Controversial and scandalous references to homosexuality in James Jones's 1951 novel “From Here to Eternity” have been uncovered in an uncensored version of the book.
The original text, which was considered too daring for publication at the time, reveals the author's intention to include frank depictions of homosexual relationships.
Jones's debut novel tells the story of a group of soldiers stationed in Hawaii in 1941, based on the author's own experiences serving in the army on the island during the lead-up to World War II.
Having served as a soldier from 1939 to 1945 and witnessed significant events such as the attack on Pearl Harbor and the battle for Guadalcanal, Jones went on to explore the effects of combat and the aftermath of war in his subsequent works, “The Thin Red Line” and “Soon Came Running.”
“While From Here to Eternity” is primarily known for its iconic heterosexual s** scene featuring Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr on a beach, the original version of the novel contained two additional scenes that were never published or included in the film.
One of these scenes involves private Angelo Maggio, played by Frank Sinatra in the 1953 adaptation, confessing to engaging in oral s** with a wealthy man in exchange for money.
The other scene alludes to a military investigation into homosexual activities.
Jones's editor at Scribner, fearing controversy, refused to include these scenes and also removed various swear words from the dialogues.
During that time in America, the US postal service refused to distribute material deemed obscene, making it impossible for offensive books to reach readers.
Additionally, disapproval from the influential Book-of-the-Month Club meant that novels had little chance of commercial success unless they were toned down.
Consequently, many authors, including Ernest Hemingway, had to compromise on the language and content of their works for pragmatic reasons rather than moral ones.
Despite James Jones's strong objections, his daughter, novelist Kaylie Jones, revealed that he eventually yielded to his editor's demands.
Now, over 60 years after its initial publication and more than 30 years since Jones's passing in 1977, the original version of the novel will be released as an ebook by digital publisher Open Road.
Sarah Churchwell, senior lecturer in American literature and culture at the University of East Anglia, praised this publication as a reversal of censorship.
She noted that Jones aimed for realism and authenticity, objecting to the sanitization of his novel.
He sought to portray the truth about war, which contrasted with the mythic, heroic narrative perpetuated by the US in the 1950s.
Churchwell emphasized that it is crucial to recognize “From Here to Eternity” as a groundbreaking novel that sympathetically portrays homosexuality without judgment or pathologization.
She argued that Jones deserves to be acknowledged alongside well-known writers like Hemingway and Allen Ginsberg for his avant-garde approach.
The release of the uncensored edition of “From Here to Eternity” not only sheds light on the author's original intentions but also challenges the perception of this iconic story as solely focused on heterosexual relationships.
It serves as a historical correction, allowing James Jones to reclaim his rightful place as one of the earliest mainstream US novelists to explore and humanize homosexuality.
