Can you name some characteristics of the first gay novel?

Typically, the first noir novels had complex and morally ambiguous characters. They weren't simply good or bad. For example, in 'The Postman Always Rings Twice', the characters' actions are driven by lust and greed, blurring the lines between right and wrong.

The first spy novels often had a focus on secrecy and subterfuge. For example, in 'The Spy' by James Fenimore Cooper, the main character had to hide his true identity and motives while gathering information.

If we consider 'The Sorrows of Young Werther' as the first. It has strong emotional content, mainly focusing on the hero's love and melancholy.

If we consider 'The Book of the City of Ladies' as one of the first feminist novels, one characteristic is its use of positive female role models. It features women from history and mythology who are strong, intelligent, and virtuous, countering the negative stereotypes of women at the time.

If we consider 'The Romance of the Rose', one characteristic is its length. It's a long, detailed work. It also uses a lot of allegory, with characters representing abstract concepts like Love or Reason.

One characteristic might be its use of the Spanish language in a more developed and narrative - driven way compared to previous forms of Spanish writing. It may also have incorporated elements of Spanish folklore or local traditions.

One possible characteristic could be a strong sense of tension and suspense. Since it's about a hostage situation, the author would likely build up the feeling of danger and uncertainty. Another might be a focus on the relationships between the hostages and their captors, like how they interact, negotiate, or struggle against each other.

One possible characteristic could be its controversial content. Since it's 'heretic', it probably contained ideas that went against the established norms, like unorthodox religious views or new social concepts.

It might have had a lot of secrecy and mystery. There could be a protagonist who was good at disguises and sneaking around.

Well, 'The City and the Pillar' by Gore Vidal is often considered among the early works that had elements of gay romance. It was quite controversial when it was first published in 1948. It explored the life of a man and his same - sex relationships, and was a significant step in the representation of gay themes in American literature.