Interesting set of stories. Some fairly subtle, some adorned with quasi-twist endings that struck me as kinda bizarre. Overarching theme of the hypocrisy of polite, conventional society underpins all the works present. Ahead of its time for dealing with homosexuality, though it's never addressed by name exactly.

Vidal's stories are, as everyone else has noted, like watered down Tennessee Williams short stories. They're still keenly observed, delightfully spare, and well worth reading.

I'm not sure that I'm sold on Vidal but, particularly in light of the fact that these 8 short stories are the only ones he ever wrote, this is a great collection.

I really admire his unwillingness to give the reader all the facts; and I love that there are obvious typos throughout. Clearly either his editor or Vidal himself thought that the strength of name would distract people from caring too much.

I seem to be drifting toward short stories these days. This collection reminded me why I like Gore Vidal as a writer.

I never realized that Gore Vidal had published any short stories until I stumbled upon this collection. Written with ironic voice, many with a soft focus on sexuality, and in spare prose these stories are both comic and thought provoking. A couple, including the title story, are worthy of a second reading just for the sheer pleasure of seeing a great artist at work.

once i got to the end and discovered the source and full quote of the title, it made sense. Vidal chose not to use the more obvious portion of Shakespeare’s 35th Sonnet, “And loathsome canker lives in sweetest bud,” for the title and i agree wholeheartedly. “Clouds and eclipses” better evokes the nature of this set of short stories which reveal facets of humanity that many regard as “stains” but many regard as beautiful - much like clouds and eclipses. though some “cankers” do appear, too.

many of the stories give glimpses into an old world of homosexuality, racial prejudice, and even some darker world-bending fantasy through the lives of the “free-living” in Key West, the problematic retraction of a trophy, the adventure of a small actress, a Somerset Maughamian journal excerpt, and a bit of temporal misidentification, to call forth a few of them. always written with not so much a twist but a wry tilt of the head, squint of the eye, and curl of the lip (a raised eyebrow maybe, too), these brief tales satisfied my neophobic proclivities as well as my anthropological voyeurism. the time period in which Vidal wrote them represented a very different culture than we have now or even when it was published. we get to see things slightly from the outside which can often reveal flaws and facets denizens of said cultures remained blind to but we can see in relief of the light thrown by the characters.

the stories also simply entertain, too. the final story follows the general theme of the others but with the added weight of a true story. apparently, Tennessee Williams asked Vidal not to publish this piece back in the day because a family member of his had experienced this for real. Vidal agreed and stuffed it away for 50 years or more. the story itself unravels expectations almost as it sets them up and ends in relief and dismay. wonderful.

These short stories are fabulous. Often short stories don't seem to have an ending to them. These all have a point and what a wonderful point they have. They're all well written and I was quickly taken in by each story.
I am now on a journey to read many many more of Vidal's work.

Vidal has a way with words--"(he took many pills; his heart murmured)"--but the world he creates is a shallow one and the stories seem slight.

Beautifully crafted short stories with inviting and well-drawn characters. Thoroughly Gore Vidal -- . Great night time reading -- savoring one story at a time.

I adore this collection.

Each story was a portrait of an intriguing character. I felt as if I actually knew these people and not that they were contrived purely for a reader's entertainment.

Before starting this book I was a little wary because of its less than stellar reviews. Upon completion I'm pretty sure some of the reviewers are big Harry Potter fans.

I've read Vidal's historical fiction, Burr and Empire, in the past and loved it. When he recently died,literary critics wrote that his short stories were perhaps better than his fiction. I was intrigued so I borrowed this collection from my local library. The stories have certain common elements, characters with wealth who attend elite private schools and universities, esp. Princeton and Yale. Washington, D.C. society is a frequent element.

These stories are true gems. Reading them is so pleasurable. Vidal surpassed my expectations.

My next reading is to find a copy of what is considered Gore's best novel, Julian, historical fictin about the Roman Emperor who tried to return the Roman Empire to pagan worship shortly after Constantine

Tight, careful prose. Especially enjoyable from a male homosexual point of view.