@James Carnarvon is another favourite. I’m a real fan. I was lucky enough to spend Easter week there in Ravello in 1985ish, it is so beautiful. I had a room overlooking what was supposedly the inspiration for Klingsor’s Magic Garden in Parsifal. Little did I know it would become my favourite opera. I’m saving a couple of James’s books to read on holiday this weekend. Gx
A very long day in Sam’s life as he returns for a funeral from Afganistan. This heart rendering story gradually reveals what has caused the terrible nightmares from which he has suffered.
This is easily one of my books of the year so far and I can’t recommend reading it more highly. The writing is first class, the storyline hypnotic, and the depth of Sam’s characterisation is impressive.
A difficult read, but one that merits our tears.
Whilst waiting for the next update on Granger’s latest adventures, I decided to go back to the start. This is a gem of a book, all the key points to the futre character development of George are here, an amazing achievement, frankly.
This book is, obviously the place to start for new readers, but also a joy to revisit after nearly a million words later.
Well done, Mark.
I think, at the end of the day, many late 20th-century gays just can’t identify with the, to me, ghastly upper class “homosexuals” of an earlier age. I too shared Drew’s reaction when I read Isherwood’s canon in the 1980’s. Frightful snobs, users of working class boys, there is a concise word to describe them and a lesson to those who seek to impose a “gay” label on those who would have loathed it.
Thank you @Drew Payne for a brutally honest critique.
This is such a good read @Mac It’s a long holiday weekend here in Valencia and I’ve spent most of the time reading your back catalogue. Thank you and well done!