These characters go to war, marry, divorce, remarry, have children. Alan hollinghursts masterly novel takes us through several generations and across key periods of uncertainty and change in british society. As authors from chaucer to hollinghurst have shown, sex reveals our emotions, instincts and morals. He was on the staff of the times literary supplement from 1982 to 1995. He has received the somerset maugham award and the james tait black memorial prize. Mar 19, 2018 alan hollinghurst doesnt write quickly. Hollinghursts mania for honesty means that intellect, the hankering for order and beauty, will always be subverted by the messy realities of desire. Daphne sawle, a key figure in the book, whom we follow from a poetically. In alan hollinghursts latest, a hazy sex scandal looms over. Contemplate a novel that has not one protagonist but four. Alan hollinghurst is among britains most highlyrated literary novelists, whose bestknown book the line of beauty 2004, winner of that years man booker prize, is a tourdeforce envisioning of the thatcher years as an era of doomed romance.
Jun 30, 2011 months back, when i heard that alan hollinghursts new novel was finally being printed and bound, i priced out flights to englandand then i looked up shipping rates on. Alan hollinghurst explores the effects of a scandal over time and generations. Alan hollinghurst primary author only author division. Two young men are attracted to a new man david sparsholt observed and encouraged by a fellow student, freddie green. See all books authored by alan hollinghurst, including the line of beauty, and the swimmingpool library, and more on thriftbooks. The sparsholt affair by alan hollinghurst librarything. The line of beauty by alan hollinghurst and a great selection of related books. Alan james hollinghurst frsl born 26 may 1954 is an english novelist, poet, short story. Alan hollinghurst book attacked as pornographic after radio broadcasts a short excerpt from it published. The question is not why write about sex, claims author. Alan hollinghurst politicians relationships novels social life and customs nineteen eighties social classes young men alumni and alumnae rich people gay men universities and collegesalumni and alumnae university of oxford englandlondonnotting hill legislators married people male friendship.
Between 1982 and 1995 he was on the staff of the times literary supplement. It ends in the present day in a world of iphones, body tattoos, samesex marriage, children from sperm donors, etc. Alan james hollinghurst frsl born 26 may 1954 is an english novelist, poet, short story writer and translator. The sparsholt affair by alan hollinghurst, paperback barnes. In alan hollinghursts latest, a hazy sex scandal looms. Alan hollinghurst on the books that have shaped his life.
The sparsholt affair by alan hollinghurst waterstones. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. He read english at magdalen college, oxford graduating in 1975. Alan hollinghurst is currently considered a single author. Browse author series lists, sequels, pseudonyms, synopses, book covers, ratings and awards. He read english at magdalen college, oxford gradua.
I have undertaken a project in the summer of 2018 to read all of the novels of alan hollinghurst in chronological order. Books by alan hollinghurst authors like alan hollinghurst. Geoff dyer alan hollinghursts the sparsholt affair is startling, radical, embedded in tradition but entirely new in final effect the novel that other novelists were all talking about this year. Out british author alan hollinghurst has won the booker prize. In 1983 london, will, a privileged, gay, sexually irresistible 25yearold, saves the life of an elderly aristocrat who has a heartattack in a public lavatory. In 30 years, the british author has penned just six novels, however this relatively small collection of beautifully crafted work has earned him a rabid. The situation is complicated by the use of cocaine one meaning of the line of beauty in which nick central character is complicit but ahs essential point is, despite the permissiveness not available to earlier gays like firbank, secrecy and pretence is still the order of the day, with the threat of aids everpresent. Called the first piece of gay fiction ever to win the honor, the story was also a sprawling and haunting elegy to the 1980s, wrote entertainment weekly critic jennifer reese. One of the most critically acclaimed books of 2004, the line of beauty is a sweeping novel about class, sex, and money that brings thatchers london alive. When alan hollinghurst won the man booker prize in 2004 for his novel the line of beauty. Books go search best sellers gift ideas new releases. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 1989 somerset maugham award, the 1994 james tait black memorial prize and the 2004 booker prize. Alan hollinghurst biography life, story, history, mother.
