Howard Austen
Howard Austen (born Howard Auster;[1] 1929 – September 22, 2003) was the long-time companion of American writer Gore Vidal for 53 years until Austen's death.[2][3]
Austen was born into a working-class Jewish family and grew up in The Bronx, New York.[4] He wanted to have a career as a singer.[2] Vidal met Auster in 1950. Austen was then a recent graduate of New York University and struggling to find work writing advertising copy. At Vidal's suggestion, he changed his surname from "Auster" to "Austen" "after advertising firms refused to hire him because he was Jewish."[3]
Austen died from brain cancer at the age of 74 in Los Angeles, California.[2] In February 2005, Austen was re-buried at Rock Creek Cemetery, in Washington, D.C., in a joint grave meant for Vidal and Austen.
Vidal has been reported as describing their relationship as "two men who decided to spend their lives together."[5]
References
- ^ Jay Parini (13 November 2006). "The lion in winter: an evening with Gore Vidal". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
- ^ a b c Wasserman, Steve (30 September 2003). "A life written between words - From behind the scenes, Howard Austen helped make Gore Vidal's literary career possible". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
- ^ a b Robert Chalmers (25 May 2008). "Gore Vidal: Feuds, 'vicious' mother and rumours of a secret love child". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
- ^ Tim Teeman (12 November 2013). "Huffpost - Gay Voices - Howard Austen: Gore Vidal's Partner in All but Name". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
- ^ Barrie-Anthony, Steven (2 April 2006). "The last mystery of Vidal". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved 3 July 2014.