The Grand Surprise: Leo Lerman's post-mortem dish

Notorious writer, critic, editor, and man-about-town Leo Lerman knew just about everyone and everything that there was to know about New York society in the latter part of the 20th century. And 13 years after his death, the private diaries of this openly gay onetime editor at Vogue, Vanity Fair, and more are being published as The Grand Surprise: The Journals of Leo Lerman.

Fans of old Hollywood take note: Lerman had something to say about just about everyone. In his diaries Lerman dishes on Dietrich, Garbo, Capote, Cary Grant, Steve McQueen (whom Lerman says was bisexual), Ike and Tina Turner, and more. Any book that features gossip about Russian composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (who is rumored to have committed suicide after fatally injuring a sailor during sex) is immediately set apart from your usual newsstand tabloid.

The book hits stands tomorrow, and those hungry for Tinseltown gossip from a time when you had to be more than a Hilton to be the center of attention will no doubt be scrambling for a copy. For more info, check out the publisher's website.