The Line of Beauty
The Line of Beauty
Book Brief
448
Novel • Fiction
London • 1980s
2004
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Alan Hollinghurst's The Line of Beauty follows Nick Guest, a young gay man living in the home of the wealthy Fedden family in 1980s London. As he navigates his sexual identity, personal aspirations, and complex relationships, Nick experiences the political and social turbulence of the era, including the Thatcherite conservatism and the AIDS crisis. The narrative, both ironic and tragic, dialogues with themes of beauty, hypocrisy, and disillusionment. This book contains themes related to drug use, sexual content, and the profound impact of the AIDS epidemic.
Mysterious
Contemplative
Melancholic
Bittersweet
Romantic
Reviews & Readership
30,435 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Alan Hollinghurst's The Line of Beauty has been widely praised for its elegant prose, richly textured narrative, and penetrating social critique of 1980s Britain. Readers commend its evocative portrayal of the era and complex character development. However, some find its pacing slow and its focus on aestheticism overly indulgent. Overall, it's celebrated for its literary merit and nuanced storytelling.
Who Should Read The Line of Beauty?
Readers who would enjoy Alan Hollinghurst's The Line of Beauty are those captivated by richly layered narratives exploring themes of social class, sexuality, and politics. Fans of Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited or Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day will appreciate the novel's intricate character studies and keen social observations.
30,435 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
The Line of Beauty won the prestigious Booker Prize in 2004, marking Alan Hollinghurst as the first openly gay writer to win the award with an explicitly gay-themed novel.
The novel's title is inspired by the concept of "the line of beauty," a term coined by William Hogarth in his 1753 book The Analysis of Beauty, referring to a serpentine line that signifies elegance.
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Set in the 1980s in London, the book provides a rich portrayal of the social and political landscape of the time, especially highlighting the impact of AIDS and the rise of Thatcherism.
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448
Novel • Fiction
London • 1980s
2004
Adult
18+ years
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