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HUGH

DAVID

On Queer Street
A Social History of British 189 5-1995 Homosexuality

mi YLarperCoWinsPublishers

HarperCollinsPwWis/ira 7 7 - 8 5 Fulham Palace Road Hammersmith, London w6 8JB Published by HarperCollinsPHfefc/iers 1997 1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2 Copyright Hugh David 1997 The Author asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library I S B N o 00 255595 6 Set in Monotype Bembo by Rowland Phototypesetting Limited Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk Printed and bound in Great Britain by Caledonian International Book Manufacturing Ltd, Glasgow All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

for
ADAM JOHNSON

and Pip B r y c e , A l e x M a h o n e y , Felix R i c e and J o s e l i o G o m e s da Silva Tod una Verkldrung

Contents

Introduction
PART ONE HEROES AND VILLAINS

SX

1 2 3 4 5

' F o r the P u b l i c B e n e f i t ' ' Y o u a n d I are O u d a w s ' ' I ' m A w f u l l y P r o u d to T h i n k H e ' s M y F r i e n d ' 'Suivez-Moi, Jeune Homme' 'The Homintern'

3 28 53 74 99

PART

TWO

ORDINARY

PEOPLE

6 7 8 9 10 11

' I H a d the T i m e o f M y L i f e ' ' T h e Horrors o f Peace W e r e M a n y ' 'The Ray of Hope' ' Y o u ' l l P a r d o n the M e s s . . .' ' D o i n g O u r B i t for the B o y s ! ' ' I A m P e r f e c d y N o r m a l . . .'

127 151 177 197 220 241

Notes and Sources Bibliography Index

271 291 295

vii

Introduction

I o n c e kissed a m a n w h o ' d o n c e b e e n kissed b y L o r d A l f r e d D o u g l a s . T h a t a m a n n o w in his m i d - f o r t i e s is thus o n l y t w o p e c k s a w a y f r o m O s c a r W i l d e in a fantastically apostate succession is interesting principally for the light it t h r o w s o n the size o f w h a t is n o w c o m m o n l y referred to as 'the g a y c o m m u n i t y ' . F o r a l t h o u g h w e e k after w e e k the n u m b e r o f v e n u e s bars, clubs, restaurants, discos, shops, g y m n a s i a a n d saunas - taking advertisements in the c o l u m n s o f Time gay scene gets larger a n d larger, the c o r e m a r k e t w h i c h t h e y of 'sexology'. B o r n in the m i d - 1 9 5 0 s , I w a s b r o u g h t u p w i t h the idea that K i n s e y h a d proved that a r o u n d o n e in ten m e n w a s h o m o s e x u a l ; that gayness w a s , i n d e e d , n o m o r e freakish a n d statistically n o m o r e a b n o r m a l than left-handedness. In this I w a s o n e o f the l u c k y o n e s : e n l i g h t e n e d doctors d e c i d e d that m y o w n s o u t h - p a w leanings n e e d e d n o c o r r e c tion, w h i l e the social a n d political c l i m a t e o f the 1 9 6 0 s , 1 9 7 0 s a n d early 1980s s a w to it that w h a t e v e r e m p i r i c a l m a i l i n g at s c h o o l a n d university told m e tendentious ideas that o n e in ten m e n w a s (or h a d o n c e b e e n ) g a y w e r e n e v e r p u t to the test. N o w w e k n o w better. T h e m o s t r e c e n t B r i t i s h figures ( P e n g u i n / B l a c k w e l l Scientific P u b l i c a t i o n s , 1 9 9 4 ) suggest that, for all his s u p e r A m e r i c a n t h o r o u g h n e s s , K i n s e y g o t it b a d l y w r o n g and, alas, h o m o sexuals m a k e u p n o m o r e than 4 p e r cent o f the adult m a l e p o p u l a t i o n o f B r i t a i n . T h e y thus n u m b e r hardly m o r e than o n e m i l l i o n , the e q u i v a l e n t o f the inhabitants o f a small p r o v i n c i a l city. C o n t r a r y t o p o p u l a r o p i n i o n , t h e y h a v e roots in e v e r y social class; b u t , l i k e J e w s ix Out, the Pink Paper a n d h a l f a d o z e n o t h e r magazines w h i c h c o v e r the L o n d o n purport to serve actually gets smaller w i t h the p u b l i c a t i o n o f e v e r y n e w p i e c e

INTRODUCTION

a n d A f r o - C a r i b b e a n s , t h r o u g h a m i x t u r e o f aspiration a n d e x p e c t a t i o n , t h e y h a v e g r a v i t a t e d t o w a r d s the 'safety' o f certain professions and positions in s o c i e t y . That, despite being castigated as 'shirt-lifters', 'brown-noses', ' Q u e n t i n s ' , ' g a y b o y s ' , 'poofters' o r j u s t plain ' q u e e r s ' a n d h a m p e r e d b y a n y n u m b e r o f n o w - u n i m a g i n a b l e legal a n d social obstacles, so m a n y attained social p r o m i n e n c e w a s o n e o f the reasons for m y w r i t i n g this b o o k . T h a t in total those m e n - the C o w a r d s a n d B e a t o n s and O r t o n s o f p u b l i c r e c o r d - n u m b e r e d n o m o r e than a f e w score and that, b y i m p l i c a t i o n , there w e r e h u n d r e d s o f thousands w h o c o u l d n ' t o r w o u l d n ' t a c h i e v e this a n d w h o s e names d i d n ' t appear in either the social c o l u m n s o r the c o u n t y c o u r t records, rapidly supplanted it. D e s p i t e the success in the 1 9 3 0 s a n d 1 9 4 0 s o f the M a s s O b s e r v a t i o n p r o j e c t , it is o n l y in the past f e w decades that the study o f ' o r a l history', a n d specifically the c o l l e c t i o n o f the r e m i n i s c e n c e s o f o r d i n a r y p e o p l e , has g a i n e d l e g i t i m a c y . It has b e e n outstandingly successful in r e c l a i m i n g the q u o t i d i a n reality in particular o f w o r k i n g - c l a s s lives, the texture o f e v e r y d a y e x i s t e n c e . W h i l e s o m e attempt has p r e v i o u s l y b e e n m a d e t o p r e s e r v e the u n i q u e e x p e r i e n c e o f h o m o s e x u a l m e n (notably b y K e v i n P o r t e r a n d J e f f r e y W e e k s , to w h o s e b o o k Between the Acts I a m particularly i n d e b t e d ) , this has t e n d e d to c o n c e n t r a t e o n the atypical posturings o f that social a n d literary beau monde a n d the s o r d i d tales o f ' c o t t a g i n g ' a n d acts o f gross i n d e c e n c y w h i c h y e a r after y e a r titillate a n d appal the o c c u p a n t s o f the press b o x e s in p o l i c e a n d magistrates' courts. E v e n today, o n the e v e r - e x p a n d i n g g a y s c e n e , there is a g r o w i n g realization that s u c h snapshots falsify the w i d e r p i c t u r e and, i n d e e d , that s o m e o f the m o r e outr manifestations o f the scene itself m i g h t actually d e m e a n the u n d o u b t e d b u t m o r e m u n d a n e a c h i e v e m e n t s o f 'gay liberation': T h e r e is d a n g e r l u r k i n g in the w a y w e are represented in the m e d i a . I n a m i s g u i d e d a t t e m p t to illustrate g a y diversity, w e h i g h l i g h t tiny m i n o r i t i e s w h i c h o b s c u r e o r d i n a r y g a y life. D r a g kings, S M d y k e s a n d t e c h n o b a b e s o n l y w i d e n the gap of b e t w e e n h e t e r o s e x u a l s a n d ourselves. T h e i r i m a g e s g i v e the i m p r e s s i o n o f freakish b e h a v i o u r , at odds w i t h the representation c o m p e t e n t g a y p e o p l e in respected professions.
1

INTRODUCTION

xi

It is these ' c o m p e t e n t g a y p e o p l e ' a n d the surprising c o n t i n u i t y o f the lives they h a v e l e d b e h i n d that m e t o n y m i c a l 'freakish b e h a v i o u r ' w i t h w h i c h this b o o k is p r i m a r i l y c o n c e r n e d - that a n d the i m p a c t w h i c h , m a r g i n a l i z e d , p e r s e c u t e d a n d belittled, t h e y h a v e n e v e r t h e l e s s h a d u p o n the w h o l e o f s o c i e t y . I h a v e n o t a t t e m p t e d to twist history in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h the w i s h e s o f those w h o w o u l d c o m p l i c a t e a s e x u a l o r i e n t a t i o n w i t h radical d i a lectic, o r to o v e r - s i m p l i f y it i n t o a c a u t i o n a r y tale o f rise a n d hubristic fall. A I D S and, as w e m u s t for the foreseeable future a c c e p t , the enduring presence o f H I V have fundamentally changed both public a n d private c o n c e p t i o n s o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y ; b u t the o v e r - t i d y , j o u r n a l istic n o t i o n o f the t w e n t i e t h - c e n t u r y h o m o s e x u a l ' s g i d d y , s w i t c h - b a c k m e t a m o r p h o s i s from d e r i d e d Q u e e r i n t o b a r e l y tolerated H o m o s e x u a l , politically c o r r e c t G a y M a n a n d finally stigmatized A I D S b o t h superficial a n d d o w n r i g h t w r o n g . T h i s b o o k is n e i t h e r a political history o f g a y l i b e r a t i o n n o r an attempt to set a n y social o r cultural agenda: w r i t e r s s u c h as A n t o n y G r e y a n d A l a n Sinfield are better qualified to a t t e m p t s u c h things than I. I m a k e n o a p o l o g y for n o t m e n t i o n i n g e v e r y a c t i o n g r o u p , e v e r y n u a n c e o f t h o u g h t , e v e r y signal e v e n t w h i c h has c a u s e d ripples in the g a y c o m m u n i t y since the b e g i n n i n g o f the c e n t u r y . N o r h a v e I s e e n a n y n e e d to a c c e d e to the d e m a n d s o f the radical Left a n d refer to the subjects o f this b o o k as ' q u e e r s ' . A militant r e j e c t i o n o f the w o r d s ' h o m o s e x u a l ' a n d e v e n ' g a y ' smacks m o r e o f d o g m a than utility, a n d in w h a t f o l l o w s I h a v e c h o s e n to refer to ' h o m o s e x u a l s ' , u s i n g the t e r m as neutrally as possible, e x c e p t in later chapters w h e r e 'gays' s e e m e d m o r e appropriate. F o r rather different reasons, I h a v e also c o n s c i o u s l y i g n o r e d the lesbian history o f the p e r i o d , e x c e p t w h e r e it c o i n c i d e n t a l ^ overlaps w i t h m y o w n material. U n t i l v e r y r e c e n d y it w a s a c o m p l e t e l y different story; n o less w o r t h w h i l e , n o less w o r t h y o f telling - b u t n o t perhaps b y a m a l e a u t h o r . I n m u c h the s a m e w a y as I d i d in a p r e v i o u s b o o k o n L o n d o n b o h e m i a n i s m , I h a v e tried in this b o o k to describe w h a t life w a s l i k e , h o w it felt to b e a m e m b e r o f a discrete s u b - g r o u p w i t h i n s o c i e t y , a n d to d o so b y a l l o w i n g m e n w h o w e r e actually a part o f things to tell their o w n stories. M o s t o f these w e r e g i v e n to m e in o n e - t o - o n e situations b y i n d i viduals w h o v o l u n t e e r e d their services; the m a j o r i t y o f the i n t e r v i e w s ' v i c t i m ' is

xii

INTRODUCTION

w e r e t a p e - r e c o r d e d . I e n c o u r a g e d the i n t e r v i e w e e s to b e as frank as p o s s i b l e a n d t o c o n s i d e r the e m o t i o n a l a n d d o m e s t i c as w e l l as the s e x u a l side o f their lives. M a n y - s e n i o r E s t a b l i s h m e n t figures, actors, e x - p r i s o n e r s , teachers, r e n t - b o y s - r e s p o n d e d w i t h astonishing c a n d o u r , a n d early o n I d e c i d e d that, in those extracts f r o m their r e m i n iscences w h i c h w e r e to appear in this b o o k , I w o u l d m a k e n o cuts o n the g r o u n d s o f the l a n g u a g e t h e y u s e d o r the s e x u a l explicitness o f their material. M a n y o f t h e m e n w e r e s p e a k i n g o f their h o m o s e x u a l i t y for the first t i m e a n d f r o m positions in w h i c h their frank revelations c o u l d b e e x t r e m e l y c o m p r o m i s i n g . B e c a u s e o f this, all their n a m e s h a v e b e e n c h a n g e d : p s e u d o n y m s are i n d i c a t e d in the text b y their i n c l u s i o n w i t h i n inverted commas ( ' J o h n ' ) . O c c a s i o n a l l y , t o o , partners' names and specific l o c a t i o n s in the stories h a v e b e e n altered o r o m i t t e d at the s p e a k e r ' s request. I n o n e o r t w o cases I h a v e also a g r e e d to c o m p l e t e anonymity. I a m grateful to all these m e n q u i t e as m u c h to those w h o m e r e l y p o i n t e d m e in the right d i r e c t i o n a n d w h o s e m e m o r i e s are the ' v o i c e s off' i n the d r a m a w h i c h f o l l o w s , as to those f r o m w h o s e e x p e r i e n c e s I have direcdy quoted.

T h i s b o o k is d e d i c a t e d to the m e m o r y o f f i v e m e n , all o f w h o m d i e d f r o m A I D S - r e l a t e d c o n d i t i o n s d u r i n g the p e r i o d o f its creation. E a c h w a s , to a g r e a t e r o r lesser e x t e n t , a friend o f m i n e ; n o n e , at the t i m e o f his death, h a d r e a c h e d the a g e w h i c h I a m n o w . I f the m e m o r y o f their lives a n d m a n n e r o f their deaths w e r e the initial inspiration for the b o o k , the g e n e r o s i t y o f m a n y o t h e r p e o p l e h e l p e d it o n its w a y . I a m particularly i n d e b t e d to D u d l e y C a v e , H u g o G r e e n h a l g h , A n t o n y G r e y , S i m o n I n g r a m , Francis K i n g , the L e s b i a n a n d G a y S w i t c h b o a r d , J i m L o v e n d o s k i , M i c h a e l M a r a , W i l l Parry, M i k e P o r t , R i c h a r d Pyatt, M i k e S a n s o m , P e t e r S o w e r b u t t s , Peter Tatchell, D a v i d Tolliss, D a v i d and R o s y Walker, Richard W e l l i n g s T h o m a s , A d a m W i l k i n s o n , a n d C h r i s t o p h e r W h e l a n a n d the staff at B o d y Positive, L o n d o n . N o t for the first t i m e , E d m u n d H a l l p r o v e d an i n v a l u a b l e friend. H e w i l l i n g l y shared ideas a n d contacts d u r i n g m u c h o f the t i m e I w a s r e s e a r c h i n g this b o o k - e v e n t h o u g h h e w a s fully o c c u p i e d w i t h the

INTRODUCTION

Xlll

w r i t i n g o f his o w n parallel study, We Can't Even March Straight & Windus, 1995).

