Books like The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst

The Line of Beauty follows Nick Guest, a 20‑year‑old Oxford graduate, as he moves into the attic of the Feddens’ home in Notting Hill. The Feddens are a conservative Parliamentary couple—Member of Parliament Gerald and his wealthy wife Rachel—with two children, Toby and Catherine. Set against the backdrop of 1980s Britain, the novel chronicles Nick’s immersion into the Feddens’ world of grand parties, political intrigue, and social ambition. Through his relationships—from an affair with a young black clerk to a later liaison with a wealthy young man—Nick grapples with his own obsessions for beauty, power, and identity. The story spans the years that saw Margaret Thatcher’s return to power, exploring the intersections of class, sexuality, and ambition in a rapidly changing society. Hollinghurst’s narrative balances humor and melancholy, revealing the complexities of friendship, politics, and personal desire across a decade of transformation.

First publish date: 2004