Domestic Animal (Gay Modern Classic) [Hardcover]

Francis A. King (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1984 | Series: Gay Modern Classic

Francis King's 1970 novel A Domestic Animal is the story of Antonio Valli, a brilliant young Italian philosopher, who arrives to do a year's research at a well-to-do university. He lodges with Dick Thompson, a successful middle-aged novelist, and his good looks and impulsive yet immensely likeable character soon have Dick captivated. Valli is someone who needs to be admired and loved and has an insatiable craving for attention from everyone he meets; he needs an audience to perform to and he finds this at the university, but especially in Dick's company. It is not long before Dick Thompson has fallen completely in love with his charming - but very heterosexual - lodger. What follows is an ill-fated relationship that can only end in disaster, but in A Domestic Animal King has created a novel of bitter longing and painful complexities. 'Few English novelists have written with more might and assurance . . .' Spectator

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Born in Switzerland, Francis King spent his childhood in India. Whilst at Oxford he wrote three novels and then joined the British Council. He was the drama critic of the Sunday Telegraph and reviewed fiction extensively. He wrote over twenty novels and his non-fiction includes E. M. Forster and his World. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Carrier Pigeon (April 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0907040322
• ISBN-13: 978-0907040323
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,380,930 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unrequited love for a charming Italian, March 4, 2007

By 

Benjamin (UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Domestic Animal (Gay Modern Classic) (Hardcover)

Dick Thompson is a successful middle-aged novelist living in a seaside university town, socially he is has many women friends, but he is in fact gay. Then through one of his female friends, Penny, he acquires a lodger, Antonio, Italian, a handsome and charming young philosopher and one time professional footballer who is visiting England to work at the university for research. He has left his wife and two children at home in Florence. Despite an outward appearance of strength and confidence, he is thoroughly undomesticated, certainly not "a domestic animal", he is untidy and dependant on others for physical care and emotional support. Dick is more than willing to provide for Antonio's needs. Inevitable Dick falls in love with the charismatic Antonio, but the strongly heterosexual Antonio is unable to reciprocate the feeling, yet nonetheless regards Dick as good friend.
Dick relates the events of the year that Antonio stayed; his troubled and anxious feelings, the knowledge of the futility but inevitability of those feelings, feelings that may be so familiar to anyone who has been in a similar plight, with intelligence, insight, understanding, and occasional humour. This is a very perceptive and interesting story that has more than a ring of truth about it.