Forster award of the american academy of arts and letters, and the james tait black memorial prize. Alan hollinghurst is an english novelist, and winner of the 2004 booker prize for the line of beauty. Alan hollinghurst has 27 books on goodreads with 110905 ratings. Discover book depositorys huge selection of alan hollinghurst books online. Alan hollinghurst is the author of the novels the swimmingpool library. Forster award of the american academy of arts and letters, and the. Forster award of the american academy of arts and letters, and the james tait black. Mar 29, 2018 to read an alan hollinghurst novel is to encounter beauty in its many forms. Between 1982 and 1995 he was on the staff of the times literary supplement his first novel, the swimmingpool library 1988, gives a vivid account of gay life in london during the early 1980s. The exception is alan hollinghurst, whose books i read eagerly. Alan hollinghursts sweeping new novel evokes across three generations the intimate relationships of a group of friends brought together by art, literature, and love. Alan hollinghurst is the author of the novels the strangers child, the swimmingpool library, the folding star, the spell, and the line of beauty, which won the man booker prize and was a finalist for the national book critics circle award. Alan hollinghurst politicians relationships novels social life and customs nineteen eighties social classes young men alumni and alumnae rich people gay men universities and collegesalumni and alumnae university of oxford englandlondonnotting hill legislators married people.
Alan hollinghurst sketches the evolution of gay rights in. The sparsholt affair may 03, 2018 hollinghurst, alan. Listen to sparsholt affair by alan hollinghurst at. Alan hollinghursts most popular book is the line of beauty. Theres the beauty of the sentences jamesian sentences that somehow are both intensely shaped and effortlessly. Forster award of the american academy of arts and letters in 1989. What happens to these two men in this year will affect many lives and will set in motion the mystery at the heart of the sparsholt affair.
Hollinghurst was born in stroud, gloucestershire, the only child of james. Books by alan hollinghurst author of the line of beauty. The sparsholt affair by alan hollinghurst, paperback. In alan hollinghursts latest, a hazy sex scandal looms over many lives. British novelist alan hollinghurst won the prestigious man booker prize for fiction in 2004 for his fourth novel, the line of beauty. In his marvelous novel the strangers child, alan hollinghurst spanned the 20th century to tell the story of an enigmatic poem and its relevance to generations of one family. The strangers child by alan hollinghurst, paperback.
Mar, 2018 in his two most recent novels, first the strangers child and now the sparsholt affair, the superb english writer alan hollinghurst has made it his project to describe the. Author alan hollinghursts complete list of books and series in order, with the latest releases, covers, descriptions and availability. Reception edit the swimming pool library won the somerset maugham award in 1988, and the e. Alan hollinghurst s masterly novel takes us through several generations and across key periods of uncertainty and change in british society. From the man booker prizewinning author of the line of beauty.
O ne line from alan hollinghurst s new book, the strangers child, is lodged in my head as i arrive at his hampstead flat. Alan hollinghurst was born in stroud in gloucestershire, england in 1954 and was educated at magdalen college. He has received the somerset maugham award, the james tait black memorial prize for fiction and the 2004 man booker prize. Months back, when i heard that alan hollinghursts new novel was finally being printed and bound, i priced out flights to englandand then i looked up shipping rates on. To read an alan hollinghurst novel is to encounter beauty in its many forms.
Top ten books alan hollinghurst top ten books hollinghurst came to acclaim with his groundbreaking debut novel, the swimming pool library, in 1988, and went on to win the 2004 man booker prize for the line of beauty, a novel that nailed the crosscurrents of greed, envy, privilege, and sexual desire in 1980s britain. In the late summer of 19, george sawle brings his cambridge schoolmatea handsome. Alan hollinghurst cleverly structures his story to provide a representation of homosexual lives over several generations. Review the sparsholt affair by alan hollinghurst with alan hollinghurst novels you always know roughly what youll get a story revolving around gay men moving in wealthy upper class social circles in london, and absolutely fabulous writing. Alan hollinghurst books list of books by author alan.
