Dreadful: The Short Life and Gay Times of John Horne Burns

Drawing from his challenging life experiences, John Horne Burns crafted a groundbreaking narrative in his debut novel, which offers an unvarnished portrayal of gay life within the military during World War II. His time in Africa and Italy influenced the story, making it a significant work in LGBTQ literature. Despite its initial success, selling half a million copies, Burns struggled to replicate this acclaim in his later works, marking a poignant moment in his literary career.