(Chatto

A s a l w a y s , m y agent B i l l H a m i l t o n b r o k e r e d an a m i c a b l e deal, i n t r o d u c i n g m e to M i c h a e l F i s h w i c k , S o p h i e N e l s o n , R e b e c c a L l o y d a n d a d e m a n d i n g b u t enthusiastic t e a m at H a r p e r C o l l i n s . A l l h a v e k e p t faith w i t h m e , a t r o u b l e s o m e c o m p u t e r a n d a t e x t w h i c h w a s initially e n v i s a g e d as a ' q u i c k i e ' to m a r k the 1 0 0 t h a n n i v e r s a r y o f the i m p r i s o n m e n t o f O s c a r W i l d e , b u t rapidly g r e w i n t o s o m e t h i n g b i g g e r . M a r t y n Ives a n d T e s t i m o n y Films g e n e r o u s l y m a d e o v e r research material to m e . D a v i d Prosser a n d A l l O u t P r o d u c t i o n s g a v e m e m o r e help than I c o u l d reasonably h a v e e x p e c t e d ; C e n t r a l T e l e v i s i o n a n d C h a n n e l F o u r T e l e v i s i o n also acted as selfless g o - b e t w e e n s . A s e v e r , the staff o f the L o n d o n L i b r a r y w a s efficient, i n f o r m a t i v e a n d i n d u l g e n t . Hugh David London, November i6

PART ONE

Heroes and Villains

\
' F O R T H E P U B L I C B E N E F I T ' 5

W e r e these y o u n g m e n all a b o u t t w e n t y ? - Y e s ; t w e n t y o r t w e n t y t w o . I l i k e the society o f y o u n g m e n . W h a t w a s their o c c u p a t i o n ? - I d o n o t k n o w i f these particular y o u n g m e n had occupations. H a v e y o u g i v e n m o n e y to t h e m ? - Y e s . I t h i n k to all five m o n e y o r presents. D i d they give y o u anything? - M e ? M e ? N o ! A m o n g these five d i d T a y l o r i n t r o d u c e y o u to C h a r l e s P a r k e r ? - Yes. D i d y o u b e c o m e friendly w i t h h i m ? - Y e s , h e w a s o n e w i t h w h o m I b e c a m e friendly. D i d y o u k n o w that P a r k e r w a s a g e n t l e m a n ' s servant o u t employment? N o . B u t i f he w e r e , y o u w o u l d still h a v e b e c o m e friendly w i t h h i m ? Y e s . I w o u l d b e c o m e friendly w i t h a n y h u m a n b e i n g I l i k e d . H o w o l d w a s he? R e a l l y , I d o n o t k e e p a c e n s u s .
4

of

A l r e a d y , the g a m e w a s u p , a n d e v e r y o n e b u t h e s e e m e d to k n o w it. N a m e s w e r e b e i n g m e n t i o n e d . T h e r e w a s e v e r y possibility that the d e f e n c e w o u l d p u t faces to a n y t h i n g u p to ten o f t h e m ten w e r e certainly identified in Q u e e n s b e r r y ' s Plea o f Justification given further p r o v o c a t i o n . B u t it w a s n o t until the f o l l o w i n g a f t e r n o o n that W i l d e c o n c e d e d a n d the case w a s w i t h d r a w n . H e w a s n o t in c o u r t to hear the j u d g e rule that 'it w a s true in substance a n d in fact that the p r o s e c u t o r h a d " p o s e d " as a s o d o m i t e ' .
5

It c o u l d b e a r g u e d that w h a t has c o m e to b e k n o w n as the First T r i a l o f O s c a r W i l d e , those three days in A p r i l 1 8 9 5 w h i c h so c a p t i v a t e d L o n d o n society they thronged the p u b l i c galleries o f the Old They B a i l e y - c h a n g e d the lives o f B r i t i s h h o m o s e x u a l s m o r e profoundly

than a n y t h i n g else in the n e x t three quarters o f a c e n t u r y . b e g i n n i n g o f the First W o r l d W a r .


6

w e r e certainly t a u n t e d w i t h cries o f ' O s c a r , O s c a r ! ' right u p until the

E v e r y g e n e r a t i o n needs its o w n h e r o e s , a n d for t h r e e o r f o u r g e n e r a tions o f g a y m e n W i l d e s e e m e d to m o r e than fit the b i l l .


7

Indeed,

until the e m e r g e n c e o r ' o u t i n g ' in the last t w e n t y - f i v e years o f a m o r e d i v e r g e n t range o f role m o d e l s - W . H . A u d e n , A l a n T u r i n g , G u y

H E R O E S

A N D

V I L L A I N S

B u r g e s s , R o c k H u d s o n , S i r Ian M c K e l l e n , C h r i s S m i t h , M P , the b l a c k footballer J u s t i n F a s h a n u - h e w a s a b o u t all there w a s . W h i l e s e r v i n g an e i g h t e e n - m o n t h p r i s o n sentence in the m i d - 1 9 5 0 s after w h a t b e c a m e k n o w n as 'the M o n t a g u case', the h o m o s e x u a l w r i t e r a n d j o u r n a l i s t P e t e r W i l d e b l o o d f o u n d that his f e l l o w - i n m a t e s still automatically b r a c k e t e d h i m w i t h W i l d e . W i l d e ' s campness ( ' T o w r i t e , I m u s t h a v e y e l l o w satin'), the b r i t d e archness o f The Importance of Being Earnest a n d the lush p r o s e o f The Picture of Dorian Gray p l a y e d n o small part in d e f i n i n g the dialect o f the tribe: ' A l l w o m e n b e c o m e l i k e their m o t h e r s . T h a t is their tragedy. N o m a n does. T h a t ' s h i s . ' B y contrast, the selfishness a n d spite apparent in De Profundis h a v e b e e n o v e r l o o k e d . T h e prose sings, b u t the sentiments e x p r e s s e d are less than n o b l e : ' T h e v e r y b r e a d and w a t e r o f p r i s o n fare y o u h a v e b y y o u r c o n d u c t c h a n g e d . Y o u h a v e r e n d e r e d the o n e bitter a n d the o t h e r brackish to m e . T h e s o r r o w y o u s h o u l d h a v e shared y o u h a v e d o u b l e d , the p a i n y o u s h o u l d h a v e s o u g h t to l i g h t e n y o u h a v e q u i c k e n e d to a n g u i s h . ' W i l d e ' s d e c i s i o n to sue for libel w a s a n o t h e r e x a m p l e o f this less c e l e b r a t e d side o f his character. It w a s b o t h wilful a n d suicidal, a pettishly arrogant act s e e m i n g l y b o r n o u t o f a m i s t a k e n b e l i e f that (as Q u e e n s b e r r y h a d suggested) h e really d i d e n j o y s o m e ' i m p u n i t y ' ; that his p u b l i c p o s i t i o n s o m e h o w p u t h i m a b o v e the l a w . Friends such as F r a n k Harris (and e v e n the artist H e n r i T o u l o u s e - L a u t r e c , w h o h a p p e n e d to b e in L o n d o n at the time) h a d early o n tried to disabuse h i m o f this a n d u r g e d h i m to d r o p the case against Q u e e n s b e r r y . O n h o l i d a y in J a n u a r y 1 8 9 5 , W i l d e h a d run into A n d r G i d e in A l g i e r s . T h e F r e n c h w r i t e r w e n t e v e n further than Harris a n d s u g g e s t e d that W i l d e r e m a i n a b r o a d , b e y o n d the j u r i s d i c t i o n o f E n g l i s h l a w : H e s p o k e a b o u t r e t u r n i n g to L o n d o n ; the M a r q u e s s o f Q f u e e n s berry] was libelling him, demanding he g o back, accusing h i m o f fleeing. ' B u t i f y o u d o g o b a c k , w h a t w i l l h a p p e n ? ' I asked h i m . ' D o y o u k n o w w h a t y o u are risking?' 'It's b e t t e r n e v e r t o k n o w t h a t . . . M y friends are quite e x t r a o r d i nary. T h e y advise p r u d e n c e . P r u d e n c e ! B u t I can't h a v e a n y o f that. T h a t w o u l d b e g o i n g b a c k w a r d s . . . I m u s t g o o n as far as possible . . . until I can't g o a n y farther . . . until s o m e t h i n g happens . . . something else.'
10 9 8

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W i l d e left for L o n d o n the f o l l o w i n g day and, e v e n after h e w a s m a d e a w a r e o f the contents o f Q u e e n s b e r r y ' s P l e a , w i t h its c o m p r o m i s i n g list o f n a m e s a n d dates a n d places, h e insisted o n p l o u g h i n g o n w i t h the case. E g g e d o n b y , a n d perhaps b l i n d e d b y , his infatuation with the h a n d s o m e but i m m a t u r e B o s i e , h e seems to h a v e refused to c o n sider the w i d e r i m p l i c a t i o n s o f this c o u r s e o f a c t i o n . F o r i f h e lost, Q u e e n s b e r r y ' s allegation that h e w a s ' p o s i n g as a s o m d o m i t e ' w o u l d b e substantiated. F u r t h e r m o r e , the e v i d e n c e a d d u c e d c o u l d w e l l s u g gest that h e w a s m o r e than m e r e l y ' p o s i n g ' a n d p r o m p t a far m o r e serious c r i m i n a l p r o s e c u t i o n . I n the e v e n t , that w a s , o f c o u r s e , e x a c d y w h a t h a p p e n e d .

A s w e h a v e seen, W i l d e w a s n o t in c o u r t o n the final d a y o f t h e trial. H e was, h o w e v e r , well aware o f what was going on importantly, o f w h a t w a s e x p e c t e d o f h i m . T h e r e is n o w a y o f p r o v i n g it, b u t it seems l i k e l y that W i l d e w o u l d h a v e k n o w n o f the death o f P e t e r I l y i c h T c h a i k o v s k y in S t P e t e r s b u r g a m e r e eighteen months previously. In circumstances extraordinarily close to W i l d e ' s o w n the c o m p o s e r w a s at the h e i g h t o f his f a m e b u t an u n h a p p i l y m a r r i e d h o m o s e x u a l t h r e a t e n e d w i t h e x p o s u r e - in O c t o b e r 1 8 9 3 , j u s t e i g h t days after the first p e r f o r m a n c e o f his sixth s y m p h o n y (the ' P a t h t i q u e ' ) , h e h a d c o m m i t t e d s u i c i d e , in all p r o b ability b y c o n s c i o u s l y d r i n k i n g c h o l e r a - i n f e c t e d w a t e r . ' T h e past is a n o t h e r c o u n t r y ' , L . P . H a r t l e y w a s to w r i t e . ' T h e y d o things differently t h e r e . ' T h e y did; in B r i t a i n in 1 8 9 3 , 1 8 9 5 o r , for that matter, virtually a n y y e a r u p to a n d i n c l u d i n g 1 9 6 7 ( w h e n m a l e h o m o s e x u a l acts w e r e legalized) suicide w a s a rare a n d desperate e s c a p e r o u t e for the c o r n e r e d ' s o d o m i t e ' . A different c o d e o b t a i n e d : o n the m o r n i n g o f 5 A p r i l 1 8 9 5 , the day o n w h i c h W i l d e w i t h d r e w his case against Q u e e n s b e r r y , his w i f e C o n s t a n c e t o l d a friend, ' I h o p e O s c a r is g o i n g a w a y a b r o a d . ' T h i s w a s n o t a quaint, r o m a n t i c n o t i o n . I m b u e d w i t h a sense o f V i c t o r i a n p r o p r i e t y , C o n s t a n c e k n e w that this w a s the D e c e n t T h i n g for h e r h u s b a n d to d o . O n l y a f e w years p r e v i o u s l y the solicitor r e p resenting a titled m a n i n v o l v e d in a h o m o s e x u a l scandal w i t h w h i c h W i l d e w a s certainly familiar (but c o m p l e t e l y u n c o n n e c t e d ) h a d n o t e d , ' I a m i n f o r m e d o n w h a t I b e l i e v e to b e the m o s t reliable a u t h o r i t y and, more

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that it is the i n t e n t i o n o f the p o l i c e to apply for a w a r r a n t for his arrest unless he resigns his appointments v o l u n t e e r i n g to filibuster and goes away'.
u

N o w W i l d e ' s l a w y e r s , t o o , w e r e e x t o l l i n g this c o u r s e o f action, o n his b e h a l f in c o u r t - e v e n to the e x t e n t o f letting the y o u n g m e n g i v e e v i d e n c e to a l l o w h i m t i m e to catch a train to D o v e r a n d t h e n the ferry to Calais. F r a n k Harris advised, ' T h e y ' r e g o i n g to b r i n g u p a string o f witnesses that w i l l p u t art a n d literature o u t o f the question. T h r o w u p the case a n d g o a b r o a d and, as an a c e o f trumps, take y o u r w i f e w i t h y o u ! ' R e m a r k a b l y , e v e n Q u e e n s b e r r y h a d c o n t a c t e d W i l d e to say, ' I w i l l n o t p r e v e n t y o u r flight' (although h e h a d g o n e o n to add, 'but i f y o u take m y son w i t h y o u , I will shoot y o u like a d o g ' ) . France 1 2

Paris, Calais, D i e p p e , D e a u v i l l e a n d o t h e r

convenient

N o r m a n d y ports, as w e l l as R o u e n a n d M o n a c o - h a d l o n g b e e n a s e c o n d h o m e to those B r i t i s h h o m o s e x u a l s affluent e n o u g h to escape t h e r e w h e n things g o t u n c o m f o r t a b l e at h o m e . W i l d e , w h o s p o k e v e r y tolerable F r e n c h , h a d b e e n a frequent visitor e v e r since h e first set f o o t in Paris ( c h a p e r o n i n g , o r c h a p e r o n e d b y , his m o t h e r ) as a n i n e t e e n - y e a r - o l d in 1 8 7 4 . I n 1 8 8 3 h e h a d e v e n c o n t e m p l a t e d settling p e r m a n e n t l y in the F r e n c h capital, b u t his m o n e y ran o u t a n d after o n l y f o u r m o n t h s h e r e t u r n e d to L o n d o n . N o w , w i t h a w a r r a n t already issued for his arrest, it w a s e v e r y w h e r e e x p e c t e d that h e w o u l d cross the C h a n n e l again and, in effect, d o that d e c e n t thing. A t this stage n o o n e , n o t e v e n Q u e e n s b e r r y , w a n t e d to p u n i s h h i m further a n d still less to m a k e a m a r t y r o u t o f h i m . A t the e n d o f the trial the j u d g e w r o t e a n o t e to Q u e e n s b e r r y ' s c o u n s e l , the f o r m i d a b l e E d w a r d (later S i r E d w a r d ) C a r s o n , congratulating h i m o n the fact that his ' s e a r c h i n g c r o s s X a m ' h a d r e n d e r e d it unnecessary for 'the rest o f the filth' - b y w h i c h h e m e a n t the i n e v i t a b l y graphic t e s t i m o n y o f the b o y s to b e m a d e p u b l i c .
13

