A congressional adviser and habitué of a cozy circuit of bars inside the Beltway, Joel Lingeman never quite felt middle-aged. At least not until he was abandoned by his partner of fifteen years and suddenly thrust into a dating scene with men half his age and no discernible trace of love handles. But this unexpected hole in his life inspires Joel's search for a 1964 edition ofan Esquire-like magazine that contained a swimsuit ad that obsessed and haunted him throughout his youth. Determined to find out what happened to the model shown in the ad, Joel slowly begins to understand what has happened to his own life. Sexy, smart, and deftly observed, Man About Town is a new twist on the idea that the personal is political and a must read for anyone who's ever wondered what happened to that first crush. “Stunningly good…haunting, funny, and masterfully written, American Studies provides keen insight into our own history and our lives.” - Genre “A book that transcends genre in portraying the abyss that divides one ostracized human soul from all others.” - Los Angeles Times on American Studies “An unexpected kind of gay fiction…different and ambitious.” - New York Times Book Review “Sharp and convincing.” - Chicago Tribune “A sorrowful, cathartic novel.” - David Leavitt “Merlis deftly sketches two distinct societies in Washington: Capitol Hill…and the city’s gay singles scene….compelling.” - New York Times Book Review “Washington DC, as Merlis portrays it, is too good a character to ignore.” - Chicago Tribune “Brims with characters, events and ideas that, besides being greatly entertaining, stimulate discussion - Gay City News “A pungently insightful tale.” - Washington Blade “Merlis treats both his characters and readers as if they are smart.” - Washington Post Book World “An unexpected kind of gay fiction, especially with its insider’s look at the legislative process...different and ambitious.” - Seattle Times “Sings with poignany…[Merlis has] a flair for subtle introspection and keen observation.” - Kirkus Reviews “Merlis is a skilled realist who employs an understated humor-especially in depicting the Washington bureaucracy. ” - Library Journal “Uncluttered, intelligent…a compelling read.” - Out Magazine “An uncommonly grown-up fiction by a writer with a keen, affectionate eye for gay foibles and failings.” - Book Marks “Clever, perceptive and reader friendly.” - The Advocate A congressional adviser and habitué of a cozy circuit of bars inside the Beltway, Joel Lingeman never quite felt middle-aged. At least not until he was abandoned by his partner of fifteen years and suddenly thrust into a dating scene with men half his age and no discernible trace of love handles. But this unexpected hole in his life inspires Joel's search for a 1964 edition ofan Esquire -like magazine that contained a swimsuit ad that obsessed and haunted him throughout his youth. Determined to find out what happened to the model shown in the ad, Joel slowly begins to understand what has happened to his own life. Sexy, smart, and deftly observed, Man About Town is a new twist on the idea that the personal is political and a must read for anyone who's ever wondered what happened to that first crush. Mark Merlis grew up in Baltimore and attended Wesleyan and Brown Universities. He now lives in New Hope, Pennsylvania. Man about Town By Mark Merlis Perennial Copyright © 2004 Mark Merlis All right reserved. ISBN: 9780007156122 Chapter One It was almost six o'clock, so Joel Lingeman wanted a drink. Senator Flanagan did, too, probably. He looked attentive enough. He had his head tilted more or less in the direction of Senator Harris, who was trying to explain something about Medicare hospital payments. Only the solitary, pudgy finger beating rhythmically on the arm of his chair betrayed that Flanagan's thoughts were the same as Joel's: they weren't going to finish that evening, there were about fifty more amendments, and the big ones late on the list. The Republic would not be imperiled if the Finance Committee recessed until tomorrow and everybody went off and had a drink. Joel could almost hear Flanagan say it, the way he used to when he was chairman. "Let us recess until the morrow." How Flanagan used to love to say "the morrow," relishing and at the same time mocking its formality, drawing out the last syllable into a round mantra of transcendental self-esteem. Except he wasn't the chairman any more; a Republican was the chairman. So Flanagan didn't getto say when the committee would recess, no more than Joel did . Flanagan gazed out at the room now, over half-moon glasses that somehow clung to the very tip of his prodigious whiskey nose. He scanned the little audience of staffers and Administration satraps gathered for the hearing, and his eyes met Joel's. Joel had worked on the Hill twenty years, Flanagan must have seen him a thousand times, but of course a senator wouldn't recognize Joel. Still, for a
