Alan Hollinghurst

Alan Hollinghurst is an English novelist, poet, and translator. He is known for his literary style and exploration of themes such as gay culture, art, and society. His notable works include 'The Swimming-Pool Library', 'The Folding Star', and 'The Line of Beauty', the latter of which won the 2004 Man Booker Prize. Hollinghurst's writing is characterized by its rich prose and complex characters, often delving into the subtleties of sexual politics and social class.

Books

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. The Line of Beauty

    Set in the 1980s during the era of Margaret Thatcher's conservative government in Britain, this novel follows the life of a young gay man named Nick Guest. Coming from a middle-class background, he moves into the home of his wealthy friend's family and becomes infatuated with the opulence and power of the upper class. As he navigates his way through this new world, he also explores his sexuality, all while dealing with the societal and political implications of the AIDS crisis.

  2. 2. The Swimming-Pool Library

    The novel follows a young, privileged, and carefree gay man living in London. His life of leisure is interrupted when he saves the life of an elderly man, who in return asks him to write his biography. As he delves into the man's past, he uncovers a hidden history of gay life that is much darker and less accepted than the one he is used to, challenging his understanding of personal and societal progress.

  3. 3. The Folding Star

    "The Folding Star" by Alan Hollinghurst is a captivating novel that follows the life of a young Englishman named Edward Manners who moves to Belgium to become a language tutor. As he immerses himself in the local culture, Edward becomes infatuated with one of his students, a 17-year-old boy named Luc. The novel explores themes of obsession, desire, and the complexities of relationships, as Edward's infatuation leads him down a path of self-discovery and ultimately reveals the dark secrets of his own past.