Two Gentlemen Sharing [Paperback]

William Corlett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 18, 1998

Bellingford is a sleepy village set amid gently rolling countryside, where scandal remains behind closed doors. Until the news that the Hall House hs been sold and the rumour is that the new occupants are "two gentlemen, sharing". When one leaves on a busy trip, the other is plunged into a vortex.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

If Angela Thirkell's quaint English countryside were invaded by a camp Tom Sharpe, the result would be William Corlett's (Now and Then) second novel. The entire stodgy, gossipy village of Bellingford is curious about the new owners of grand Hall House, "two gentlemen sharing," and what this euphemism implies. London playwright Richard Charteris (called, aptly, "Rich"), doubly blessed with an inheritance and a hit play, Manhattan Boh me, has acquired the stately house as a home for himself and his new young lover, actor-model-nothing-in-particular "Bless" Maynard-- without giving much thought as to what his neighbors might think. When Rich leaves to close a Broadway deal, however, Bless's attempts to fit into village life throw the local reactionaries, eccentrics and busybodies into a collective tizzy. With its gay twist--Bless and Rich aren't the only characters with alternative lifestyles--this casually witty tale expands the boundaries of the typical Home Counties comic novel. Moving along at the brisk pace of a West End farce, the novel also co-opts the stock characters of that genre, featuring country types like Doris Day, a droll charwoman who is much savvier than her dim-witted employers; Bessie Sugar, a meddlesome shopkeeper; and Brigadier Jerrold, a conservative retired brigadier who cross-dresses and passes as his own sister, "Phyllis." Other villagers include Laurence Fielding, a crotchety closeted architect; Maggie Heston, a histrionic and uncensored actress; and a drop-dead gorgeous Italian and his hot-blooded lesbian sister. Assorted slapstick subplots converge on a skinhead-attended road show-turned-brawl and a dance recital, as this breezily light entertainment floats to a happy conclusion. (Oct.)

Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 391 pages
• Publisher: Abacus (June 18, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0349108307
• ISBN-13: 978-0349108308
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,447,092 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a laugh a minute romp through the english countryside, October 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Two Gentlemen Sharing (Paperback)

A farcical and hilarious examination of what happens when two men sharing decide to spend some time together in the country side! The story never ceases to engross the reader ,and reviews the lighter side of the diffilculties of human sexuality.

Corlett the greatest writer of the 90's , (though only attracting a cult following),has achieved greatness yet again!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Share and Share Alike, September 11, 2000

By 

Allen Smalling "Constant Reader," (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Two Gentlemen Sharing (Paperback)

A rich theatrical producer and his middle-aged lover buy the grandest house in what has to be the wackiest little village in Britain. They hope to get along with the locals, but as "two gentlemen sharing" they fear their little burg may not be ready for gay acceptance.

Corlett sets out his own take on the British postcolonial farce, which is trying to satirize a satire. As such he doesn't use a great deal of plot but keeps introducing characters, one more outrageous than the next. There's Doris Day the cleaning lady, who remembers her namesake's tunes but mangles the lyrics beyond recognition. There's the extortionist who runs the grocery store, the corporate wives, the timid wife-next-door and her martinet husband, an ex-RAF type. There's even a drop-dead-gorgeous Italian dropped into the stew to keep things going. We have to be forcibly reminded that Rich, the theatrical producer, is in the States during most of these goings-on. The action culminates in a concert to which the whole town has been invited, and for which there are unforeseen and irreversible consequences.

"Two Gentlemen Sharing" isn't subtle. It isn't interior. But it's good fun and if you don't ask too much of it, it's enjoyable.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Diverting, but Hardly Original, July 11, 2000

By 

A. Ross (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Two Gentlemen Sharing (Paperback)

This is a light and breezy small village comedy of manners, a la P.G. Wodehouse, albeit with a gay theme. When a rich London theatrical producer buys the "Hall House" in a small village an hour outside London, and installs his young boyfriend there, wacky antics ensue. The books is chock-a-block with misunderstandings, mistaken identities, secret longings, and over-the-top characters. Per the genre, the book ends with all the characters gathered for a party which quickly degenerates into a wild fiasco in which all is revealed and resolved. It's all fairly diverting stuff, although I never found it laugh-out-loud funny, nor particularly insightful on gay issues.