( S o m e years earlier,

w r i t i n g in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h a similar case, the A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l o f the d a y h a d n o t e d that 'it is g r e a d y to the credit o f the reporters o f the Press that t h e y almost i n v a r i a b l y refrain o f this d e s c r i p t i o n ] ' . )
14

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O n an official l e v e l at least, it seems clear that the w h o l e matter o f Reg. v . Queensberry, as the libel case w a s officially listed, w a s s o m e t h i n g o f an e m b a r r a s s m e n t ; a necessary b u t unfortunate o c c u r r e n c e , s o m e t h i n g to b e s w e p t as far a n d as q u i c k l y u n d e r the carpet as w a s

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possible. E v e n the p o l i c e w e r e m o r e than usually c o m p l i a n t in the e v e n t u a l a n d i n e v i t a b l e e x e c u t i o n o f the w a r r a n t for W i l d e ' s arrest. A l t h o u g h they k n e w v e r y w e l l w h e r e h e w a s , several h o u r s elapsed b e f o r e any action w a s taken. W i l d e , h o w e v e r , w a s p l a y i n g a different g a m e . ' I ' l l stay, I'll stay,' h e repeatedly told those friends w h o r e m a i n e d l o y a l . ' O n e c a n ' t k e e p o n g o i n g abroad, unless o n e is a missionary, o r w h a t c o m e s to the same thing, a c o m m e r c i a l traveller.' H e s h o u l d h a v e b e e n in c o u r t that day: instead h e e n j o y e d a leisurely l u n c h a n d t h e n , in the late afternoon, a d j o u r n e d to the C a d o g a n H o t e l . H i s friends w e r e still u r g i n g h i m to g o ; a s y m p a t h e t i c j o u r n a l i s t h a d already alerted h i m to the fact that the w a r r a n t h a d b e e n issued . . . b u t in the e n d h e d i d n o t h i n g . J o h n B e t j e m a n sums u p the e n s u i n g events a c c u r a t e l y enough: H e s i p p e d at a w e a k h o c k a n d selzer A s h e g a z e d at the L o n d o n skies T h r o u g h the N o t t i n g h a m lace o f the curtains O w a s it his b e e s - w i n g e d eyes? [. . .] A thump, and a m u r m u r o f voices ( ' O h w h y m u s t t h e y m a k e such a din?') A s the d o o r o f the b e d r o o m s w u n g o p e n And
T W O P L A I N C L O T H E D POLICEMEN

c a m e in:

' M r W o i l d e , w e ' a v e c o m e for t e w take y o u W h e r e felons a n d criminals d w e l l : W e m u s t ask y e w t e w l e a v e w i t h us q u o i e t l y F o r this is the C a d o g a n H o t e l . ' H e rose, a n d h e p u t d o w n The Yellow H e staggered, a n d t e r r i b l e - e y e d , H e b r u s h e d past the palms o f the staircase A n d w a s h e l p e d to a h a n s o m o u t s i d e .
15

Book.

A n d that w a s w h a t h a p p e n e d . ( B e t j e m a n w a s materially w r o n g o n l y in his reference to the Yellow Book. W i l d e w a s n o t r e a d i n g the latest issue o f the j o u r n a l o f h i g h A e s t h e t i c i s m w h i c h h a d b r o u g h t A u b r e y B e a r d s l e y to p r o m i n e n c e , b u t a c o p y o f P i e r r e L o u y s ' s n o v e l Aphrodite, w h i c h h a p p e n e d to h a v e a y e l l o w dust-jacket. I r o n i c a l l y , h e n e v e r h a d

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16

a n y direct c o n t a c t w i t h the m a g a z i n e . ) H o l l o w a y Prison.

W i l d e w a s arrested, taken to

B o w Street p o l i c e station, c h a r g e d a n d t h e n r e m a n d e d in custody to ' S o c i e t y p u t u p w i t h a great deal that w a s illegal, a n d sometimes d i d so k n o w i n g l y , ' w r o t e R i c h a r d E l l m a n n in his definitive life o f W i l d e . B u t , h e w e n t o n , ' c o u n t e n a n c i n g illegality d i d n o t a m o u n t to s a n c t i o n i n g it [. . .] a n d the a t m o s p h e r e c o u l d c h a n g e at any time.' It c o u l d . It d i d . It c h a n g e d for W i l d e at ten past six o n the e v e n i n g o f F r i d a y 5 A p r i l 1 8 9 5 w h e n the t w o p l a i n - c l o t h e d p o l i c e m e n w e r e s h o w n i n t o his r o o m at the C a d o g a n H o t e l .

It c h a n g e d for m a n y o t h e r p e o p l e t o o . A l o n g w i t h the sexually t o r m e n t e d h o m o s e x u a l p o e t A l g e r n o n C h a r l e s S w i n b u r n e a n d the artists J a m e s M c N e i l l W h i s d e r a n d A u b r e y B e a r d s l e y , W i l d e h a d personified the A e s t h e t i c m o v e m e n t , a b a n d o f poets, w o u l d - b e poets, artists and socialites w h o h a d a d d e d significandy to the gaiety o f the nation since the late 1 8 7 0 s . T h e r e was an A e s t h e t i c p h i l o s o p h y - it h a d its origins i n the p r e c i o u s a t m o s p h e r e o f O x f o r d U n i v e r s i t y in the early 1 8 7 0 s , in I m m a n u e l K a n t ' s n o t i o n o f the essential disinterestedness o f A r t , a n d in the later w r i t i n g s o f T h o p h i l e G a u t i e r a n d W a l t e r P a t e r b u t , in the p o p u l a r m i n d at least, this w a s s o o n r e p l a c e d b y far cruder slogans. T h e A e s t h e t e s s t o o d for ' A r t for A r t ' s s a k e ' , lilies a n d g r e e n carnations, b l u e - a n d - w h i t e china a n d the c o n c e p t o f ' t h e h o u s e b e a u t i ful'. O u t o n the street, in L o n d o n a n d in O x f o r d , t h e y w e r e i m m e d i ately r e c o g n i z a b l e b y their l o n g hair a n d their affected, a d j e c t i v e - r i c h v o c a b u l a r y : 'blessed!', t h e y ' d say; 'divine!'; mate*.'; ' w h a t a preciousV . . . P r e c i o u s it all w a s ; but, at the start, A e s t h e t i c i s m a n d s e l f - p r o c l a i m i n g A e s t h e t e s s u c h as W i l d e w e r e fondly i n d u l g e d . In Punch m a g a z i n e , at the t i m e a j o u r n a l o f real i n f l u e n c e , a series o f cartoons b y the w r i t e r (Trilby) a n d artist G e o r g e d u M a u r i e r w a s b e n i g n l y satirizing their self-absorption as early as 1 8 7 9 . T h e f o l l o w i n g y e a r the c a p t i o n to a c a r t o o n entitled ' N i n c o m p o o p i a n a ' h a d a society hostess, M r s C i m a b u e B r o w n , p o i n t i n g o u t to a friend the A e s t h e t i c painter M a u d l e : 'the great P a i n t e r , y o u k n o w . H e h a d j u s t p a i n t e d M e as " H l o s e " , a n d my h u s b a n d as " A b l a r d " . Is n o t h e DivineV
]9 18

'a total m a r v e l ! ' ; ' h o w consum-

In o t h e r texts, t o o ,

' A e s t h e t e s ' w e r e a p p e a r i n g , s o m e w i t h n a m e s such as D r a w i t M i l d e ,

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11

the W i l d e M a n o f B o r n e o , Ossian W i l d e n e s s e a n d O s c u r o W i l d e g o o s e w h i c h left n o d o u b t as to their original inspiration. It w a s all great sport. A n d s o o n l e a d i n g m e m b e r s o f the A e s t h e t e s - a n d W i l d e in particular - w e r e also b e i n g g o o d - n a t u r e d l y l a m p o o n e d in a series o f p o p u l a r b u t n o w forgotten W e s t E n d hits. W i l d e a l o n e w a s the basis for the e p o n y m o u s h e r o o f a play tellingly entitled Charlatan The a n d for H e r b e r t B e e r b o h m T r e e ' s c r e a t i o n o f the character - i r o n i c a l l y , this

S c o t t R a m s e y in the c o m e d y Wlxere's the Cat? a n d the foolish L a m b e r t S t r e y k e in a l o n g - r u n n i n g farce called The Colonel o f Punch. W i l d e r e a c h e d his A e s t h e t i c a p o g e e , h o w e v e r , w h e n W . S. G i l b e r t a n d A r t h u r S u l l i v a n a b a n d o n e d w h a t w a s p l a n n e d to b e a satire o n the T r a c t a r i a n m o v e m e n t in the C h u r c h o f E n g l a n d a n d t u r n e d their attention instead to his ' g r e e n e r y - y a l l e r y , G r o s v e n o r G a l l e r y ' w o r l d o f asphodels a n d divine b l u e - a n d - w h i t e china. W i t h the principal subject o f the satire o c c u p y i n g a p r o m i n e n t seat in the stalls, their operetta Patience o p e n e d at the O p r a C o m i q u e in L o n d o n o n 2 3 A p r i l 1 8 8 1 . N o o n e w a s in a n y real d o u b t that o n e o f its principal characters, the 'fleshly p o e t ' R e g i n a l d B u n t h o r n e , was W i l d e . H e certainly h a d b y far the best patter-song: T h o u g h the Philistines m a y j o s t l e , y o u w i l l r a n k as an apostle in the aesthetic b a n d , I f y o u w a l k d o w n P i c c a d i l l y w i t h a p o p p y o r a lily in y o u r mediaeval hand, A n d e v e r y o n e w i l l say, A s y o u w a l k y o u r flowery w a y , ' I f he's c o n t e n t w i t h a v e g e t a b l e l o v e w h i c h w o u l d certainly n o t suit m e , W h y w h a t a m o s t particularly p u r e y o u n g m a n this p u r e y o u n g man must b e ! '
2 0

last w o r k w a s w r i t t e n b y F . C . (Sir Francis) B u r n a n d , t h e n also e d i t o r

N o w , like Where's the Cat?, also largely f o r g o t t e n , in the early 1 8 8 0 s Patience w a s h u g e l y successful. T h e r e w e r e e i g h t e n c o r e s o n the first night; the original p r o d u c t i o n ran for 5 7 8 p e r f o r m a n c e s , m a k i n g it o n e o f the m o s t profitable o f all the G & S S a v o y operas. W i l d e b a s k e d in the vicarious p u b l i c i t y it g a v e h i m and, kitted o u t in a n e w ' A e s t h e t i c l e c t u r i n g c o s t u m e ' , e m b a r k e d o n an A m e r i c a n l e c t u r e t o u r o n the

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strength o f it. B u t in truth Patience m a r k e d the b e g i n n i n g o f -

or,

m o r e e x a c t l y , the b e g i n n i n g o f the b e g i n n i n g o f - the e n d . T h e seeds o f d o u b t are already there in G i l b e r t ' s libretto. C o l o n e l C a l v e r l e y and the D u k e o f D u n s t a b l e m a k e an o b v i o u s p o i n t w h e n B u n t h o r n e first appears, f o l l o w e d b y a ' C h o r u s o f R a p t u r o u s M a i d e n s ' :
D U K E :

B u t w h o is the g e n t l e m a n w i t h the l o n g hair? H e seems popular!


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C O L : I don't know.
D U K E :

C O L : H e does s e e m p o p u l a r !

B u t o n l y m i n u t e s later B u n t h o r n e h i m s e l f is m u s i n g 'aside, literary m a n / W h o despises female c l a y ' . S w e p t a l o n g b y S u l l i v a n ' s v i v a c i o u s s c o r e and the

slyly',

a c c o r d i n g to the original stage directions that h e m u s t s e e m ' L i k e a high-spirited

n o n s e n s e o f the plot, the a u d i e n c e at the O p r a C o m i q u e m a y b e f o r g i v e n for n o t rising to this l e v e l o f textual e x e g e s i s . E v e n before Patience o p e n e d , h o w e v e r , readers o f Punch w e r e b e i n g offered a m o r e d i s q u i e t i n g v i e w o f A e s t h e t i c i s m and o f W i l d e in particular. Du M a u r i e r ' s cartoons h a d b e c o m e increasingly savage; for all that he w a s an artist, physically M a u d l e had e v o l v e d into an unmistakable caricature o f the p l a y w r i g h t . A s early as F e b r u a r y 1 8 8 1 d u M a u r i e r had him l o u n g i n g s l u g - l i k e n e x t to the elegant, P r e - R a p h a e l i t e M r s C i m a b u e B r o w n as h e d i s c o u r s e d o n ' T h e C h o i c e o f a P r o f e s s i o n ' . H i n d s i g h t o n l y adds to the b r e a t h t a k i n g audacity o f the caption:
M A U D L E : MRS

H o w consummately

l o v e l y y o u r S o n is, M r s B r o w n ! Wha H e ' s a nice,

B R O W N

(A Philistine from the country):

manly B o y , i f y o u m e a n that, M r M a u d l e . H e has j u s t left S c h o o l , y o u k n o w , and w i s h e s to b e an Artist.


M A U D L E : MRS

Why s h o u l d h e b e an Artist? W e l l , he must be something! W h y s h o u l d h e Be anything? W h y n o t let h i m r e m a i n Beautifully*. Art

B R O W N :

M A U D L E :

for e v e r c o n t e n t to Exist under Maudle.)


