Overview

Artistically gifted, rejected by his parents, plagued by uncontrollable mood swings, and a suicide at age 24, Thomas Langrel Harris was gay, manic and, quite possibly, a genius. Oscar Wilde called him ""a most infamous young swindler"" while Edward Steichen referred to him as ""one of the biggest men of our time."" This is the story of a talented artist, significant photographic model, and mercurial young man, all trace of whom Fate seemed determined to erase. The settings range from the small town of Petersburg, Illinois, to the grand boulevards of Paris, France. Unidentified for nearly a century, the tale of this elusive yet fascinating figure can now be told.

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Reviews

""Fanning enriches our understanding of Fred Day, Boston's brilliant fin de siècle photographer: her impeccable, hard-won research has unearthed the astonishing narrative of Thomas Harris, a handsome young vagabond who, in the course of two years, became Day's muse and broke his heart."" - Trevor Fairbrother, author of Making a Presence: F. Holland Day in Artistic Photography (2012) ""Fanning is an indefatigable researcher and meticulous seeker of truth. Uncovering the brief life of Thomas Langrel Harris, she wields the tools of a sure-footed conveyor of society and culture. I found myself feeling jolts of anticipation as I savored her many discoveries. Her delightful book stands out as an engaging read to be appreciated by many."" - Verna Posever Curtis, curator of photography, Library of Congress, retired

Author Information

Patricia J. Fanning, Ph.D. is professor of sociology emerita at Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Her publications include essays on connections between the arts, primarily photography and literature, and the wider American culture. She has written two books about turn-of-the-century Boston arts and culture: ""Through an Uncommon Lens: The Life and Photography of F. Holland Day"" (2008) and ""Artful Lives: The Francis Watts Lee Family and Their Times"" (2016).

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