Edmund White, an American novelist, memoirist, playwright, biographer, and essayist has died age 85.

White was one of the most prominent and influential gay writers of his time, being hailed as the ‘patron saint of queer literature’.

Born in Cincinnati, he spent most of his formative years in Chicago. He worked at Time Life as his career in writing began to flourish with Vladimir Nabokov praising his debut, Forgetting Elena.

Writer, Paul Rudnick, wrote on X, ‘RIP Edmund White, whose novels, memoirs and non-fiction changed and enhanced American literature. A great writer and a gay icon, he was the opposite of everything Trumpian: brave, funny, inspiring and deeply committed to books and love. A true artist with an amazing legacy.’