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(Mrs Brown determines that at all events her Son shall not study

F u l l y ten years b e f o r e his arrest, then, W i l d e w a s already the e m b o d i m e n t o f the ' p a n s y ' ; the l i m p , lisping A e s t h e t i c d a n d y . E v e r y t h i n g he did, e v e r y w o r d h e w r o t e o r uttered, w a s calculated to maintain this

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position. Life a n d art w e r e m e l d e d in a t h o r o u g h l y m o d e r n

tation o f ' i m a g e ' , n o w h e r e m o r e so than in the ' H o u s e B e a u t i f u l ' h e created in T i t e Street, C h e l s e a , as a calculated s h o c k to H i g h V i c torian sensibilities (and a private snub to W h i s t l e r w h o h a d h a d the p r e s u m p t i o n to design a similarly e x o t i c ' P e a c o c k R o o m ' as early as

1877).
T h e r e w e r e n o doors to any o f the r o o m s at T i t e Street, o n l y tapestry curtains; and, in (literally) stark contrast to the m o r e o r t h o d o x fashion for flock-and-mahogany, in the g r o u n d - f l o o r d i n i n g room b o t h the walls a n d all the specially m a d e ' G r e c i a n style' furniture but

w e r e painted an u n r e l e n t i n g gloss w h i t e . T h e original 1 8 8 4 architect's specifications w e r e r e d i s c o v e r e d in 1 9 5 1 a n d t h r o w an o b l i q u e valuable light o n W i l d e at this t i m e : Library. T h e walls to the h e i g h t o f 5 ' 6" to b e p a i n t e d in d i s t e m p e r

dark b l u e . T h e u p p e r part o f the walls, c o r n i c e a n d c e i l i n g to b e pale g o l d c o l o u r . T h e w o o d w o r k t h r o u g h o u t to b e g o l d e n b r o w n (russet). 2nd floor Bedroom front. P i n k walls, w o o d w o r k , ceiling; & 2 feet o f top o f walls u n d e r c o r n i c e apple g r e e n . Drawing-room front. W o o d w o r k i v o r y w h i t e . W a l l s d i s t e m p e r e d flesh p i n k f r o m skirting to c o r n i c e . T h e c o r n i c e to b e g i l d e d dull flat l e m o n c o l o u r g o l d a n d also the c e i l i n g m a r g i n to J a p a n e s e leather, w h i c h latter w i l l b e p r o v i d e d b y M r W i l d e .
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E v e n as the real-life e q u i v a l e n t o f L a d y W i n d e r m e r e ' s P a r k e r o r A l g e r n o n M o n c r i e f f ' s L a n e w a s s h o w i n g visitors into his p i n k - a n d g o l d d r a w i n g r o o m ( L a d y W i n d e r m e r e , sir, the D u c h e s s o f B e r w i c k , L a d y A g a t h a C a r l i s l e , L a d y P l y dale, L a d y Stutfield . . . ) , W i l d e h a d r e a c h e d an u n e a s y a p o g e e . P u b l i c l y , h e w a s feted as the m a n o f m o d e , the m a n a b o u t t o w n , the successful w r i t e r , the p o e t a n d the p l a y w r i g h t . H i s dazzling f e c u n d i t y at this p e r i o d m a d e sure o f that: his Poems h a d b e e n p u b l i s h e d in 1 8 8 1 , The Happy Prince and Other Tales in 1 8 8 8 ; The Picture of Dorian Gray a p p e a r e d in 1 8 9 1 , f o l l o w e d in q u i c k s u c c e s s i o n b y Lady Windermere's Fan ( 1 8 9 2 ) , A Woman of No Importance, Salome (both p r o d u c e d in 1 8 9 3 ) , An Ideal Husband a n d The Importance of Being

Earnest ( 1 8 9 5 ) . P r i v a t e l y , h o w e v e r , r e s e n t m e n t at the style as m u c h as the scale o f W i l d e ' s success w a s already festering. N o t all the visitors

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to T i t e Street left c o n v i n c e d o f the b e a u t y o f the m n a g e . O n e n o t e d that e v e r y t h i n g w a s 'bizarre a n d v u l g a r , e v e n v a g u e l y sinful'.

A l l this bile c a m e f l o o d i n g to the surface as s o o n as Q u e e n s b e r r y l a n c e d the b o i l . F r a n k Harris later recalled that W i l d e ' s arrest ' w a s the signal for an o r g y o f Philistine r a n c o u r such as e v e n L o n d o n h a d n e v e r k n o w n b e f o r e . T h e P u r i t a n m i d d l e class, w h i c h h a d a l w a y s regarded W i l d e w i t h dislike as an artist a n d an intellectual scoffer, a m e r e parasite o f the aristocracy, n o w g a v e free s c o p e to their disgust a n d c o n t e m p t , a n d e v e r y o n e tried to o u t d o his n e i g h b o u r in expressions o f l o a t h i n g ' .
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W . B . Y e a t s a g r e e d . ' T h e rage against W i l d e ' , h e told H . M o n t g o m e r y H y d e , ' w a s also c o m p l i c a t e d b y the Britisher's j e a l o u s y o f art a n d the artist, w h i c h is g e n e r a l l y d o r m a n t b u t is called into activity w h e n the artist has g o t outside his field into publicity o f an undesirable k i n d . '
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A n d it w a s n ' t j u s t Puritan, middle-class 'Britishers'. W i l d e ' s fame w a s s u c h that details o f Q u e e n s b e r r y ' s accusations w e r e w e l l - k n o w n a n d w i d e l y r e p o r t e d t h r o u g h o u t E u r o p e . In M a r c h 1 8 9 4 , before the libel case e v e n c a m e to court, the p l a y w r i g h t a n d B o s i e w e r e refused a d m i s s i o n to a h o t e l in M o n a c o . B a c k in L o n d o n , e r s t w h i l e colleagues a n d collaborators w e r e also rushing to distance themselves f r o m W i l d e . J o h n L a n e , his publisher, abruptly r e m o v e d all m e n t i o n o f his b o o k s f r o m the firm's c a t a l o g u e . C o n v i n c e d that W i l d e h a d b e e n the Yellow Book, also c o i n c i d e n t a l ^ p u b l i s h e d b y L a n e , an c r o w d demonstrated killed m e . ' T h e h i t h e r t o successful run o f An Ideal Husband at the H a y m a r k e t reading angry 'It

outside its office. W i n d o w s w e r e b r o k e n .

k i l l e d the Yellow Book,' L a n e later recalled, a d d i n g w r y l y , ' a n d it nearly

T h e a t r e w a s t e r m i n a t e d o n the day after its author's arrest. ( O n e disaf fected m e m b e r o f its cast, the a c t o r - p l a y w r i g h t C h a r l e s B r o o k f i e l d , h a d e v e n s u p p l i e d Q u e e n s b e r r y ' s l a w y e r s w i t h material d a m a g i n g to W i l d e . ) P e r f o r m a n c e s o f The Importance of Being Earnest at the St J a m e s ' s Theatre w h i c h h a d o p e n e d to great a c c l a i m o n 1 4 February, a celebrity first night a u d i e n c e h a v i n g b r a v e d o n e o f the w o r s t storms o f the d e c a d e to b e there - c o n t i n u e d . . . b u t w i t h W i l d e ' s n a m e obliterated f r o m all the playbills a n d posters outside the theatre. A m o n g the E s t a b l i s h m e n t , W i l d e ' s arrest raised equally u n c o m f o r t able questions. F i v e years p r e v i o u s l y , in the a u t u m n o f 1 8 8 9 , it h a d b e e n

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h e a v i l y i n v o l v e d in a n o t h e r case w h o s e social a n d political i m p l i c a t i o n s , w e r e , if anything, e v e n m o r e convoluted. P o l i c e investigations h a d l e d to suspicions that a h o u s e n e a r T o t t e n h a m C o u r t R o a d in the W e s t E n d o f L o n d o n w a s b e i n g r u n as a m a l e b r o t h e l . ' O b s e r v a t i o n has b e e n k e p t o n the h o u s e 19 Cleveland Street', it w a s stated in the original report, ' a n d a n u m b e r o f m e n o f superior b e a r i n g a n d apparently o f g o o d p o s i t i o n h a v e b e e n s e e n to call there a c c o m p a n i e d b y b o y s in s o m e instances, a n d o n t w o o c c a s i o n s b y a soldier . . . '
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A m o n g the ' m e n o f s u p e r i o r b e a r i n g ' w e r e 'the h e i r

to a d u k e a n d the y o u n g e r son o f a d u k e ' . T h e r e w a s also the s u g g e s t i o n that P r i n c e A l b e r t V i c t o r , familiarly k n o w n as P r i n c e E d d i e , the e l d e r son o f the t h e n P r i n c e o f W a l e s , g r a n d s o n o f Q u e e n V i c t o r i a a n d h e i r - p r e s u m p t i v e to the t h r o n e , h a d b e e n a m o n g the callers. M o s t o f the resulting 'trial' w a s c o n d u c t e d in p r i v a t e - in a blizzard o f private letters a n d a n y n u m b e r o f o f f - t h e - r e c o r d c o n v e r s a t i o n s w h i c h i n v o l v e d the P r i m e M i n i s t e r , L o r d Salisbury, the D i r e c t o r o f P u b l i c P r o s e c u t i o n s a n d the A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l . T h e r e w a s n o t h i n g o f s u b stance w h i c h directly l i n k e d the P r i n c e - ' P A V , as h e w a s referred to for reasons o f security - a n d the r o y a l family to the case; b u t no o n e k n e w quite w h a t to d o w i t h that ' h e i r to a d u k e ' - actually H e n r y Fitzroy, the E a r l o f E u s t o n - and, m o r e particularly, that ' y o u n g e r s o n of a duke'. L o r d A r t h u r S o m e r s e t w a s t h i r t y - s e v e n , a m a j o r in the R o y a l H o r s e G u a r d s , the s u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f the P r i n c e o f W a l e s ' s stables a n d a y o u n g e r s o n o f the eighth D u k e o f B e a u f o r t . N o w , in u n p r e c e d e n t e d l y graphic detail, the s w o r n statements o f a n u m b e r o f ' b o y s ' (most o f t h e m t e e n a g e d P o s t O f f i c e w o r k e r s ) w e r e i m p l i c a t i n g h i m in w h a t b e c a m e k n o w n as 'the C l e v e l a n d Street scandal'. ' W e g o t i n t o the b e d quite n a k e d . H e told m e to s u c k h i m . I d i d s o . H e t h e n h a d a g o b e t w e e n m y legs a n d that w a s all. H e g a v e m e h a l f a s o v e r e i g n , ' said o n e . ' O n o n e o c c a s i o n at least I p u t m y p e r s o n i n t o his hinderparts. I c o u l d n o t get it in, t h o u g h I tried a n d e m i t t e d , ' a n o t h e r r e c a l l e d . . ,
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A consensus o b t a i n e d , h o w e v e r . E v e r y bit as w e l l as the legal a u t h orities, S o m e r s e t k n e w the f o r m : h e r e s i g n e d his c o m m i s s i o n in the a r m y , r e l i n q u i s h e d his a p p o i n t m e n t in the P r i n c e o f W a l e s ' s h o u s e h o l d a n d slipped a w a y to F r a n c e - w h e r e h e w a s to r e m a i n , at H y r e s o n the R i v i e r a , until his death in 1 9 2 6 . It w a s w h a t w a s e x p e c t e d o f h i m , a n d a c o n v e n i e n t a n d leisurely p i e c e o f f a c e - s a v i n g for all c o n c e r n e d .

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S o m e r s e t ' s resignation f r o m the a r m y w a s gazetted at the b e g i n n i n g of November 1 8 8 9 ; a w a r r a n t for his arrest w a s n o t issued until 1 2 N o v e m b e r : m e a n w h i l e h e h a d left E n g l a n d as early as 1 8 O c t o b e r . Q u i t e s i m p l y , S o m e r s e t h a d g o n e , h a d b e e n a l l o w e d to g o , e v e n been urged to go, b e c a u s e it w o u l d h a v e b e e n utterly u n t h i n k a b l e for the ' y o u n g e r s o n o f a d u k e ' and, quite possibly, the elder son o f the P r i n c e o f W a l e s to h a v e b e e n seen to b e i n v o l v e d in a legal case t u r n i n g u p o n e v i d e n c e d e s c r i b i n g h o w ' b o y s ' p u t their 'persons' into o l d e r m e n ' s hinderparts. R a n k s h a d closed, a n d in W e s t m i n s t e r and St J a m e s ' s , for a short t i m e at least, it s e e m e d that a scandal h a d b e e n a v e r t e d . S h o r t l y after S o m e r s e t ' s flight S i r D i g h t o n P r o b y n , c o m p troller to the P r i n c e o f W a l e s ' s h o u s e h o l d , m a d e confidential contact w i t h L o r d Salisbury: ' I w r i t e n o w to ask y o u , to i m p l o r e o f y o u , i f it c a n b e m a n a g e d to h a v e the p r o s e c u t i o n stopped. It can d o n o g o o d to p r o s e c u t e h i m . H e has g o n e a n d w i l l n e v e r s h o w his face in E n g l a n d again. H e dare n e v e r c o m e b a c k to this c o u n t r y . '
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T h e Director ofPublic

P r o s e c u t i o n s , S i r A u g u s t u s S t e p h e n s o n , t o o k a similarly p r a g m a t i c v i e w . 'It is quite possible (in m y j u d g e m e n t it is p r o b a b l e ) that h e w i l l n o t r e t u r n , ' h e n o t e d . 'It m a y b e the best thing that c o u l d h a p p e n . '
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E v e n in 1 8 8 9 , h o w e v e r , it w a s impossible to stop the 'truth' l e a k i n g o u t . Stories that a m e m b e r o f the royal family a n d o t h e r titled m e n w e r e i n v o l v e d in the ' a b o m i n a b l e ' g o i n g s - o n at C l e v e l a n d Street w e r e s o o n s w i r l i n g a r o u n d L o n d o n . T h e s o m e t i m e s unreliable Pall Gazette unpalatable questions. Mall w a s the first to g i v e t h e m c r e d e n c e - a n d the first to p o s e

T h e q u e s t i o n w h i c h S i r A u g u s t u s S t e p h e n s o n w i l l h a v e to a n s w e r is w h e t h e r the t w o n o b l e lords a n d o t h e r n o t a b l e persons in society w h o w e r e a c c u s e d b y the witnesses o f h a v i n g b e e n the principals in the c r i m e [. . .] are to b e a l l o w e d to escape scot free [it t h u n d e r e d ] . T h e w r e t c h e d agents are r u n in a n d sent to p e n a l servitude; the lords a n d g e n t l e m e n w h o e m p l o y t h e m s w a g g e r at large a n d are e v e n w e l c o m e d as v a l u a b l e allies o f the A d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f the d a y .
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T h e i r p a t i e n c e finally e x h a u s t e d , then, it w a s b o t h Disraeli's ' u p p e r ten t h o u s a n d ' a n d a b a y i n g m o b o f not-so-fortunates w h o , for their o w n reasons, a r r a i g n e d W i l d e a n d filled the p u b l i c galleries to see the