It was followed by the folding star 1994, which was. His acclaimed first novel, the swimmingpool library 1988, gives a vivid account of london gay life in the early 1980s through the story of a young aristocrat, william beckwith, and his involvement with. Jun 17, 2011 hollinghursts mania for honesty means that intellect, the hankering for order and beauty, will always be subverted by the messy realities of desire. The sparsholt affair by alan hollinghurst begins in the 1940s at oxford university. The swimming pool library audiobook by alan hollinghurst. Used books may not include companion materials, some shelf wear, may contain highlightingnotes, may not include cdrom or access codes. In his two most recent novels, first the strangers child and now the sparsholt affair, the superb english writer alan hollinghurst has made it his project to describe the. Buy the spell by alan hollinghurst online at alibris. Hollinghurst is one of the finest writers of our age. In the late summer of 19, george sawle brings his cambridge schoolmatea handsome, aristocratic young poet named cecil valanceto his familys modest home outside london for the weekend. The strangers child vintage international series by alan hollinghurst. Booker prize novel sparks free speech row in czech republic. Alan hollinghurst author of the line of beauty goodreads.
Alan hollinghursts novel the sparsholt affair covers three generations of fiends who meet at oxford in 1940. Alan hollinghurst is the author of five novels, the swimmingpool library, the folding star, the spell, the line of beauty and the strangers child. The sparsholt affair by alan hollinghurst is published by picador. The swimming pool library, the folding star, the spell, the line of beauty, and the strangers child. The sparsholt affair is a sweeping and intimate masterpiece, full of sensual pleasures and observational wisdom.
Buy alan hollinghurst books and gifts, all with free worldwide delivery. Alan hollinghurst is the author of the strangers child, the swimmingpool library, the spell, the folding star and the man booker prizewinning and nbcc award finalist the line of beauty. His first novel, the swimmingpool library 1988, gives a vivid account of gay life in london during the early 1980s. Alan hollinghurst s most popular book is the line of beauty. Many of ronald firbanks books are mentioned the flower beneath the foot, valmouth, caprice, vainglory, inclinations, among other ones. The sparsholt affair by alan hollinghurst the work of a. That, at least, would be one way to describe these works. Alan hollinghurst was born in stroud in gloucestershire, england in 1954 and was educated at magdalen college, oxford.
Alan hollinghurst is the author of the novels the strangers child, the swimming pool library, the folding star, the spell, and the line of beauty, which won. He employs a similar structure in his new novel, the sparsholt affair, another multigenerational saga, this time focusing on the sparsholts and the effect a highly public midcentury scandal has. The swimmingpool library is a 1988 novel by alan hollinghurst plot introduction. The sparsholt affair by alan hollinghurst booksamillion. Alan hollinghurst and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. An author with an extraordinary talent for fusing past lives and experiences with contemporary concerns, allan hollinghurst is widely regarded as one of britains finest living writers. Older gay men reading this novel will recognise the signs of the changing times and, i hope, rejoice at the emergence of freedoms so abundantly enjoyed by the likes of the narrator. Alan hollinghurst s novel the sparsholt affair covers three generations of fiends who meet at oxford in 1940. We witness shifts in taste and morality through a series of vividly rendered episodes. Aug 31, 2009 discover book depositorys huge selection of alan hollinghurst books online. The sparsholt affair is alan hollinghursts sixth novel, and like his previous two the man booker prizewinning the line of beauty and, subsequently, the strangers child the story travels through a series of eras, capturing in each the nature of gay life in england. The character of this man and his companions is brilliantly drawn so that we know and are avid to find out how those friendships develop. Sep 04, 2012 alan hollinghurst is the author of the novels the strangers child, the swimmingpool library, the folding star, the spell, and the line of beauty, which won the man booker prize and was a finalist for the national book critics circle award.