Originally published in 1919, Bertram Cope's Year is a clever character study following a handsome young academic who has taken a teaching position at a Midwestern university. As Bertram navigates his new environment, he quickly becomes the object of intrigue for both women and men in the ivy-covered college town. However, Bertram's only emotional attachment is to his best friend and housemate, Arthur Lemoyne. After a series of comedic mishaps, including an inadvertent marriage proposal, Bertram realizes that being true to himself is more important than playing the role others ascribe to him.

Often regarded as one of the first American gay novels that avoids the common "bury your gays" ending, Bertram Cope's Year is a witty, comedic portrait of one man's journey to live authentically.