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Description edit
Easily one of <1988's> most important debuts...A buoyant, smart, irrepressibly sexy book...that has the heft and resonance of a classic modernist novel, the sprawl and surprise of an intimate memoir." -- Village Voice Literary Supplement A literary sensation and bestseller both in... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters/People edit
- Charles Nantwich: Old and decrepit gay peer of the Realm.
- Phil: Waiter, fancied by Will
- James: Gay doctor, Will's friend
- Bill Hawkins: Ex-con, works at the Corry Club and at a boys' club
- Arthur: Black East end teenager, fancied by Will
- William Beckwith (Will): Narrator of the story, 25-year-old gay, with a hefty unearned income
- Gavin Croft-Parker: Will's brother-in-law, Philippa's husband
- Taha: Houseboy of Charles Nantwich in the Sudan, later his gay partner.
- Lewis: Lord Nantwich's (first) manservant
- Alastair: Boy boxer
- Aldo: Gay friend of Staines, models for him
- Abdul: Chef and waiter at Wicks's club
- Rupert: Will's 6-year old nephew
- Sandy Labouchere: Add a description of this character.
- Bobby: Gay partner of Staines
- Graham: Lord Nantwich's (second) manservant
- Otto Henderson: Decadent artist of the 1920s
- Colin: Policeman, closet gay, agent provocateur
- Tim
- Harold
- Dennis Beckwith: Retired lawyer, first Viscount Beckwith, Will's grandfather and source of his money
- Raymond: Waiter at Wicks's
- Ronald Firbank: English author (real person, 1886-1926)
- Ronnie Staines: Gay photographer
- Tom
- Maurice: Handsome straight frequenter of the Corry Club
- Gabriel: Handsome, wealthy gay Argentinian
- Roy
- Nigel
- Carlos: Gay frequenter of the Corry Club
- Eddie
- Tony
- Derek: Waiter at Wicks's
- Simon
- Hassan: Nantwich's cook-senior houseboy in the Sudan.
- Andrews: Gym master at the Corry
- Mummy: Philippa, Will's sister
- Clarkson
- Mountjoy: House tart at Winchester
- Sebastian
- Skinner
- Whitehaven: Society photographer
First Sentence edit
I came home on the last train.
Series & Lists edit
This book is in Guardian 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read. (authoritative list)
This is book 204 of 1272 in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. (authoritative list)
Preceded by The Satanic Verses, and followed by Oscar and Lucinda.
Authors & Contributors edit
- Alan Hollinghurst (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Vintage Books
Country: USA
Publication Date: 1988
ISBN: 0679722564
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Vintage Books
Country: USA
Publication Date: 1988
ISBN: 0679722564
Page Count: 336
Awards edit
- Lambda Literary Awards (1988: GAY MEN’S DEBUT FICTION)
- Stonewall Book Award (1989, winner)
- Somerset Maugham Award (1989)
- Publishing Triangle's 100 Best Lesbian and Gay Novels
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 823.914
Subjects edit
Popular Tags
Books That Cite This Book edit
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