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spectacle o f 'their m a n ' in the d o c k at the O l d B a i l e y a m e r e e i g h t w e e k s later. T h e trial b e g a n o n 2 6 A p r i l , w h e n W i l d e a n d Alfred T a y l o r , the m a n a g e r o f w h a t a m o u n t e d to a m a l e b r o t h e l a n d a m a n w h o s e n a m e h a d f i g u r e d briefly in the p r e v i o u s libel p r o c e e d i n g s , w e r e formally c h a r g e d w i t h h a v i n g c o m m i t t e d acts p r o s c r i b e d u n d e r s e c t i o n 1 1 o f the C r i m i n a l L a w A m e n d m e n t A c t o f 1 8 8 5 . In v i e w o f its later significance a n d the part it w a s t o p l a y in the lives o f h o m o s e x u a l m e n for a n o t h e r three-quarters o f a c e n t u r y , it is perhaps appropriate h e r e briefly to c o n s i d e r the C r i m i n a l L a w A m e n d m e n t A c t a n d its n o t o r i o u s section 1 1 , s o o n d u b b e d (by a l a w y e r ) the 'Blackmailer's Charter'. T h e A c t h a d b e g u n as a n o n - c o n t r o v e r s i a l H o u s e o f C o m m o n s bill d e s i g n e d to raise the a g e o f female c o n s e n t (from thirteen) a n d c u r b the ' w h i t e slave trade' in girls sent against their w i l l to w o r k in f o r e i g n brothels. I n d e e d , it w a s formally entitled ' A n A c t to m a k e a n d o t h e r p u r p o s e s ' . It w a s o n l y w h e n , after an u n o p p o s e d reading, H e n r y L a b o u c h r e , a w e a l t h y radical M P editor, p r o p o s e d a last-minute parliamentary attention. F o r centuries acts o f s o d o m y (or b u g g e r y , the E n g l i s h l a w y e r s ' preferred term) had b e e n illegal. B u g g e r y h a d b e e n a capital office u n d e r E n g l i s h l a w f r o m 1 5 3 3 until 1 8 6 1 , w h e n the m a x i m u m p e n a l t y w a s r e d u c e d to life i m p r i s o n m e n t . I n p r a c t i c e , h o w e v e r , cases h a d s o u g h t to normally only been brought w h e n 'public decency' was outraged. L a b o u c h r e ' s carefully (or carelessly) w o r d e d a m e n d m e n t c h a n g e all that a n d criminalize all aspects o f h o m o s e x u a l b e h a v i o u r . It w a s a catch-all m e a s u r e . Specifics a n d such legal niceties as ' b u g g e r y ' h a d n o part in it. Instead, the a m e n d m e n t s u g g e s t e d v a g u e l y that a n y m a n c o m m i t t i n g - a n d a n y o n e h e l p i n g h i m to c o m m i t - ' a n y act o f gross i n d e c e n c y ' , w h e t h e r in p u b l i c o r in p r i v a t e , s h o u l d b e liable to up to o n e y e a r ' s i m p r i s o n m e n t . T h e a m e n d m e n t w a s d e b a t e d o n the floor o f the H o u s e o f C o m m o n s late o n the n i g h t o f 6 A u g u s t 1 8 8 5 a n d a p p r o v e d w i t h o n l y m i n o r changes - o n e b e i n g a g o v e r n m e n t a m e n d m e n t i n c r e a s i n g the m a x i m u m p u n i s h m e n t f r o m o n e y e a r ' s i m p r i s o n m e n t to t w o . T h u s it w a s that the ' L a b o u c h r e A m e n d m e n t ' , the ' B l a c k m a i l e r ' s C h a r t e r ' , amendment and further second p r o v i s i o n for the P r o t e c t i o n o f W o m e n , the suppression o f brothels newspaper

to insert a n e w clause

h e a d e d ' O u t r a g e s o n p u b l i c d e c e n c y ' that the B i l l attracted a n y real

18

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A N D

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c a m e o n to the statute b o o k w h e n the C r i m i n a l L a w A m e n d m e n t A c t f o r m a l l y b e c a m e l a w o n i J a n u a r y 1 8 8 6 . F o r the r e c o r d , section 1 1 read as f o l l o w s : ' A n y m a l e p e r s o n w h o , in p u b l i c o r in p r i v a t e , c o m m i t s , o r is a party to the c o m m i s s i o n of, o r p r o c u r e s , o r attempts to p r o c u r e the c o m m i s s i o n b y a n y m a l e p e r s o n of, a n y act o f gross i n d e c e n c y shall b e g u i l t y o f m i s d e m e a n o u r , a n d b e i n g c o n v i c t e d shall b e liable at the discretion o f the C o u r t to b e i m p r i s o n e d for a n y t e r m e x c e e d i n g t w o y e a n , w i t h o r w i t h o u t hard l a b o u r . '
31

not

T h o s e s i x t y - e i g h t w o r d s w e r e the cross o n w h i c h W i l d e w a s to b e nailed. H e a n d T a y l o r w e r e originally i n d i c t e d o n n o less than t w e n t y five c o u n t s . T h e w o r d i n g o f those h a d b e e n b a d e n o u g h : T h e J u r o r s for o u r L a d y the Q u e e n u p o n their oath present that i. First
O S C A R

Count
F I N G A L O ' F L A H E R T I E W I L L S W I L D E

o n the

fourteenth

d a y o f M a r c h in the y e a r o f o u r L o r d o n e t h o u s a n d eight h u n d r e d a n d n i n e t y - t h r e e at the Parish o f Saint J o h n the Baptist S a v o y in the C o u n t y o f L o n d o n a n d w i t h i n the j u r i s d i c t i o n o f the said C o u r t b e i n g a m a l e p e r s o n u n l a w f u l l y did c o m m i t acts o f gross i n d e c e n c y w i t h a n o t h e r m a l e p e r s o n to w i t o n e C h a r l e s P a r k e r against the f o r m o f the statute in such case m a d e a n d p r o v i d e d a n d against the p e a c e o f o u r said L a d y the Q u e e n h e r c r o w n a n d dignity. O n a n d o n they w e n t , c o u n t after c o u n t , the dry legal l a n g u a g e m a k i n g e v e n starker the nature o f the charges: that
A L F R E D T A Y L O R

o n the said fourteenth day o f M a r c h in the

y e a r o f o u r L o r d o n e t h o u s a n d eight h u n d r e d a n d n i n e t y - t h r e e at t h e Parish o f Saint J o h n the Baptist S a v o y in the C o u n t y o f L o n d o n a n d w i t h i n the j u r i s d i c t i o n o f the said C o u r t u n l a w f u l l y d i d p r o c u r e t h e c o m m i s s i o n b y the said O s c a r F i n g a l O ' F l a h e r t i e W i l l s W i l d e b e i n g a m a l e p e r s o n o f acts o f gross i n d e c e n c y w i t h a n o t h e r p e r s o n the said C h a r l e s P a r k e r [ C o u n t 2] . . . w i t h a n o t h e r p e r s o n the said A l f r e d W o o d [ C o u n t 1 4 ] . . . that the said O s c a r F i n g a l O ' F l a h e r t i e W i l l s W i l d e [. . .] d i d c o m m i t acts o f gross i n d e c e n c y w i t h a n o t h e r m a l e p e r s o n to the j u r o r s aforesaid u n k n o w n [ C o u n t 1 8 ; C o u n t 1 9 ] . . . w i t h a n o t h e r m a l e p e r s o n to w i t o n e E d w a r d S h e l l e y [ C o u n t 2 5 ] .

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32

In a transcript o f the trial a n d s u b s e q u e n t r e - t r i a l

the

indictment

itself runs to m o r e than eight pages. W h a t f o l l o w e d , e v e n in a b b r e v i ated f o r m , fills a n o t h e r 1 4 6 , a m i n u t e - b y - m i n u t e a c c o u n t o f six days w h i c h w e r e to alter i r r e v o c a b l y the w a y in w h i c h E n g l i s h m e n a n d w o m e n s a w the w o r l d . T h e trial itself ('the S e c o n d T r i a l o f O s c a r W i l d e ' ) w a s an unsatisfac tory affair. Sensational stories w e r e aired but, after listening to tales the substance o f w h i c h f e w o f the m e m b e r s o f the a l l - m a l e j u r y c a n e v e n h a v e i m a g i n e d , w h e n it retired it w a s u n a b l e to r e a c h a n y u n a n i m o u s v e r d i c t . A f t e r f o u r a n d a h a l f h o u r s o f d e l i b e r a t i o n the f o r e m a n h a d to i n f o r m the j u d g e : ' M y l o r d , I fear t h e r e is n o c h a n c e agreement.' E x a s p e r a t e d , the j u d g e h a d n o o p t i o n b u t to o r d e r a re-trial. It w a s as a result o f this ('the T h i r d T r i a l o f O s c a r W i l d e ' ) that the p l a y w r i g h t f o u n d h i m s e l f standing in the d o c k o f the O l d B a i l e y o n the a f t e r n o o n o f Saturday 2 5 M a y 1 8 9 5 . F o r the p r e v i o u s f i v e days a n e w j u r y h a d listened to w h a t w a s essentially the same e v i d e n c e that their p r e d e cessors h a d heard. T h i s t i m e r o u n d , h o w e v e r , e v e r y t h i n g w a s m o r e focused; a n d there w e r e t w o crucial differences to the m a n n e r in w h i c h things w e r e h a n d l e d . T h e original t w e n t y - f i v e c o u n t s w e r e r e d u c e d to a m o r e m a n a g e a b l e fourteen a n d T a y l o r a n d W i l d e w e r e tried separately. D e s p i t e the fact that W i l d e ' s n a m e a p p e a r e d first o n the i n d i c t m e n t ; despite an i n t e r v e n t i o n f r o m his c o u n s e l , S i r E d w a r d C l a r k e , that a detailed e x a m i n a t i o n o f the malfeasances o f T a y l o r w o u l d p r e j u d i c e the j u r y against his m o r e illustrious client, the n e w j u d g e , M r J u s t i c e W i l l s , d e c i d e d to h e a r first the case against T a y l o r . A c c o r d i n g to the official transcript o f the trial, W i l d e w a s m e a n w h i l e ' t a k e n b e l o w to the cells'. T o those in the court, h e w a s g o n e b u t hardly f o r g o t t e n . Before h e h a d b e e n o n his feet for t w o m i n u t e s , S i r F r a n k L o c k w o o d , the S o l i c i t o r - G e n e r a l , h a d d r a w n h i m b a c k i n t o the c e n t r e o f the a c t i o n in the p r o s e c u t i o n ' s o p e n i n g s p e e c h to the j u r y : . . . the first case w i t h w h i c h I shall deal is that T a y l o r a t t e m p t e d to p r o c u r e the c o m m i s s i o n o f certain acts b y M r O s c a r W i l d e w i t h a y o u n g m a n n a m e d C h a r l e s P a r k e r . / insist that no false delicacy be allowed from being laid before you, gentlemen. will to prevent the whole of the details of what actually took place It is your right to know what did guess.
33

of

take place, and nothing ought to be left to you to

20

HEROES

AND

VILLAINS

A l t h o u g h n e i t h e r the o r i g i n a l trial n o r this re-trial w a s e v e r a n y t h i n g o t h e r t h a n fairly c o n d u c t e d , the unofficial rules o f e n g a g e m e n t w e r e quite different from those w h i c h h a d o b t a i n e d d u r i n g the earlier libel p r o c e e d i n g s . N o o n e n o w w a s h o l d i n g b a c k o n the 'filth' a n d t h e e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d against T a y l o r s e r v e d as little m o r e than an hors d ' o e u v r e to the revelations w h i c h w o u l d b e s e r v e d u p against Wilde. C h a r l e s P a r k e r w a s c o a x e d i n t o telling the c o u r t h o w T a y l o r h a d i n t r o d u c e d h i m , t h e n a g e d e i g h t e e n , a n d his b r o t h e r W i l l i a m to W i l d e at a restaurant ('I t h i n k it w a s the S o l f e r i n o ' ) in M a r c h 1 8 9 3 . T h e f o u r m e n t h e n h a d d i n n e r , for w h i c h W i l d e paid, a n d fell i n t o c o n v e r s a t i o n . ' A n d t h e n ? ' h e w a s asked. S u b s e q u e n t l y , [ P a r k e r replied] W i l d e said to m e , ' T h i s is the b o y for m e ! W i l l y o u g o to the S a v o y H o t e l w i t h m e ? ' I c o n s e n t e d , a n d W i l d e d r o v e m e in a cab to the hotel. O n l y h e a n d I w e n t , l e a v i n g m y b r o t h e r a n d T a y l o r b e h i n d . A t the S a v o y w e w e n t first to W i l d e ' s sitting r o o m o n the s e c o n d floor. M o r e d r i n k w a s offered y o u there? Y e s , w e h a d liqueurs. W i l d e t h e n a s k e d m e to g o i n t o his b e d r o o m w i t h h i m . L e t us k n o w w h a t o c c u r r e d there? H e c o m m i t t e d the act o f sodomy on me. W i t h y o u r c o n s e n t ? (Witness d i d n o t reply.) D i d W i l d e g i v e y o u a n y m o n e y o n that o c c a s i o n ? B e f o r e I left W i l d e g a v e m e 2 , telling m e to call at the S a v o y H o t e l in a week.
3 4

M o m e n t s later, P a r k e r r e c a l l e d h o w , o n a n o t h e r

o c c a s i o n , he

and

T a y l o r 'slept t o g e t h e r in the s a m e b e d . T a y l o r called m e " D a r l i n g " a n d referred t o m e as his "little w i f e " . W h e n I left h e p a i d m e s o m e m o n e y ; h e said I s h o u l d n e v e r w a n t for cash a n d that h e would
35

i n t r o d u c e m e to m e n p r e p a r e d to p a y for that k i n d o f t h i n g . '

He

w a s o n l y the first o f a c h a i n o f p r o s e c u t i o n witnesses. A m o n g m a n y others, the l a n d l a d y o f the h o u s e in w h i c h T a y l o r l o d g e d until A u g u s t 1 8 9 3 d e s c r i b e d h o w n o w o m e n s e e m e d to visit h i m . T h e r e only m e n , y o u n g m e n f r o m s i x t e e n to thirty. I h a v e seen A l f r e d W o o d there. H e o n c e stayed for t h r e e w e e k s . O t h e r s w e r e S i d n e y M a v o r , were

'FOR

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21

C h a r l e s M a s o n , a n d E r n e s t M a c k l i n . M a v o r a n d M a s o n stayed t h e r e for nights w i t h T a y l o r . T h e r e w e r e frequent tea parties. W h o c a m e to t h e m , m e n o r w o m e n ? - O h , a l w a y s g e n t l e m e n . T a y l o r used to address his visitors b y their ' C h a r l i e , dear', a n d ' D e a r b o y ' .
3 6

Christian names

T h i s w a s e v i d e n c e against T a y l o r - b u t it still a m o u n t e d to a pre-trial b y i m p l i c a t i o n o f W i l d e . E x t r a o r d i n a r i l y , the landlady w a s a l l o w e d to add, d i r e c d y after the last a n s w e r q u o t e d a b o v e , a further " O s c a r " , b u t I h a v e n e v e r seen M r W i l d e there.' O n the s e c o n d day o f the re-trial, T u e s d a y 2 1 M a y , T a y l o r g a v e e v i d e n c e in his o w n d e f e n c e . A o n e - t i m e p u p i l at M a r l b o r o u g h C o l l e g e , any o f the p u b l i c - s c h o o l sangfroid h e m i g h t o n c e h a v e possessed w i t h e r e d b e f o r e the S o l i c i t o r - G e n e r a l ' s c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i o n . P r e s s e d to say ' h o w m a n y different m e n h a v e shared y o u r b e d r o o m ' a n d n a m e t h e m - h e m e n t i o n e d six, five o f w h o m w e r e already familiar to the court. S i r F r a n k L o c k w o o d did n o t press for details o f the sixth ('I w i l l spare y o u r m o t h e r that') a n d c o n c e n t r a t e d instead o n the details o f T a y l o r ' s singular lifestyle: D o y o u remember going through a form o f marriage with M a s o n ? - N o , never. D i d y o u n o t tell P a r k e r that y o u had? - N o t h i n g o f the k i n d . N o burlesque ceremony? - N o , nothing. D i d y o u n o t place a w e d d i n g ring o n his f i n g e r a n d g o to b e d w i t h h i m that n i g h t as t h o u g h he w e r e y o u r l a w f u l w i f e ? - It is all false. I d e n y it all. D i d y o u e v e r sleep w i t h M a s o n ? - I t h i n k I d i d the first n i g h t . A f t e r w a r d s h e h a d a separate b e d . W e r e y o u o n terms o f affection w i t h h i m ? - I d o n ' t I d i d n o t use that t e r m .
37

innuendo-

laden sentence: ' I h a v e h e a r d T a y l o r talking to s o m e o n e h e called

understand

y o u r question. I f y o u m e a n d i d I c o m m i t acts o f i n d e c e n c y , I d i d n o t .

