In Franny, The Queen of Provincetown, John Preston created one of his most memorable characters from the more than 30 books he authored or edited over his storied career. Franny is a proud, protective friend to the gay men of Provincetown, Massachusetts, as they fight their battles against self-hatred and ostracism. Haunted by the loss of his first love, Franny vows never to let fear and anger consume those who are treated differently for who they are. It's Franny's goal to ensure that there is a place in the world for everyone who feels they do not belong. First published to wide acclaim in 1983, Franny was a book of gay heroism and camaraderie in the shadow of the burgeoning AIDS crisis. Today, one can read Franny with a sense of nostalgia and with the knowledge that Franny's dreams of a society that accepts gays and lesbians without question is closer to fruition, but far from complete.

This edition features an appendix of supplementary materials about Franny and the author, as well as an introduction by Michael Lowenthal, the novelist and anthologist and author of two books, including the Lambda Award-nominated Avoidance.

John Preston was the author or editor of almost 50 books (32 books under his own name, and at least 17 books under pseudonyms) during his 20-year writing career. His books include Mr. Benson, The Big Gay Book, Hometown, and Flesh and the Word volumes 1, 2, and 3 (as editor). He died in 1994.

John Preston's profile page

Michael Lowenthal is the novelist and anthologist and author of two books, including the Lambda Award-nominated Avoidance. He wrote the introduction to the Little Sister's Classic Franny, the Queen of Provincetown by John Preston (Arsenal Pulp Press).

Michael Lowenthal's profile page

For every gay man or woman out there, for every twink trolling on Davie St., for every proud queen in Vancouver, for every Franny?this is one of the most vital and important works in gay literary history and I implore everyone who may be the slightest bit ignorant about our past, our trials, and our sacrifices, to read it.
?Xtra! West

Xtra! West