The Journalist of Castro Street

The Life of Randy Shilts

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Pub Date 30 May 2019 | Archive Date 18 Jul 2019

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Description

As the acclaimed author of And the Band Played On, Randy Shilts became the country's most recognized voice on the HIV/AIDS epidemic. His success emerged from a relentless work ethic and strong belief in the power of journalism to help mainstream society understand not just the rising tide of HIV/AIDS but gay culture and liberation.

In-depth and dramatic, Andrew E. Stoner's biography follows the remarkable life of the brash, pioneering journalist. Shilts's reporting on AIDS in San Francisco broke barriers even as other gay writers and activists ridiculed his overtures to the mainstream and labeled him a traitor to the movement, charges the combative Shilts forcefully answered. Behind the scenes, Shilts overcame career-threatening struggles with alcohol and substance abuse to achieve the notoriety he had always sought, while the HIV infection he had purposely kept hidden began to take his life.

Filled with new insights and fascinating detail, The Journalist of Castro Street reveals the historic work and passionate humanity of the legendary investigative reporter and author.

As the acclaimed author of And the Band Played On, Randy Shilts became the country's most recognized voice on the HIV/AIDS epidemic. His success emerged from a relentless work ethic and strong...


Advance Praise

"Andrew Stoner has masterfully woven a powerful story: well-written, historically grounded, thoughtful, engaging, and important. The Journalist of Castro Street is engrossing yet haunting. It is indispensable for anyone who would understand the early years of the AIDS crisis, the intersection of the epidemic and the news media, and the challenges facing Shilts as the openly gay journalist blazed a trail into the media mainstream. It is not merely a biography of Shilts, it is more."--Edward M. Alwood, former CNN correspondent and author of Dark Days in the Newsroom: McCarthyism Aimed at the Press


"A sympathetic, first-rate narrative of one of the most notable journalists of our time. Stoner captures the passions and imperfections of both the fearless writer and the gay-rights crusader."--Patrick Lee Plaisance, author of Virtue in Media: The Moral Psychology of Excellence in News and Public Relations

"Andrew Stoner has masterfully woven a powerful story: well-written, historically grounded, thoughtful, engaging, and important. The Journalist of Castro Street is engrossing yet haunting. It is...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9780252084263
PRICE US$22.95 (USD)
PAGES 304

Average rating from 11 members


Featured Reviews

I thought this was an amazing story of a journalist navagating new territory and blazing trails for those who follow. I was fascinated by how much I didn't know on the subject. Powerful.

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I always planned on reading Randy Shilts' works this year, so to get a chance to read this book was really serendipitous. And I was open to learn something from this work, regardless of how simple or in depth it was, because I know little about Shilts.

What I found was a comprehensive, unflinching, and compelling account of Shilts' life, both personal and professional. The author did very well at examining Shilts' biases, his flaws, his failings, and his addictions alongside his triumphs, his great successes, his strong ethics, and the areas where he was prescient and present as a journalist on important stories, both relating specifically to the gay community and being of more general national interest. One cannot read about the rise of HIV/AIDS without coming across Shilts' work, and while he was controversial both before and after his death, he cannot be erased from the narrative of queer history without losing a significant voice from that era. Stoner's biography is an important one, and very well worth reading. I'll be buying a copy when I have the chance, because I know it's a book I'll want to revisit.

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In depth look at the writings of Randy Shilts and his life through an examination of these writings, reviews, thoughtful interviews with friends and family as well as publishers/editors, and critics. His determination to be a journalist before an activist is documented. Stoner places Shilts in his time and outlines his success and notes his foibles. The stories behind his writings and his writing style is fascinating. Well footnoted.

Thank you to Net Galley and publisher for this electonic version.

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The Journalist of Castro Street gives a good description of the life of openly gay reporter Randy Shilts.. Author Andrew E. Stoner does well in describing the successes Shilts achieved, and I thought he was fair in discussing Shilts' failures and shortcomings. Randy went all out, and he indisputably rubbed some people the wrong way. He upset apple carts and caused people to review things they thought were already settled.. One could wish that Randy Shilts was perfect, but he sure was good at what he did. Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

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Randy Shilts never disappoints. This book was so good. It gives some insight into the unpredictable times in San Francisco during the time Harvey Milk was alive and living there. Anyone who yearns to know the struggle of gay men and lesbians during the early days of gay rights must read this book. I would definitely recommend it to friends.

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An interesting look at Randy Shilts’ life and his writing. This book explored what it was like to be a gay journalist in the 80’s at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic.

** I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review of this book

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Extensively researched and expertly narrated, The Journalist of Castro Street is an all-encompassing account of the life and career of America's first openly gay journalist Randy Shilts. Drawing from fresh interviews and already available material, Andrew E. Stoner brings Shilts's personality to life and dissects his journalistic career and activism. Among other things, Stoner discusses the scandals of Shilts life including the Patient Zero myth from his book And the Band Played On that Shilts knew was wrong to propagate but went along with it anyway to bring attention to his book. Although widely respected in the mainstream media as an openly gay journalist at a time when his mere existence - homosexuality - was criminal, Shilts seems to have been somewhat disregarded in the gay community for sensationalizing some topics such as bathhouse closures. Stoner brilliantly captures the complexities of Shilts character in the book, concluding with a remarkably candid quote from one of his confidants: "...his audience was really straight people, because he wanted them to understand what it was like to be gay in America."

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