Structure

This book is organized into four sections that are subdivided into several chapters each. As a nonfiction work, it is arranged generally chronologically, beginning in the late 1970s and concluding in 1996. The one exception to this is the Introduction, which takes place in 2013. Within chapters, events are not necessarily described in a strictly chronologically way, but are grouped according to general topics. For example, Part 3, Chapter 6 shifts between actions taken by ACT UP to persuade the NIH to change its policies and the internal debates within each organization. Throughout the book, France places heavy emphasis on these types of discussions, seeking to capture not only the actions of various individuals and groups, but also their decision-making process. Another important element of the work is France’s frequent inclusion of personal stories, either about himself and his friends or other members of the gay communities. These include the...