Crisis of Desire

AIDS and the Fate of Gay Brotherhood

2002
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Authors:

Robin Hardy and David Groff

A passionate call for liberation from the myths surrounding HIV—now in paperback!

Thousands of gay men have died from AIDS, representing not only a loss of life but also a commensurate loss to gay men’s hearts and minds. With fiery passion, The Crisis of Desire depicts the struggle to rescue sexuality in the face of this devastating epidemic. Combining social commentary with personal narrative, Robin Hardy calls on gay men to reclaim their erotic expressiveness and accept the "mortal risk of loving."


The book to read about AIDS, especially if you thought you were finished reading books about AIDS. With rage and humor, with emotion but without sentimentality, Hardy argues for finding joy in our lives again.

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Bay Area Reporter

Thousands of gay men have died from AIDS, representing not only a loss of life but also a commensurate loss to gay men’s hearts and minds. With fiery passion, The Crisis of Desire depicts the struggle to rescue sexuality in the face of this devastating epidemic. Combining social commentary with personal narrative, Robin Hardy calls on gay men to reclaim their erotic expressiveness and accept the "mortal risk of loving."


Robin Hardy (1952-1995) was a writer and AIDS activist who won a PEN Center West award for The Crisis of Desire. After Hardy died in a mountaineering accident, his friend David Groff worked to complete his vision.

The book to read about AIDS, especially if you thought you were finished reading books about AIDS. With rage and humor, with emotion but without sentimentality, Hardy argues for finding joy in our lives again.

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Bay Area Reporter

A smart, elegantly written book.

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Boston Globe

Stands out for its persisting faith in the redemptive power of self-determined sexual expressiveness.

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Kirkus Reviews

Radiant and radical. Hardy is a moving and persuasive conjuror of queer kinship and gay brotherhood.

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Lambda Book Report

The Crisis of Desire provides us with a unique look at the struggle gay men are having in coping with AIDS. Robin Hardy has a message that says we should be seeking that gay brotherhood of love and not have it taken away by all of the anti-gay rhetoric. A recommended book for all libraries.

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AIDS Book Review Journal