ARE there challenging historical novels that have gay protagonists? The answer, surprisingly, is yes!
I admit that I used to have a fairly jaded view of "gay fiction" (thinking it contrived and probably uninspired), so I never gave it a chance. However, Jaime O'Neill's brilliant At Swim, Two Boys opened my eyes to the significance of homosexuality in historical literature. So, this list presents exceptional novels I've found that deal with that theme. Whether implied or overt, named or undefined, the sexuality of these protagonists was presented as part of their development and relationship to the world. (I am trying not to overuse the word "gay," as in most of these books, it either doesn't wholly apply or is anachronistic.)
These novels run the gamut; homosexuality is portrayed sometimes as a struggle, sometimes as a secret, and other times as a virtual non-issue. In addition, while most of these novels are historical fiction, some are simply "historic." The one constant is that they are all superbly written, both in terms of plot, and of technical sophistication. There are many other novels that would fit this list thematically, but weren't good enough to recommend.
In my opinion, that which distinguishes all these novels from other gay fiction is their universality and timelessness. As a heterosexual, I never felt alienated by these themes, no matter how intimate or specific. Instead, these books are outstanding works of literature in their own right, which just happen to touch on the concept of homosexuality in society. I believe them to be worth the time of any serious reader, regardless of gender or sexuality.
PS- This list is expanding as I find more novels to add, so check back if you're interested!
HELLENIC/CLASSICAL PERIOD:
Regarding ancient Greece, Mary Renault is the uncontested authority for fiction. These are some of her best novels; all were written during the twentieth century, but by a brilliant woman so keenly versed in the genre, they read as though they were truly of the era.
The Persian Boy is an accessible novel: a good introduction to Renault's reserved and poignant style. It depicts Alexander the Great's military and personal life through the eyes of his lover, a Persian eunuch. Fire from Heaven actually chronicles the earlier part of Alexander's life--up to the events of The Persian Boy. It's a great read, but is probably more for the serious Alexander devotee. (Chances are, you will become one after reading The Persian Boy!) Finishing the trilogy is Funeral Games, an utterly fascinating post-mortem. [Recommended non-fiction companion: Lane Fox's Alexander the Great]
The Last of the Wine and The Mask of Apollo: A Novel are masterfully written, though I recommend boning up on 5th-4th cen. BC Greek history before getting started. The former may be Renault's greatest accomplishment in prose; the latter, in plot.
I'm including Marguerite Yourcenar's Memoirs of Hadrian on this list conditionally, and only for neurotic completists like myself. While it was brilliant, insightful, and undoubtedly the product of great literary genius, it was also about as tedious as novels get. If you're interested in Hadrian and Antinous, the non-fiction Beloved and God : The Story of Hadrian & Antinous is quite good, and far more readable.
(4th-15th CENTURIES = A big gap! I'm searching for books to fill it...)
16th-18th CENTURIES:
A Dead Man in Deptford (Burgess, Anthony) chronicles the exploits of Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe. Not my favorite of Burgess's books, but even not at his best, he is still better than most. A completely engrossing study of religious hypocrisy, sexual confusion and the art of the written word.
As Meat Loves Salt (Harvest Original) is a dark, character-driven tale set during the English Civil War. It is relentlessly engaging--the sort of story that sticks with you for days after you've closed the book.
LATE 19th CENTURY THROUGH WWI:
Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray (Penguin Classics) was a classic of the late Victorian period, if almost unbelievably subtle in its sexuality. Only slightly less reserved was Brideshead Revisited (Everyman's Library), an Oxford love story that was typical of many, if we are to believe the rumors. A similar story can be found in E.M. Forster's Maurice: A Novel, though it was set a few years earlier. It was remarkable for its time, however, in that it portrayed homosexuality openly and frankly--and ended on a rather more hopeful note than 'Brideshead'.
As previously mentioned, At Swim, Two Boys is groundbreaking. Full of astonishing prose, a creative vocabulary, and unforgettable characters, it deserves all the raves it's been getting. Again, I recommend learning a bit about the history (in this case, Ireland's Easter Uprising) before you start.
Thomas Mann's Death in Venice, like many of these books, calls on the ancient Greeks to give context to what must go unspoken. The Counterfeiters: A Novelis a well-turned novel set in pre-WWI France. It says less about sexuality than it does about the state of the literary arts during the early stages of the modernist movement.
The acclaimed "Regeneration" trilogy (Regeneration: 2, The Eye in the Door: 2, and The Ghost Road (William Abrahams)) is an amazing series, following a handful of brilliantly drawn characters through the final stages of WWI.
According to The Man Who Fell In Love With The Moon, the sexual culture of the American Old West was something else entirely. With an unusual style that merges Native American storytelling with the classic coming-of-age novel, this book defies social mores left and right, and ultimately is a very moving tale.
WWII AND MID-20th CENTURY:
From this period, I zealously recommend the English novel The Charioteer--about which I will say little (lest I ruin the plot), other than the fact that you should read it! It is one of the most moving, honest, and technically flawless novels I've ever read. Definitely the first book I'd replace after a fire.
The Carnivorous Lamb (Plume) satirizes post-Civil War Spain with remarkable bitterness and candor. My only regret is that even after reading up on Spanish history, I think my understanding of it is probably too superficial to fully grasp all of the symbolism in the book. Still, the love story it depicts between two brothers is an uncommon and gripping tale.
The Color Purple is unique on this list, particularly in terms of literary style. Something of a new American classic, it remains a very meaningful, important work. Homosexuality in this novel is a small element, but an integral one.
Lastly, Anthony Burgess's tome Earthly Powers (Burgess, Anthony), which spans the 20th century in its entirety, is a very worthwhile read. Its protagonist is an embittered gay novelist whose life comes into constant collision with some of the great literary and historical figures of the century.
Honorable Mentions from this period:
While England Sleeps (1930's England and the Spanish Civil War)
Giovanni's Room (1950's France)
The City and the Pillar: A Novel (1950's US)
Brokeback mountain (1960's US)
OTHER:
Technically, Swordspoint doesn't belong on this list, as I believe it falls under the fantasy genre, and not historical fiction. But, didn't Napoleon once say, "What is history but a fable agreed upon?" So if you've bought that... Swordspoint is actually an interesting, complicated story of class warfare--with an equally complicated relationship at the forefront.
|
Share with Friends
