Philip Gambone
Encyclopedia
Philip Gambone is an American writer.
Gambone was born in Wakefield, Massachusetts
in 1948 and earned a B.A. from Harvard College
and an M.A. from the Episcopal Divinity School
. His writing has covered many genres, including novels and short stories, personal reminiscence, non-fiction, and scholarly essays, as well as book reviews and interviews.
He has published 4 book-length works, beginning with a collection of short stories titled The Language We Use Up Here in 1991. It was nominated for a Lambda Literary Award
and a review in Harvard Magazine
called it "quietly inspired." Other short stories have appeared in a wide variety of magazines and anthologies. Something Inside: Conversations with Gay Fiction Writers appeared in 1999. Publisher's Weekly said his "carefully probing interviews provide insight into the working methods and aesthetic, personal and social concerns of a varied group" and that his "knowledge of each writer’s work and his sensitivity to the craft is impressive." The Montreal Mirror
called it "a rich collective portrait of some of the most important and interesting gay writers of the last three decades." Among the 21 included were Joseph Hansen
, Edmund White
, and David Leavitt
.
His first novel, Beijing: A Novel, appeared in 2003. Multicultural Review noted that "What makes the book of special interest to readers of multicultural literature is its portrayal of an honest effort to see, understand, and become emotionally involved in another culture without being patronizing or distant."
Another collection of non-fiction pieces based on interviews appeared in 2010 under the title Travels in a Gay Nation: Portraits of LGBTQ Americans. Andrew Holleran
wrote that it was "like going to dinner with people you’d love to know but don’t" and called Phil Gambone "the perfect stand-in for the reader: impressively prepared, sympathetic, and smart." He drew his 44 subjects from every corner of the gay community, including, for example, composer Jennifer Higdon
, Star Trek's
George Takei
, and anti-war activist Mandy Carter.
Gambone has also published essays about China and Chinese literature in such publications as the Boston Globe and the New York Times
. He has also contributed essays to textbooks about both ancient and modern China.
His many awards include artist’s fellowships granted by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the MacDowell Colony
, and the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation, as well as a research fellowship from the Massachusetts Historical Society
. Best American Short Stories, 1989 (Houghton Mifflin, 1990) recognized his work as well.
Gambone has taught writing at the University of Massachusetts
and Boston College
. He has also taught in the expository writing program at Harvard. He teaches in the writing program at the Harvard Extension School
, which has twice awarded him Distinguished Teaching Citations.
Gambone served 27 years on the faculty at The Park School
in Brookline, Massachusetts, and currently teaches English at Boston University Academy
. He lives in Boston, Massachusetts.
Fiction
Scholarship
Gambone was born in Wakefield, Massachusetts
Wakefield, Massachusetts
-History:-Geography:The diagram above shows what is to the east, west, north, south, and other directions of the center of Wakefield. Towns with population above 25,000 are in bold italics.-Demographics:-Notable residents:...
in 1948 and earned a B.A. from Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
and an M.A. from the Episcopal Divinity School
Episcopal Divinity School
The Episcopal Divinity School is a seminary of the Episcopal Church based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Known throughout the Anglican Communion for prophetic teaching and action on issues of civil rights and social justice, its faculty and students have been directly involved in many of the social...
. His writing has covered many genres, including novels and short stories, personal reminiscence, non-fiction, and scholarly essays, as well as book reviews and interviews.
He has published 4 book-length works, beginning with a collection of short stories titled The Language We Use Up Here in 1991. It was nominated for a Lambda Literary Award
Lambda Literary Award
Lambda Literary Awards are awarded yearly by the US-based Lambda Literary Foundation to published works which celebrate or explore LGBT themes. Categories include Humor, Romance and Biography. To qualify, a book must have been published in the United States in the year current to the award...
and a review in Harvard Magazine
Harvard Magazine
Harvard Magazine is an independently edited magazine and separately incorporated affiliate of Harvard University. It is the only publication covering the entire University and also regularly distributed to all graduates, faculty and staff...
called it "quietly inspired." Other short stories have appeared in a wide variety of magazines and anthologies. Something Inside: Conversations with Gay Fiction Writers appeared in 1999. Publisher's Weekly said his "carefully probing interviews provide insight into the working methods and aesthetic, personal and social concerns of a varied group" and that his "knowledge of each writer’s work and his sensitivity to the craft is impressive." The Montreal Mirror
Montreal Mirror
Montreal Mirror is a free English language alternative newsweekly based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada with a circulation of 70,000, and reaches a quarter of a million readers per week. It is published by Communications Gratte-Ciel Ltée....
called it "a rich collective portrait of some of the most important and interesting gay writers of the last three decades." Among the 21 included were Joseph Hansen
Joseph Hansen (writer)
Joseph Hansen was an American crime writer and poet, best known for a series of novels starring his most iconic creation, private eye Dave Brandstetter.-Life and works:...