W i l d e h i m s e l f d i d n o t appear in c o u r t again until the f o l l o w i n g d a y , W e d n e s d a y 2 2 M a y , w h e n the case against T a y l o r h a d b e e n c o n c l u d e d . ( T a y l o r w a s f o u n d g u i l t y o n t w o o f the six c o u n t s w i t h w h i c h h e w a s finally c h a r g e d . S e n t e n c i n g w a s , h o w e v e r , p o s t p o n e d until the case against W i l d e h a d b e e n heard.)

22

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R i g h t f r o m the start W i l d e w a s o n a h i d i n g to n o t h i n g . T h e j u r y - a n d a far w i d e r p u b l i c outside the c o u r t - h a d h e a r d the details o f T a y l o r ' s b e h a v i o u r , to w h i c h his h a d so effectively b e e n y o k e d ; n o w his o w n ' A e s t h e t i c i s m ' w a s to b e w e i g h e d against the sterile strictures o f the C r i m i n a l L a w A m e n d m e n t A c t . C h a r l e s P a r k e r a n d o t h e r b o y s p a r a d e d t h r o u g h the witness b o x , telling their stories o f assignations at t h e S a v o y H o t e l a n d e l s e w h e r e . D e n s e legal a r g u m e n t resulted in o n e o f the e i g h t i n d i c t m e n t s specifically n a m i n g W i l d e b e i n g d r o p p e d . T w o days passed. It w a s n o t until F r i d a y 2 4 M a y that W i l d e b e g a n g i v i n g e v i d e n c e o n his o w n behalf. T h e r e w a s l a u g h t e r in the p u b l i c galleries at s o m e o f his responses, b u t h e hardly h e l p e d his counsel's case w h e n e x p o s e d to the w i t h e r i n g l y accurate q u e s t i o n i n g o f the Solicitor-General: D o y o u r e m e m b e r g i v i n g M a v o r a cigarette case? - Y e s . It cost 4. D i d y o u g i v e o n e to C h a r l e s P a r k e r also? - Y e s , b u t I a m afraid it cost o n l y 1. S i l v e r ? W e l l , y e s . I h a v e a great fancy for g i v i n g cigarette cases. T o young men? Y e s . H o w m a n y h a v e y o u g i v e n ? I m i g h t h a v e g i v e n s e v e n o r eight in 1 8 9 2 a n d 1 8 9 3
3 8

[, . .]

D i d y o u k n o w at the t i m e that the Parkers w e r e a valet a n d a g r o o m r e s p e c t i v e l y ? - N o , a n d h a d I k n o w n it I s h o u l d n o t h a v e cared. Y o u h a v e n o sense o f social differences? N o . Y o u p r e f e r r e d C h a r l e s ? - I m a k e n o preferences. Y o u like bright boys? - I like bright boys. Charles Parker was bright. I l i k e d h i m
3 9

[. . .] -

H o w m u c h m o n e y h a v e y o u g i v e n C h a r l e s P a r k e r in cash? F o u r o r five p o u n d s . W h y ? - O h , I g i v e y o u n g m e n m o n e y w i t h pleasure. "


4

In quite literally p l a y i n g to the gallery l i k e this, W i l d e badly m i s j u d g e d the m o o d o f b o t h the c o u r t a n d the p u b l i c outside. In the c l o s i n g h o u r s o f the trial the j u d g e , M r J u s t i c e W i l l s , felt b o u n d to r e m a r k that ' T o h a v e to try a case o f this k i n d , to k e e p the scales e v e n , a n d d o o n e ' s d u t y is hard e n o u g h ; b u t to b e pestered w i t h the applause o r expressions o f feeling o f senseless p e o p l e w h o h a v e n o

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business to b e h e r e at all e x c e p t for the gratification o f m o r b i d c u r i o s i t y , is t o o m u c h . ' T h e r e w a s a certain inevitability a b o u t things, t h e n , o n that S a t u r d a y e v e n i n g , 2 5 M a y 1 8 9 5 , as W i l d e a n d T a y l o r s t o o d in the d o c k for sentencing. T h e j u r y h a d b e e n o u t for a httle u n d e r t h r e e h o u r s , b u t r e t u r n e d shortly b e f o r e six o ' c l o c k w i t h their v e r d i c t that W i l d e t o o w a s guilty o n six o f the s e v e n counts o n w h i c h h e h a d finally b e e n charged. M r J u s t i c e W i l l s m a d e n o secret o f his feelings. B e f o r e t h e y retired h e h a d c o m m i s e r a t e d w i t h the j u r y o v e r 'the h o r r i b l e n a t u r e o f the c h a r g e s ' t h e y h a d h e a r d . Passing s e n t e n c e , h e w a s e q u a l l y u n e q u i v o c a l : T h a t y o u , T a y l o r , k e p t a k i n d o f m a l e b r o t h e l it is i m p o s s i b l e to d o u b t . A n d that y o u , W i l d e , h a v e b e e n the c e n t r e o f a circle o f e x t e n s i v e c o r r u p t i o n o f the m o s t h i d e o u s k i n d a m o n g y o u n g m e n , it is equally i m p o s s i b l e to d o u b t . I shall, u n d e r the circumstances, b e e x p e c t e d to pass the severest s e n t e n c e that the l a w a l l o w s . In m y j u d g e m e n t it is totally i n a d e q u a t e for such a case as this. T h e s e n t e n c e o f the C o u r t is that e a c h o f y o u b e i m p r i s o n e d a n d k e p t to hard l a b o u r for t w o y e a r s .
41

T a y l o r n e e d n o l o n g e r detain us. O s c a r F i n g a l O ' F l a h e r t i e W i l l s W i l d e , h o w e v e r , casts a l o n g s h a d o w .

S o m e kill their l o v e w h e n t h e y are y o u n g , A n d s o m e w h e n t h e y are o l d ; S o m e strangle w i t h the hands o f L u s t , S o m e w i t h the hands o f G o l d . . . A sentimental n o t i o n o f abstract l o v e is at the heart o f ' T h e B a l l a d o f R e a d i n g G a o l ' , W i l d e ' s m e d i t a t i o n o n the e x e c u t i o n o f ' C . T . W . , S o m e t i m e T r o o p e r o f the R o y a l H o r s e G u a r d ' . B u t i f that c o u l d r e a c h o u t and e m b r a c e strangers, the etiolated, r e f l e x i v e passion w h i c h fires De Profundis is the author's a l o n e . ' I n p r i s o n a n d in chains', W i l d e seeks to b l a m e B o s i e , a n d t h r o u g h h i m the w o r l d at large, for e v e r y t h i n g that has h a p p e n e d to h i m . T h e original m a n u s c r i p t (not p u b l i s h e d in its entirety until 1 9 4 9 ) is cast in the f o r m o f a letter. R u n n i n g to s o m e e i g h t y pages, it b e g i n s :

H E R O E S

A N D

V I L L A I N S

Epistola:

In Carcere et

Vinculis
H. M. PRISON,

R E A D I N G .

D E A R

BOSIE,

A f t e r l o n g a n d fruitless w a i t i n g I h a v e d e t e r m i n e d t w o l o n g years o f

to w r i t e to y o u myself, as m u c h for y o u r sake as m i n e , as I w o u l d n o t l i k e to t h i n k that I h a v e passed t h r o u g h i m p r i s o n m e n t w i t h o u t e v e r h a v i n g r e c e i v e d a single line from y o u , o r a n y n e w s o r m e s s a g e e v e n , e x c e p t s u c h as g a v e m e pain. O u r ill-fated a n d m o s t lamentable friendship has e n d e d in ruin a n d p u b l i c i n f a m y for m e , y e t the m e m o r y o f o u r ancient affection is often w i t h m e , a n d the t h o u g h t that loathing, bitterness l o v e is v e r y sad to m e . . . L o a t h i n g , bitterness a n d c o n t e m p t had built u p in W i l d e ' s heart, h o w e v e r ; a b l i n d b e w i l d e r m e n t t o o . H e c o u l d n o t c o m p r e h e n d h o w and w h y e v e r y t h i n g h a d c h a n g e d so fundamentally. N o r c o u l d h e a p p r e c i ate a n y t h i n g o t h e r than the personal implications o f his i m p r i s o n m e n t . O t h e r s c o u l d . B e f o r e the j u r y retired in the third trial M r J u s t i c e W i l l s h a d told t h e m : ' W h a t e v e r y o u r v e r d i c t m a y b e , g e n t l e m e n , it c a n n o t l e a v e things p r e c i s e l y as t h e y w e r e b e f o r e this trial.' Nor d i d it. N o r c o u l d it; guilty o r i n n o c e n t , the m e r e presence o f W i l d e in the d o c k c h a n g e d the w h o l e p u b l i c p e r c e p t i o n o f the h o m o s e x u a l . T h e l e v e l o f r e s e n t m e n t w h i c h h a d built u p against h i m a n d the w h o l e A e s t h e t i c m o v e m e n t w a s reflected in the t e n o r o f the press c o m m e n t in the i m m e d i a t e aftermath o f the trial. W h i l e News c o u l d n o t b r i n g itself 'to gloat o v e r the ruin o f the Reynolds's unhappy and c o n t e m p t s h o u l d f o r e v e r take the place in m y heart o n c e h e l d b y

m a n ' , virtually e v e r y o t h e r p a p e r c o u l d , a n d s a w w i d e r implications in his p e r s o n a l t r a g e d y . T h e St James's air,' c r i e d the Daily Telegraph. Gazette w e l c o m e d w h a t it called 'a dash o f w h o l e s o m e b i g o t r y ' . ' O p e n the w i n d o w s ! L e t in the fresh B u t it w a s the News of the World w h i c h really g o t to the heart o f the matter w h e n it told its readers o n 2 6 M a y 1 8 9 5 : ' T h e aesthetic cult, in the nasty f o r m , is o v e r . ' O v e r a p e r i o d o f a v e r y f e w w e e k s , the substance w h i c h u n d e r l a y all the smirks a n d i n n u e n d o - l a d e n stories o f M a u d l e a n d the other A e s t h e t e s , real a n d fictional, h a d b e e n m a d e p u b l i c . A bare eight years p r e v i o u s l y , i n 1 8 8 7 , W i l d e h a d b e e n offered, a n d h a d accepted, the editorship o f the Lady's World: A Magazine of Fashion and Society

' F O R

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P U B L I C

B E N E F I T '

25

( c o m m e n d a b l y , o n e o f his first actions h a d b e e n to c h a n g e the m a g a zine's title to Woman's looks or contemptuous World) a n d the w o r l d at large h a d a p p l a u d e d knowing automatic w h a t w a s seen as a s h r e w d career m o v e . T h e r e w e r e n o titters b e c a u s e t h e r e w a s t h e n n o

c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n A e s t h e t i c effeminacy, 'artists', W . S. G i l b e r t ' s ' p u r e y o u n g m e n ' , ' v e g e t a b l e l o v e ' a n d the d i m l y d i s c e r n e d , scarcely i m a g i n a b l e p h y s i c a l realities o f b u g g e r y , s o d o m y o r 'gross i n d e c e n c y ' . R i g h t u p until his arrest W i l d e w a s , quite literally, c o m m i t t i n g a c r i m e w h i c h dared n o t speak its n a m e . W h e n the L o n d o n Evening ' O s c a r W i l d e p o s i n g as ' . A s A l a n S i n f i e l d has d e m o n s t r a t e d ,
42

Standard Wilde Maurice

r e p o r t e d the Q u e e n s b e r r y libel case it s p o k e o n l y o f a c a r d d e s c r i b i n g h i m s e l f q u i c k l y b e c a m e the c r i m e . In E . M . Forster's n o v e l

(written in 1 9 1 4 , b u t n o t p u b l i s h e d until 1 9 7 1 ) the e p o n y m o u s h e r o can d o n o better (or w o r s e ) than call h i m s e l f 'an u n s p e a k a b l e o f the O s c a r W i l d e sort'. A prurient interest was taken at the O l d B a i l e y in the stories o f soiled sheets at the S a v o y H o t e l ('I f o u n d it necessary to call the attention o f the h o u s e k e e p e r to the c o n d i t i o n o f M r W i l d e ' s b e d . T h e sheets w e r e stained in a p e c u l i a r w a y ' ) a n d o t h e r d u b i o u s matters d u r i n g W i l d e ' s v a r i o u s trials. B u t chiefly b e c a u s e n o o n e h a d h e a r d such stories b e f o r e . A l l a l o n g , the ' l o a t h s o m e ' nature o f the defendants' b e h a v i o u r w a s p r e s e n t e d as a s h o c k i n g , u n e x p e c t e d o b v e r s e to their o u t w a r d l y 'sophisticated' y e t materially c o n s e r v a t i v e lifestyle. M e m ories o f the C l e v e l a n d Street scandal still l i n g e r e d ; b u t it w a s W i l d e ' s p r e s e n c e in the d o c k w h i c h tore a w a y the last vestiges o f the i n n o c e n c e o f Gilbert and Sullivan's 'pure y o u n g m e n ' . D u r i n g the earlier part o f the trial T a y l o r ' s s o m e t i m e described in h e r e v i d e n c e h o w his r o o m s ' w e r e furnished landlady sumptu

ously'; h o w h e 'used to b u r n scent in t h e m ' ; a n d h o w , b e c a u s e the curtains w e r e n e v e r o p e n e d , the r o o m s w e r e a l w a y s ' l i g h t e d b y differ ent c o l o u r e d lamps a n d candles'. T a y l o r ' s n i g h t shirt, she recalled, w a s fastened b y a g o l d b r o o c h p i n . S h e h a d also, she m e n t i o n e d , seen 'a w o m a n ' s w i g a n d shoes a n d s t o c k i n g s ' . N a t u r a l l y , m u c h w a s m a d e o f this w h e n T a y l o r h i m s e l f g a v e e v i d e n c e : B u t there w e r e articles o f w o m e n ' s dress in y o u r r o o m s ? N o , there w a s a fancy dress for a female, an E a s t e r n c o s t u m e . W a s it m a d e for a w o m a n ? - I think so.

