Bertram Cope's Year by Henry Blake Fuller tells the story of a young man's experiences in the bustling city of Chicago at the turn of the 20th century. The novel follows Bertram Cope as he navigates the social scene of the city, encountering a colorful cast of characters along the way.

Fuller's detailed descriptions bring the city to life, immersing the reader in the sights and sounds of Chicago during this time period. The author's keen observations of human behavior and social interactions add depth to the story, making it a compelling read.

While some readers may find the pacing of the novel slow at times, the character development and intricate plot make up for it. Bertram Cope's Year is a thought-provoking exploration of social class, identity, and the complexities of human relationships.

Overall, Bertram Cope's Year is a captivating read that offers a glimpse into the lives of Chicago's elite during a transformative period in American history. Fuller's prose is elegant and engaging, making this novel a must-read for fans of historical fiction and social commentary.

Book Description:
This novel was perhaps the most daring and affirmative LGBT literature of the first two decades of the 20th century in America. In this story, Bertram Cope is a young college instructor, about twenty-four years old ("certainly not a day over twenty-five"), who is pursued by men and women, both younger and older than himself. In writing this novel, Fuller had to carefuly craft his plot schemes so as not to offend the sensibilities of publishers. As a result, today's reader is left somewhat, but not entirely, confused about the precise feelings that characters develop for one another by the end of the book. Nevertheless, no publishing house would touch it, which ultimately required that Fuller go the self-publishing route.

Bertram Cope's Year was the first novel by an established American writer that dealt exclusively with the subject of homosexuality. Although it did not achieve the notariety it deserved at the time, it set the tone for the increasingly open discussion of gay themes in literary form. (Introduction by James K. White)