Review “A precisely fashioned novel . . . Bartlett enmeshes such grand metaphorical gestures in meticulous period detail, lending his haunting story an air of undeniable truth.” ―The New York Times on The House on Brooke Street“Bartlett's novel is a lush, sumptuous tapestry of mood and memory, and each ripple discloses new details and different insights as it evokes the gay life of London at a time when homoeroticism was a love that dare not speak its name.” ―Booklist on The House on Brooke Street“A powerful and complex story of sexual obsession. A profoundly original meditation on thwarted desire.” ―Patrick McGrath on Skin Lane“What a work of art--so unexpected and heartbreaking and lovely.” ―Armitstead Maupin on Skin Lane“Can, in a moment, stop your heart, or break it . . . Deeply moving.” ―Times (UK) on Skin Lane Read more About the Author Neil Bartlett was born in 1958. He is, as well as being an author, a director, writer, and translator for the stage, and a performer. From 1994-2005 he was Artistic Director of the Lyric Hammersmith in London; in 2000 he was awarded an OBE for his services to the arts. He has also been named one of the fifty most important gay cultural figures in Britain by the Independent. Neil's first book, Who Was That Man? was a groundbreaking re-assessment of Oscar Wilde. His previous novels are Ready to Catch Him Should He Fall, The House on Brooke Street (published in the UK as Mr. Clive and Mr. Page and shortlisted for the Whitbread Prize), and Skin Lane (shortlisted for the Costa Award). He lives in Brighton in the United Kingdom. Read more
A**N
Not as amazing as Skin Lane but worth a look for a ...
A charming, engaging book that shares a vibrant story of theatre life in 1953 England. The hero 23 year-old Reggie works as a stage-hand with a magician and wanders through life looking for his place and purpose as a gay man in 1953.The book was well done, a little simplistic, but a much more worthy addition to Bartlett's literary canon than his first two books. Not as amazing as Skin Lane but worth a look for a very pleasant distraction.The errors in the ebook copy I bought from Amazon on Aug 19, 2014:location 558, 16%, "Reggie always hold his breath."location 1282, 37%, "to find what he was looking before before he was due back"location 2501, 73%, "After all, every seaside pleasure has it mechanics, its point of friction and purchase"
G**Y
I loved everything about it
This delicious book doesn't have enough reviews - so I feel the need to add another!! For the days I was reading it, I was living in Brighton in 1953. And working backstage in the theater. I loved everything about it. And agree with the other reviews (I saw some Kindle typos too, by the way). And I love that semi-colon.
D**Z
An amazing historical novel
An amazing historical novel! A magician who is a cad. His two assistants drawn to work with him. Sleight of hand and sleight of imagination. A terrific read.
A**N
Brilliant
Neil Bartlett is a superb author. His characters really come alive.
D**R
A MARVEL
Marvelous. Full of YEARNING and strangeness and a very true very intoxicating sense of"backstage" in LIFE and on the STAGE...
T**M
I loved it!
keeps you guessing until the reveal. satisfying and surprising. carefully drawn characters full of nuance. scary when characters you have come to love seem doomed. meticulous attention to details of a famous day and place. stage magic and real magic. touching tender triumphant.
Trustpilot
5 days ago
1 week ago
