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A review by serendipitysbooks
The New Life by Tom Crewe
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The New Life is a queer historical fiction novel set in England in the 1890s, one that is inspired by real events and real people. At it’s centre are John Addington and Henry Ellis who collaborate on a book aimed at shifting public opinion towards an acceptance of homosexuality. They are quietly confident their book will be well-received…until the trial of Oscar Wilde that is. The book also explores the complicated personal life of each man. John is homosexual, married to Catherine, but tired of hiding and trying to ignore his true self, particularly once he meets Frank. Henry is recently married but has a new sort of marriage, a meeting of minds as much as anything. The two live separately, his wife Edith enters another relationship with a woman, and Henry has sexual secrets of his own.
I thought this book poignantly and beautifully captured the love - and lust - men felt for each other as well as the anguish, shame and fear they suffered when they had to hide part of who they were. I appreciated the way it raised questions but didn’t offer easy - or any - answers. For example how could John balance his homosexuality and his desire for it to be generally accepted with what was fair to his family and in their best interests? John’s wife Catherine was such an intriguing character, and her position must have been such a lonely one. Given the prevailing attitudes towards homosexuality who could she possibly talk to? She was sympathetic to John but part of a marriage that was not fulfilling to her. I respected her for drawing her line in the sand and holding firm to it while not taking any punitive action against John.
This story brought a fresh perspective to historical fiction set in the Victorian era. I’m really glad to have read it, even if it left me feeling melancholic.
I thought this book poignantly and beautifully captured the love - and lust - men felt for each other as well as the anguish, shame and fear they suffered when they had to hide part of who they were. I appreciated the way it raised questions but didn’t offer easy - or any - answers. For example how could John balance his homosexuality and his desire for it to be generally accepted with what was fair to his family and in their best interests? John’s wife Catherine was such an intriguing character, and her position must have been such a lonely one. Given the prevailing attitudes towards homosexuality who could she possibly talk to? She was sympathetic to John but part of a marriage that was not fulfilling to her. I respected her for drawing her line in the sand and holding firm to it while not taking any punitive action against John.
This story brought a fresh perspective to historical fiction set in the Victorian era. I’m really glad to have read it, even if it left me feeling melancholic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia