‘The Line of Beauty’ by Alan Hollinghurst

The double curve was Hogarth’s ‘line of beauty’, the snakelike flicker of an instinct, of two compulsions held in one unfolding movement.

Set in London's high society, 'The Line of Beauty' (2004) by Alan Hollinghurst is a gay novel beginning in 1983 and ending in 1987–in the years of the UK’s general elections. But these are also the years of the beginning HIV/Aids epidemic.

Nick has just finished his studies at Oxford and is about to begin his Ph.D. in London. His friend Toby suggests he move in with his family, the Feddens: they have a free attic room in their Notting Hill mansion.

Gerald Fedden is wealthy, a Tory, very ambitious, and elected as an MP. Nick comes from a modest background, is gay, and is enchanted by the money, the power, the beauty. And while living at the Feddens, he almost naturally moves in their circles.

But at the same time, he begins having his first experiences with other gay men. The Fedden’s daughter, Catherine, knew all about it from the beginning and convinced her parents to accept Nick—although they never talked to him about his sexuality.

I really enjoyed this book and I think there still isn't enough literature about the beginning of HIV/AIDS and its impact on the LGBTIQ+ community. But for me (similar to 'Our Evenings' from 2024), this was a bit too much about the life of the wealthy and powerful—as critical as it was.

CW: drug (ab)use, mental illness, self-harm, (internalized) homophobia, outing, infidelity & toxic relationships, classism