26

HEROES

AND

VILLAINS

P e r h a p s y o u w o r e it? - I p u t it o n o n c e b y w a y o f a lark. O n n o o t h e r o c c a s i o n ? - I w o r e it t o o at fancy dress balls, at the carnivals at O l y m p i a , at C o v e n t G a r d e n a n d at Q u e e n ' s G a t e H a l l . I suggest that y o u often dressed as a w o m a n ? - N o . Y o u w o r e , a n d c a u s e d M a s o n afterwards to w e a r , lace drawers, a w o m a n ' s g a r m e n t , w i t h the dress? - H a r d l y that. I w o r e k n i c k e r b o c k e r s a n d stockings u n d e r a l o n g o p e n c l o a k w h i c h w a s fastened at the waist. A n d a w o m a n ' s w i g , w h i c h afterwards d i d for M a s o n ? N o , the w i g w a s m a d e for m e . I w a s g o i n g to a ball as D i c k W h i t t i n g t o n . W o m a n ' s stockings? Y e s .
4 3

T h e S a v o y H o t e l , C o v e n t G a r d e n . . . stained sheets, p e r m a n e n t l y c l o s e d curtains, w o m e n ' s stockings . . . e v e n in his s u m m i n g - u p , M r J u s t i c e W i l l s effectively y o k e d t o g e t h e r these p o t e n t i m a g e s o f an u n h e a l t h y c o u p l i n g o f the beau monde a n d the demi-monde:

T h e sums t o o w h i c h a p p e a r e d o n the [ S a v o y H o t e l ] bill are h i g h for s u c h a supper. I k n o w n o t h i n g a b o u t the S a v o y , b u t I m u s t say that in m y v i e w ' C h i c k e n a n d salad for t w o , 1 6 shillings', is v e r y h i g h . I a m afraid I shall n e v e r h a v e s u p p e r there myself. I m u s t state h e r e that I w i s h that m e d i c a l e v i d e n c e h a d b e e n called. It is a l o a t h s o m e subject, b u t I m a k e a p o i n t o f n e v e r s h r i n k i n g f r o m details that are absolutely necessary. T h e m e d i c a l e v i d e n c e w o u l d h a v e t h r o w n light o n w h a t has b e e n alluded to as marks o f grease o r v a s e l i n e smears. T h e n , w i t h r e f e r e n c e to the c o n d i t i o n o f the b e d , t h e r e w a s the diarrhoea line o f d e f e n c e . . ,
4 4

T h e i m p l i c a t i o n s w e r e i n e v i t a b l e . F a r f r o m b e i n g the i n n o c e n t e x e m p lars o f ' p u r i t y ' , the Aesthetes h a d a b r u p d y b e c o m e ' b u g g e r s ' , 'inverts', ' p e r v e r t s ' o r ' s o d o m i t e s ' - the n e o l o g i s t i c t e r m ' h o m o s e x u a l ' w a s n e v e r used whose newly revealed behaviour was 'abominable' and 'loathsome'. ' W e k n o w o f n o spectacle so ridiculous as the B r i t i s h p u b l i c in o n e o f its p e r i o d i c fits o f m o r a l i t y , ' w r o t e L o r d M a c a u l a y . B u t that w a s in his t h r e e - v o l u m e c o l l e c t i o n o f Essays w h i c h h a d first a p p e a r e d in 1 8 4 3 . H a l f a c e n t u r y o n , this latest fit o f m o r a l i t y t h r e a t e n e d to e x p o s e W i l d e ' s circle to far m o r e than m e r e ridicule. ( T h a t , they c o u l d take; the m o r e c o n s c i e n t i o u s l y 'aesthetic' Aesthetes h a d b e e n p u t t i n g u p

'FOR

T H E

P U B L I C

B E N E F I T '

27
and

w i t h it for years in the streets o f O x f o r d , the c o l u m n s o f Punch

the d i n i n g r o o m s o f L o n d o n . ) N o r w a s it j u s t W i l d e ' s circle: his c o n v i c t i o n o p e n e d u p the v e r y real possibility o f a w i d e - r a n g i n g p u r g e of homosexual men. N o t entirely surprisingly, a g e n t e e l sort o f p a n i c e n s u e d . Hesketh P e a r s o n has m e m o r a b l y described a ' h o l i d a y rush' o f m e n w h o a b r u p t l y d e c i d e d to take v a c a t i o n s o f i n d e t e r m i n a t e l e n g t h in all the familiar F r e n c h resorts. E v e n b e f o r e the o p e n i n g o f W i l d e ' s final trial, a friend h a d w r i t t e n to the w r i t e r E d m u n d G o s s e p o i n t i n g o u t that, o n o n e night, 600 m e n h a d b o a r d e d D o v e r C a l a i s ferries ten times the usual number. records.
45

D o z e n s o f W i l d e ' s friends 'fell a w a y ' , R i c h a r d E l l m a n n R o b b i e R o s s w e n t to the T e r m i n u s H o t e l in Calais, a n d

46

t h e n travelled o n to R o u e n . L o r d R o n a l d G o w e r a n d m o r e t h a n o n e o f the witnesses f r o m the s e c o n d trial also d e c i d e d that t h e y w o u l d b e better o f f abroad. F o r all his assertions that he w o u l d stay, w h a t e v e r the c o n s e q u e n c e s , W i l d e t o o , w h e n e v e n t u a l l y h e w a s released f r o m c u s t o d y in R e a d i n g G a o l o n 1 9 M a y 1 8 9 7 , h a d litde o p t i o n b u t to l e a v e the c o u n t r y . H e d i e d in Paris less than three years later, o n 3 0 N o v e m b e r 1 9 0 0 . B y t h e n h e w a s almost forgotten, a n d in B r i t a i n his Jin w e r e , quite literally, things o f the past. A h o m o s e x u a l de sicle A e s t h e t i c i s m a n d Patience's ' g r e e n e r y - y a l l e r y , G r o s v e n o r G a l l e r y ' w o r l d sub-culture imr e m a i n e d , o f course; b u t it w a s h u g g e r - m u g g e r , s e c r e t i v e a n d diffuse. U n m a r r i e d vicars a n d b a c h e l o r uncles w e r e g r a n t e d the t o k e n m u n i t y they h a d a l w a y s e n j o y e d : t h e y w e r e j u s t ' s o ' o r ' m u s i c a l ' o r 'that w a y ' . B u t the truth w a s out, a n d others w e r e n o t so l u c k y . E r s t w h i l e ' p u r e y o u n g m e n ' w e r e n o w ' b u m - b o y s ' a n d 'shirt-lifters', o n l y interested in 'a bit o f b r o w n ' . W i l d e cast a l o n g s h a d o w .

'You and I are Outlaws'

T H E

L E A D

A R T I C L E

in a small, u l t r a - c o n s e r v a t i v e subscription m a g a flourished d u r i n g the G r e a t W a r w a s hectoring ' A s I S e e It' p i e c e . In the issue o f

z i n e called the Imperialist w h i c h a l w a y s the editor's

2 6 J a n u a r y 1 9 1 8 this w a s entitled ' T h e First 4 7 , 0 0 0 ' , a n d its suggestion o f w i d e s p r e a d m o r a l a n d s e x u a l d e v i a n c e a m o n g the m o s t e m i n e n t in s o c i e t y w o u l d h a v e astonished or, m o r e l i k e l y , frankly b e m u s e d the a v e r a g e m a n in the street, s h o u l d he h a v e c h a n c e d to read it: T h e r e exists in the Cabinet noire o f a certain G e r m a n p r i n c e [the article insisted] a b o o k c o m p i l e d b y the S e c r e t S e r v i c e f r o m the reports o f G e r m a n agents w h o h a v e infested this c o u n t r y for the past t w e n t y years. M o r e than a t h o u s a n d pages are filled w i t h the n a m e s [. . .] o f forty-seven thousand English m e n and w o m e n . T h e names o f P r i v y C o u n c i l l o r s , y o u t h s o f the chorus, w i v e s o f C a b i n e t M i n i s t e r s , d a n c i n g girls, e v e n C a b i n e t M i n i s t e r s t h e m s e l v e s , w h i l e diplo mats, p o e t s , bankers, editors, n e w s p a p e r proprietors a n d m e m b e r s o f His Majesty's household follow each other with no order o f precedence.
1

Q u i t e w h a t p r o m p t e d N o l P e m b e r t o n - B i l h n g , the s o m e w h a t e c c e n tric I n d e p e n d e n t M P a n d f o u n d e r - e d i t o r o f the Imperialist, to w r i t e this r e m a i n s u n c l e a r - the v e r y e x i s t e n c e o f w h a t b e c a m e k n o w n as the ' B l a c k B o o k ' has n e v e r b e e n p r o v e d . P u b l i s h e d at a t i m e w h e n B r i t a i n (and its E m p i r e ) w a s still at w a r w i t h G e r m a n y , the p i e c e m a y w e l l h a v e b e e n i n t e n d e d as n o m o r e than an e x e r c i s e in j i n g o i s t i c propagandizing; the Imperialist w a s far f r o m a l o n e in highlighting The e x a m p l e s o f the a l l e g e d beastliness o f 'the H u n ' at this t i m e .

article's f u l m i n a t o r y t o n e , h o w e v e r , at o n c e i n d i g n a n t a n d u n g r a m 28

'YOU

AND I ARE

OUTLAWS'

29 a separate, that

matical, suggests that P e m b e r t o n - B i l h n g

was pursuing

private agenda. E i g h t e e n m o n t h s p r e v i o u s l y h e h a d a n n o u n c e d favour, all those m e n a n d measures w h i c h m a k e for the o f o u r past political follies'.
2

his m a g a z i n e w o u l d 'not o n l y criticise b u t attack, w i t h o u t fear o r perpetuation

W i t h ' T h e First 4 7 , 0 0 0 ' h e c a m e as close as h e dared to i d e n t i f y i n g n o t o n l y 'those m e n ' b u t also the u n d e r l y i n g cause o f ' o u r past political follies'. S e x u a l irregularity, h e told his readers, w a s the p r i m e q u a l i f i c a tion for inclusion in the ' B l a c k B o o k ' . T h u s it is n o surprise that h e implicitly y o k e d t o g e t h e r p r i v y c o u n c i l l o r s a n d the rather contemptu ously labelled ' y o u t h s o f the c h o r u s ' (and paralleled this z e u g m a w i t h the e v e n m o r e p i c t u r e s q u e c o u p l i n g o f the ' w i v e s o f C a b i n e t M i n i s t e r s ' a n d ' d a n c i n g girls'). N o r is it insignificant that h e c h o s e to i n c l u d e ' p o e t s ' a m o n g those he seems to h a v e b e e n b o t h d a m n i n g a n d d e f e n d i n g . T h r e e quarters o f a c e n t u r y o n , the thrust o f his article seems alarmist a n d v a g u e l y absurd. S t r i p p e d o f its t u b - t h u m p i n g , h o w e v e r , it is v i v i d l y illustrative o f the m o o d o f the p e r i o d . P e m b e r t o n - B i l l i n g w a s w r i t i n g at a time w h e n sex a n d all matters s e x u a l w e r e for the first t i m e b e i n g seriously discussed. Q u i t e i n d e p e n d e n t l y , the m e d i c a l a n d p s y c h o l o g i cal t h e o r i z i n g w h i c h i m p l i c i t l y underpins o u r ' m o d e r n ' t h i n k i n g a b o u t e v e r y t h i n g from p r e g n a n c y to h o m o s e x u a l i t y a n d a tentative e x p e r i m e n t a t i o n into the feasibility o f relationships a w o r l d a w a y f r o m the r e c e i v e d (but largely illusory) p i c t u r e o f the cosiness o f n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y family life w e r e s u b v e r t i n g p i n k i m p e r i a l certainties l o n g b e f o r e trouble in the B a l k a n s m o r e fundamentally c l o u d e d the h o r i z o n s o f those o n w h o s e E m p i r e the sun n e v e r set. S i g m u n d F r e u d h a d p u b l i s h e d Die Traumdeutung of Dreams), sexual desire, in 1 9 0 0 . The Psychopathology of Everyday (The Interpretation a r g u i n g that dreams are little m o r e than manifestations o f Life f o l l o w e d in in 1 9 0 5 . M a r i e S t o p e s ' s Love. More

1 9 0 4 ; Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality

p i o n e e r i n g a d v o c a c y o f c o n t r a c e p t i o n a n d the idea o f family p l a n n i n g b e g a n in 1 9 1 6 w i t h the p u b l i c a t i o n o f h e r b o o k Married n o v e l Adam's insidiously, little m o r e than ten years later M a r g u e r i t e R a d c l y f f e - H a l l ' s Breed w o n the F e m i n a V i e H e u r e u s e prize; h e r b e t t e r first a p p e a r e d in 1 9 2 8 . k n o w n story, The Well of Loneliness,

T h e intellectual climate w a s c h a n g i n g w i t h b e w i l d e r i n g rapidity. O n 1 O c t o b e r 1 9 1 3 H a r o l d N i c o l s o n , t h e n an O x f o r d - e d u c a t e d B r i t i s h d i p l o m a t , w a s able to enter into w h a t w e w o u l d n o w call an o p e n