, Edmund White
Edmund White
Edmund Valentine White III is an American author and literary critic. He is a member of the faculty of Princeton University's Program in Creative Writing.- Life and work :...
, and David Leavitt
David Leavitt
David Leavitt is an American novelist.-Biography:Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Leavitt is a graduate of Yale University. and a professor at the University of Florida...
.
His first novel, Beijing: A Novel, appeared in 2003. Multicultural Review noted that "What makes the book of special interest to readers of multicultural literature is its portrayal of an honest effort to see, understand, and become emotionally involved in another culture without being patronizing or distant."
Another collection of non-fiction pieces based on interviews appeared in 2010 under the title Travels in a Gay Nation: Portraits of LGBTQ Americans. Andrew Holleran
Andrew Holleran
Andrew Holleran is the pseudonym of Eric Garber , a novelist, essayist, and short story writer. He is a prominent novelist of post-Stonewall gay literature. He was a member of The Violet Quill, a gay writer's group that met briefly from 1980-81. The Violet Quill included other prolific gay writers...
wrote that it was "like going to dinner with people you’d love to know but don’t" and called Phil Gambone "the perfect stand-in for the reader: impressively prepared, sympathetic, and smart." He drew his 44 subjects from every corner of the gay community, including, for example, composer Jennifer Higdon
Jennifer Higdon
Jennifer Higdon is an American composer of classical music. Higdon has received many awards, including the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in Music for her Violin Concerto and the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Classical Composition for her Percussion Concerto.-Biography:Higdon was born in Brooklyn,...
, Star Trek's
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
George Takei
George Takei
George Hosato Takei Altman is an American actor, author, social activist and former civil politician. He is best known for his role in the television series Star Trek and its film spinoffs, in which he played Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the...
, and anti-war activist Mandy Carter.
Gambone has also published essays about China and Chinese literature in such publications as the Boston Globe and the New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
. He has also contributed essays to textbooks about both ancient and modern China.
His many awards include artist’s fellowships granted by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the MacDowell Colony
MacDowell Colony
The MacDowell Colony is an art colony in Peterborough, New Hampshire, U.S.A., founded in 1907 by Marian MacDowell, pianist and wife of composer Edward MacDowell. She established the institution and its endowment chiefly with donated funds...
, and the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation, as well as a research fellowship from the Massachusetts Historical Society
Massachusetts Historical Society
The Massachusetts Historical Society is a major historical archive specializing in early American, Massachusetts, and New England history...
. Best American Short Stories, 1989 (Houghton Mifflin, 1990) recognized his work as well.
Gambone has taught writing at the University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
and Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
. He has also taught in the expository writing program at Harvard. He teaches in the writing program at the Harvard Extension School
Harvard Extension School
Harvard University Extension School, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of the thirteen degree-granting schools of Harvard University and is part of the Division of Continuing Education.-Origins:...
, which has twice awarded him Distinguished Teaching Citations.
Gambone served 27 years on the faculty at The Park School
The Park School
The Park School is an independent school in Brookline, Massachusetts, for boys and girls in pre-kindergarten through ninth grade. It was founded in 1888 as Miss Pierce’s School. Jerrold I. Katz has been the head of school since 1993.- Campus :...
in Brookline, Massachusetts, and currently teaches English at Boston University Academy
Boston University Academy
Boston University Academy is private high school operated by Boston University. Founded in 1993 and located on the Boston University campus, the Academy is geared toward college preparatory work...
. He lives in Boston, Massachusetts.
Works
Nonfiction- Something Inside: Conversations with Gay Fiction Writers (University of Wisconsin Press, 1999)
- Travels in a Gay Nation: Portraits of LGBTQ Americans (University of Wisconsin Press, 2010)
Fiction
- Beijing: A Novel (University of Wisconsin Press, 2003)
- The Language We Use Up Here (Dutton, 1991)
Scholarship
- "An Introduction to Sixteenth-Century China" in China in the World (Cheng & Tsui, 2008)
- "War Continues, 1945-1949" in China in the World (Cheng & Tsui, 2008)
- "China in the South Seas" in The Enduring Legacy of China (Cheng & Tsui, 2006)
- "Gary Glickman" in Emmanuel Nelson, ed., Contemporary Gay American Novelists (Greenwood, 1993)