A heartbreaking AIDS memoir. John Foster was an historian, specialising in German history. For many years he taught at Melbourne University. His home was North Melbourne, where he lived with his partner Juan Céspedes. Foster was a practising Anglican and a parishioner at St Mary's. He rented a flat from the church in Howard Street, North Melbourne. (Residents of the inner-city suburb will recognise many locations and streets.) In 1981, on a trip to New York, John met Juan and they enjoyed a long distance relationship for several years, until their battle with the Australian immigration department started to yield results and Juan moved to Australia. It was the early days of AIDS and information was slowly emerging. There had been a disturbing rise in what were called “gay cancers”. New York was an area where such mysterious illnesses seemed to be proliferating. For many years, Juan had complained of stomach problems and had cast around for various cures to his condition. The idea that it could be AIDS was something the couple thought a remote possibility, but too terrible to contemplate. As Juan's health deteriorated, the possibility had to be confronted. By the time Juan found out he was HIV positive, he was living in Australia. The cherished dream of building a life together started crumbling apart as John took on a carer's role. AIDS is a slow and cruel death. Take Me to Paris, Johnny is candid and matter-of-fact about how the disease relentlessly ravages the body. Juan was once a vibrant and energetic dancer, but near the end he weighed under 40 kilograms. He was only thirty-three when he died. This is a lyrical yet unsentimental memoir that documents not only the illness itself, but social attitudes and the lack of legal protections for gay couples. There are, however, bright rays of sunshine in the support John and Juan received from St Mary's and the small community of friends they belonged to, but unbearable pain in the hopelessness of Juan's condition. John Foster died of AIDS in 1994, the year after Take Me to Paris, Johnny was published. John and Juan are buried together at Kew cemetery. A heartbreaking story told with restraint, humanity and dignity. Take Me to Paris, Johnny, by John Foster. Published by Text Classics Review by Chris Saliba Comments are closed.
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