In One Person
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Books |
| Website | www |
In One Person is a 2012 novel written by American author John Irving, marking his thirteenth published work since 1968. Released on May 8, 2012, by Simon & Schuster, the narrative centers on the maturation of a bisexual man as he navigates complexities surrounding his sexual identity.
Synopsis
The novel In One Person chronicles the life of Billy, a bisexual writer, as he recounts experiences spanning various stages of his life. The plot emphasizes his teenage years, characterized by attractions to unconventional individuals, and his ongoing path toward embracing his true self.
Background
John Irving developed this story with bisexuality as a core element, inspired in part by his own early encounters with same-sex attraction. He observed that the AIDS crisis during the 1980s exposed many concealed sexual orientations within families, which significantly shaped the novel’s storyline. Although the idea evolved over seven to eight years, Irving completed the manuscript relatively quickly, benefiting from his intimate knowledge of New York’s cultural environment.
Themes
The book delves into subjects such as homosexuality, bisexuality, AIDS, transgender identity, and the journey of sexual self-discovery.
Reception
Reviews for In One Person were varied but generally leaned positive. Some commentators felt that Billy functioned more as a thematic instrument than a deeply developed individual; The Telegraph remarked that Billy "functions better as a medium for Irving’s themes than as their embodiment." A critic from The A.V. Club pointed out the predominantly negative depiction of female characters but also recognized the novel’s merits, especially its ending. The humor and Billy’s characterization frequently received commendation.
At the 2013 Lambda Literary Awards, In One Person shared the honor for Bisexual Literature with Cheryl Burke’s My Awesome Place: The Autobiography of Cheryl B.