Giovanni's Room

Giovanni's Room is a 1956 novel by James Baldwin. The book focuses on the events in the life of an American man living in Paris and his feelings and frustrations with his relationships with other men in his life, particularly an Italian bartender named Giovanni whom he meets at a Parisian gay bar.

Baldwin’s controversial novel has brought forth complex discussions surrounding a multitude of issues, including representations of homosexuality, bisexuality and struggles with internalized homophobia. Alongside these prevalent discourses, the novel also raises concepts of social alienation, identity, masculinity, and manhood into the public eye. This thereby fosters a broader public discourse of issues regarding same-sex desire.