5 stars for Maurice in London by Xavier-Marcel Boulestin, translated by Nancy Erber #historicalfiction #frenchliterature #literature #bookreview
- N. N. Light
- Jul 1
- 3 min read
Title: Maurice in London
Author: Xavier-Marcel Boulestin, translated by Nancy Erber
Genre: Historical Gay Literature, French Literature
Book Blurb:
This is an overlooked novel in LGBTQ history, published in French in a gay arts journal in 1909 and never translated into English. The campy episodic narrative drew on the author's experiences as a young French journalist in pre-war London, mingling with other writers, critics, "chorus boys," and the generous patrons who supported them. Originally a serial novel, it gives readers an insider's tour of queer London at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1909, Les Fréquentations de Maurice was serialized in the pages of Akademos and eventually published by a Parisian press in 1912 under the name Sydney Place, a pseudonym for Xavier-Marcel Boulestin, a famed French chef, restaurateur, and the author of cooking books. This is the first English translation of the work.
After an exhausting time decorating his new apartment, Maurice Vendal has grown tired of Paris and decides to spend the season in London. Maurice is bored and promises to be a voyeur and amuse himself with society friends during his stay. A great source of entertainment is Reggie de Vere, a callous fop and spendthrift who rarely has a kind word for another, especially when mentioning their attire. Encouraged by Maurice, Reggie constantly schemes how to pay off his growing bills from tailors and landlords without actually earning money. Author Boulestin has assembled a colorful assortment of men and women, desperate for gossip and obsessed with being seen while trying not to be caught by scandal. Most of the young men in the book are clearly homosexual, though Maurice himself is harder to define--certainly, he is the object of other men's desire. As entertaining as his observations are, the true delight of the book is Reggie de Vere, an early example of the troublemaking demon twink in French literature.
As early twentieth-century moderns, Maurice and his crowd gently mock the now-passé lifestyle of London's "fossils"-the aesthetes and dandies, who are holdovers from Oscar Wilde's London.
My Review:
An enchanting tale of life in high society in pre-WW1 England. The wants of those without are the same as the wants today. Maurice offers money and a path into society's big events for those who are attractive companions who will trade looks for a taste of fame.
Unexpectedly the reader is treated to a work written over a century ago. This is a first time English language version of a French original from about 1911. The words are subtle and sublime, and you are just swept away by the detailed dialogue. This is not an old story. There are cases of this happening today. This is why this book works so well.
You might be reading about this metropolitan Frenchman availing himself in London in 1911, but you can see how this story isn't stale. It's an classic story - trade youth and prettiness and companionship for money and power. A story that will just draw you in.
Fans of historical fiction will want to read this book. If you want a glimpse of what life was like in 1911 then reading this book will open your eyes like it did mine. A really well written and interesting tale that should appeal to everyone.
My Rating: 5 stars
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Reviewed by: Tiger
