Leading Men by Christopher Castellani

The story of the great love affair between playwright Tennesse Williams and Frank Merlo is one of hidden desires, public discretion, and unfinished business. It is a look at what it takes to love a genius, someone with a great talent and even greater ego in a time of great talent and secrets. This is a close look at some very famous couples and their friends, some equally talented and most just wanting to be part of the glamour. The underlying theme of this book is peeling the layers back on what the public saw and what their private life was really like. The highs of great love and creativity are balanced with bouts of depression and loss. Beautifully phrased this story is understated but full of deep emotion underneath. If you listen carefully you can hear the clicking of the typewriter keys, the clink of ice cubes in a drink too early in the day and the soft crying of a broken heart.