Gay Sex Cut from Classic Army Novel From Here to Eternity

A major gay sex story line was cut from James Jones's 1951 novel From Here to Eternity, reveals Kaylie Jones, the author's daughter, on The Daily Beast.

Jones wrote the novel about his experience on an Army base in Hawaii in the years preceding World War II, and his use of profane language -- particularly the f word -- was considered shocking at the time. But publishers forced Jones to omit passages in which the character Maggio made extra money by providing sexual favors to older gay men. Jones writes that her father "believed...that homosexuality was a natural condition of men in close quarters, and that it in no way affected a soldier's capabilities on the battlefield."

The novel was adapted into the 1953 Academy Award-winning film starring Montgomery Clift, Burt Lancaster, and Frank Sinatra in his Oscar-winning performance as Maggio.

Read the full story and view the original manuscript.