The New Life

5.0
One of my favorite book of this year:
''it is only one who knows the mental and moral suffering to which an invert is exposed. Who knows the never-ending hypocrisies and consumes he must practice. Who comprehends the infinity difficulties which supposed natural satisfaction of his sexual desire. It is only such a one, who is able truly to understand the purpose of the book, and Mr Alice and I have written.”

Change in society comes at a slow pace, and those first brave ones trying to argue for it, mostly have to fight an unwinnable uphill battle. This novel is about the illegality of homosexuality in the late 19th century in London. The “impossible love”, “Greek love”, or “sexual inversion” is repressed or hidden, as gay men fear prosecution. Largely based on real people and events, the novel is about two writers (John Addington Symonds and Havelock Ellis)who set out to write a scientific book that should help bring change to society. One of them is bold, the other is painfully shy, and as the Oscar Wilde trial throws oil on the fire, they each question, how far they are willing to go.

It took me a while to get into it, possible expecting a different kind of novel, but once I realised this was all based on reality, it became a lot more interesting!

The New Life by Tom Crewe is an beautifully well written debut novel. It brilliantly captures London in the 1890s, it's subject matter is compelling and the characters are extremely well drawn. Although it is not a thriller it is still gripping throughout as it blends the real history of the time with fiction.