stars. Set in the late 1950s when Texas politics was start......more

Goodreads review by Aaron

The Gay Place's reputation as the greatest novel about Texas politics ever written was well-deserved. Somehow I got reminded strongly of J.D. Salinger when I was reading this, even though the authors couldn't be more difficult in many ways. I just got that feeling that comes from reading good writin......more

Goodreads review by Geoff

First things first; they should just change the name of this book to "The Flea Circus," which is the title of the first of the three linked short novels that make up this piece. Having read the whole book, I understand why Brammer chose it, but the English language changed on him and it is not a goo......more

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