30

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m a r r i a g e w i t h V i t a S a c k v i l l e - W e s t . E v e n b e f o r e it w a s celebrated h e h a d d e s c r i b e d the a r r a n g e m e n t as ' o u r a m a z i n g m a r r i a g e ' , implicitly a c k n o w l e d g i n g that b e f o r e the w e d d i n g h e a n d V i t a h a d mutually a g r e e d o n a relationship in w h i c h b o t h w o u l d b e free to p u r s u e e x t r a marital affairs w i t h m e m b e r s o f their o w n s e x . H o n e s t y a n d openness w e r e the o n l y b e n c h - m a r k s (honesty a n d o p e n n e s s o n such a scale that w h e n their s o n N i g e l N i c o l s o n ' s b o o k Portrait of a Marriage p u b l i s h e d in 1 9 7 3 a r e v i e w w a s entitled 'Portrait o f a What?'). was The

n a t u r e o f V i t a ' s e n d u r i n g relationship w i t h V i r g i n i a W o o l f is w e l l d o c u m e n t e d ; n o t unnaturally perhaps, a c c o u n t s o f the i n t i m a c y a n d e x t e n t o f N i c o l s o n ' s m o r e t e m p o r a r y h o m o s e x u a l dalliances are s o m e w h a t m o r e c i r c u m s p e c t . A letter h e w r o t e to V i t a as early as 1 9 1 9 , d e s c r i b i n g the b e g i n n i n g o f a liaison w i t h the c o u t u r i e r E d w a r d M o l y n e u x , g r a p h i c a l l y illustrates b o t h the strength a n d the p u s s y - f o o t i n g necessary for the m a i n t e n a n c e o f such a m a r r i a g e . W r i t i n g from the offices o f the B r i t i s h D e l e g a t i o n in Paris, N i c o l s o n c o n f i d e d : I h a v e g o t s u c h a funny n e w friend a dressmaker, w i t h a large s h o p in the in the R u e R o y a l e , a c h a r m i n g flat at the R o n d P o i n t ( w h e r e I spent the whole o f Saturday n i g h t - s l e e p i n g o n the b a l c o n y ) a n d a b o u t 1 0 m a n n e q u i n s o f surpassing b e a u t y . I a m l u n c h i n g at the s h o p t o d a y . M y d r e s s m a k e r is o n l y 2 7 a n d it is rather sporting to l a u n c h o u t into so elaborate an a d v e n t u r e at that a g e . M a r w o u l d l i k e m y n e w friend, I t h i n k - v e r y attractive. S u c h a n i c e flat t o o . I think I shall stay there w h e n a n d i f I c o m e b a c k a n d n o t g o to the M a j e s t i c . T h e r e is a spare r o o m a n d I w o u l d p a y for m y b o a r d .
3

In the aftermath

o f the W i l d e trials - a n d it w a s a l o n g

aftermath;

S h o c k w a v e s c o n t i n u e d to r e v e r b e r a t e until w e l l after the o u t b r e a k o f the G r e a t W a r - m e n l i k e H a r o l d N i c o l s o n r e m a i n e d the e x c e p t i o n s rather than the r u l e . F r e u d a n d F r e u d i a n t h e o r y h a d y e t to b e a d d u c e d as c o n t r i b u t o r y o r m i t i g a t i n g factors in the i n c r e a s i n g n u m b e r o f cases o f ' i m m o r a l i t y ' a n d 'gross i n d e c e n c y ' b r o u g h t b e f o r e the courts. R a t h e r , j u s t as t h e y h a d in W i l d e ' s day, m o n e y a n d social status c o c o o n e d the likes o f H a r o l d N i c o l s o n . M e a n w h i l e , m o r e o r d i n a r y h o m o s e x u a l m e n w e r e singled o u t a n d p i l l o r i e d - a n d any b o y s d i s p l a y i n g signs w h i c h c o u l d b e i n t e r p r e t e d as w a r n i n g s o f an i n c i p i e n t e f f e m i n a c y w e r e firmly d i r e c t e d t o w a r d s the V i c t o r i a n 'straight a n d n a r r o w ' .

' Y O U

A N D

A R E

O U T L A W S '

31

T h e w r i t e r B e v e r l e y N i c h o l s recalled h o w in a r o u n d 1 9 1 4 ( w h e n h e w o u l d h a v e b e e n in his m i d - t e e n s ) h e w a s d i s c o v e r e d b y his father r e a d i n g a c o p y o f The Picture of Dorian Gray. ' Y o u pretty little bastard! ripped it Y o u pretty little b o y ! ' his father s h o u t e d at h i m . ' O s c a r W i l d e ! T o think that m y son . . .' A n d t h e n h e spat o n the b o o k a n d apart w i t h his teeth. N i c h o l s protested d i s i n g e n u o u s l y b y all t h e

e v i d e n c e , since the b o o k w a s a gift from an o l d e r , o v e r t l y h o m o s e x u a l friend - that h e k n e w n o t h i n g a b o u t W i l d e . T h e n e x t d a y his father e n l i g h t e n e d h i m . ' T h a t is w h a t the m a n d i d , ' h e said, h a n d i n g his s o n a sheet o f p a p e r o n w h i c h w a s w r i t t e n :
Q U O D NON, ' I L L U M C R I M E N H O R R I B I L E

N O M i N A N D U M E S T ' . N i c h o l s fib,

w h o w e n t o n to r e a d

L a t i n at O x f o r d , c o n s t r u e d this as m e a n i n g , ' T h e h o r r i b l e c r i m e w h i c h is n o t to b e n a m e d ' .


4

J o h n B e t j e m a n , t o o , e x p e r i e n c e d the m e a s u r e o f this a n t i - W i l d e a n backlash a n d recalled h o w ' O s c a r ' h a d e m e r g e d as a n e w b o g e y - m a n c o m i n g - t o - g e t - y o u , the ultimate sanction for a n x i o u s u p p e r m i d d l e class parents, w i t h i n a v e r y f e w years o f his death in 1 9 0 0 . A late b u t transparently a u t o b i o g r a p h i c a l p o e m , ' N a r c i s s u s ' , e x p l o r e s B e t j e m a n ' s mother's friendship fears a b o u t h e r p r e - t e e n a g e d son's ( s e e m i n g l y innocent) w i t h a similarly y o u n g b o y n a m e d B o b b y . E v e n b e f o r e the

G r e a t W a r , s o m e things w e r e ' u n w h o l e s o m e ' : . . . w h e n w e just did nothing w e w e r e g o o d B u t w h e n w e touched each other w e w e r e bad. B u t it w a s n o t j u s t that: A n d t h e n she said I w a s h e r p r e c i o u s c h i l d , A n d o n c e t h e r e w a s a m a n called O s c a r W i l d e .
5

I n an i n t e r v i e w w i t h his b i o g r a p h e r B e v i s H i l l i e r ( r e c o r d e d in 1 9 7 6 ) B e t j e m a n elaborated o n the e x t e n t to w h i c h w h a t w e w o u l d n o w call this h o m o p h o b i c p r e j u d i c e c l o u d e d his c h i l d h o o d a n d s c h o o l d a y s : W h e n I w a s at M a r l b o r o u g h I d i s c o v e r e d that O s c a r W i l d e w a s s o m e o n e o n e o u g h t n o t to m e n t i o n ; s o naturally h e h a d w a s actually still alive. S o I w r o t e to h i m from M a r l b o r o u g h . [His replies] a r r i v e d f r o m B e l g i u m a b o u t o n c e a w e e k w h i l e I w a s o n h o l i d a y in C o r n w a l l . [ M y father] said: ' Y o u ' v e b e e n h a v i n g letters from L o r d A l f r e d great attraction for m e [. . .] T h e n I d i s c o v e r e d that L o r d A l f r e d D o u g l a s

32

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D o u g l a s . ' I c o u l d n ' t d e n y it. ' D o y o u k n o w w h a t that m a n is?' I said: ' N o . ' ' H e ' s a b u g g e r . D o y o u k n o w w h a t b u g g e r s are? B u g g e r s are t w o m e n w h o w o r k themselves u p into such a state o f m u t u a l a d m i r a t i o n that o n e puts his piss-pipe u p the o t h e r o n e ' s arse. W h a t d o y o u think o f that?' A n d o f course I felt absolutely sick, and shattered.
6

T h e reactions o f N i c h o l s pre and B e t j e m a n pre w e r e n o t

uncommon.

A r o u n d the turn o f the c e n t u r y h o m o s e x u a l s o f all ages and classes felt c o w e d a n d helpless. T h e i r proclivities n o w increasingly discussed in the n e w era o f o p e n n e s s , t h e y w e r e still v i c a r i o u s l y stigmatized b y the o b l o q u y w h i c h h a d b e e n h e a p e d o n W i l d e , w h i l e their p u b l i c a n d e v e n private - b e h a v i o u r r e m a i n e d c i r c u m s c r i b e d b y the strictures o f the C r i m i n a l L a w A m e n d m e n t A c t . A s , i n d e e d , it w a s i n t e n d e d to b e , n o w that the g e n i e w a s out o f the bottle: t w e n t y - t h r e e men c o n v i c t e d o f ' u n n a t u r a l c r i m e ' w e r e p u n i s h e d w i t h fifteen strokes o f the b i r c h e a c h in the t w e l v e m o n t h s b e t w e e n i N o v e m b e r 1 9 1 1 and 31 October 1912.

N o t surprisingly, all this s e r v e d i r r e v o c a b l y to c h a n g e the nature o f w h a t , t h e n as n o w , it is c o n v e n i e n t but m i s l e a d i n g l y simplistic to call the h o m o s e x u a l ' c o m m u n i t y ' . U n d o u b t e d l y , a m o n g s o m e o f its ' m e m b e r s ' it b o l s t e r e d a n e w strength and defiance. B u t those b r a v e E d w a r d i a n s and G e o r g i a n s w h o felt (in a n o t h e r w i l d l y anachronistic phrase) ' g l a d to b e g a y ' shared the same feeling o f a n o m y w h i c h w a s to c l o u d the lives o f a v a s d y greater n u m b e r o f h o m o s e x u a l m e n for the n e x t t w o generations. T h e distinguished j o u r n a l i s t and foreign c o r r e s p o n d e n t M i c h a e l D a v i d s o n w a s o n e such. B o r n in 1 8 9 7 , h e had r e c o g n i z e d f r o m an early age that his inclinations w e r e p r e d o m i n a n t l y pdrastie, b u t his characterization isolation are w h o l l y typical: It w a s astraddle m y 1 8 t h birthday that m y first 'adult' sexual e n c o u n ters o c c u r r e d : that I d i s c o v e r e d that g r o w n - u p s c o u l d b e h a v e j u s t as I felt like b e h a v i n g . I k n e w b y n o w e x a c t l y w h a t I w a n t e d ; and t h o u g h the y o u n g m e n I l i v e d a m o n g , in spite o f their endless talk a b o u t w o m e n , n o w a n d then paired o f f in b e d for b o d i l y larks, I k n e w that this w a s m a i n l y a b o y i s h h a n g o v e r and quite f r o m m y o w n y e a r n i n g . A n d / still vaguely believed Wilde and, I suppose, that unlucky man at the Southampton different swimming that I and Oscar o f his o w n t e e n a g e feelings o f

'YOU

AND

I ARE

OUTLAWS'

33 to be b o r n
7

pool - were the only people since the age of Alkibiades this yearning.

with

N o w I l e a r n e d f r o m e x p e r i e n c e that t h e r e m u s t b e

quite a lot o f m e n , a n d e v e n w o m e n , w h o w a n t e d b o y s . . . T h i s essential sense o f differentness c o l o u r s b o t h the

homosexual men

w r i t i n g o f the time a n d the m o r e casual r e c o l l e c t i o n s o f o t h e r

w h o , l i k e D a v i d s o n , k n e w 'the s c e n e ' . It is i m m e d i a t e l y apparent in a clutch o f Last Poems b y A . E . H o u s m a n . It p e r v a d e s the w h o l e o f Maurice, the p o s t h u m o u s l y p u b l i s h e d n o v e l w h i c h E . M . F o r s t e r w r o t e , s e e m i n g l y as an act o f self-assertion, in 1 9 1 3 1 4 . It lingers, t o o , b e h i n d the cast o f outsider figures, spies a n d strangers ( ' L o o k , stranger . . .') w h i c h populates the early w o r k o f s u c h h o m o s e x u a l writers as W . H . A u d e n a n d C h r i s t o p h e r I s h e r w o o d w h o w e r e b o r n in the twentieth c e n t u r y a n d d i d n o t c o m e to p r o m i n e n c e until the early 1 9 3 0 s . P u b l i s h e d in 1 9 2 2 , H o u s m a n ' s Last Poems w e r e p r e f a c e d b y a n o t e from the a u t h o r w h i c h c o n c l u d e d w i t h the s e n t e n c e : ' A b o u t a quarter o f this matter b e l o n g s to the A p r i l o f the present y e a r , b u t m o s t o f it to dates b e t w e e n 1 8 9 5 a n d 1 9 1 0 . ' T h i s is in itself o f m o r e than b i b l i o graphical significance: times a n d H o u s m a n h i m s e l f h a d c h a n g e d . B y 1 9 2 2 the m a n w h o m M a x B e e r b o h m h a d m e m o r a b l y d e s c r i b e d as l o o k i n g like an a b s c o n d i n g cashier h a d largely t a m e d a n d s u b j u g a t e d the strangely asexual, almost H e l l e n i c passion w h i c h h a d fired so m u c h o f his earlier w o r k . T h e Last Poems s h o w little o f the wistful, i f c o m plaisant, i n n o c e n c e that h a d b e e n largely responsible for the i m m e n s e p o p u l a r i t y o f his first v o l u m e , A Shropshire Lad. G e o r g e O r w e l l w a s later to recall that, as a teenager, h e k n e w all o f its s i x t y - t h r e e p o e m s b y heart. T e l l i n g l y , W . H . A u d e n e x p l a i n e d w h y : b e t t e r than a n y other E n g l i s h poet, in A Shropshire Lad H o u s m a n h a d e x p r e s s e d the true sensibility o f the m a l e adolescent. T h e p o e m s w e r e certainly w r i t t e n f r o m the heart. H o u s m a n had

h a d his o w n lad, a m a n called M o s e s J a c k s o n , a friend f r o m u n i v e r s i t y days w i t h w h o m h e h a d w h a t has b e e n called a 'passionate a t t a c h m e n t ' . B u t in 1 8 8 7 J a c k s o n h a d b r o k e n o f f the relationship, e m i g r a t e d to A m e r i c a a n d - possibly e v e n m o r e galling for H o u s m a n although the lines: married. ' T h i n k n o m o r e , lad; l a u g h , b e j o l l y ' , A Shropshire Lad e x h o r t e d h o l l o w i r o n y . O n e o f the later p o e m s in that c o l l e c t i o n

hindsight h a d already o v e r l a i d the phrase w i t h a certain included

34

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VILLAINS

I t o o w o u l d b e w h e r e I a m not. I t o o s u r v e y that endless line O f m e n w h o s e t h o u g h t s are n o t as m i n e . Another began: W h e n I c a m e last to L u d l o w A m i d s t the m o o n l i g h t pale, T w o friends k e p t step b e s i d e m e , T w o h o n e s t lads a n d hale. N o w D i c k lies l o n g in the c h u r c h y a r d , A n d N e d lies l o n g in j a i l
9 8

In the Last Poems this t o n e w a s intensified to o n e in w h i c h private m e l a n c h o l y w a s transfigured b y anger. T h e c o l l e c t i o n r e v e a l e d w i t h r e m a r k a b l e h o n e s t y h o w w r e t c h e d the w o r l d still s e e m e d to a c u l t u r e d h o m o s e x u a l m a n m o r e than a quarter o f a c e n t u r y after W i l d e ' s imprisonment. It is e v e n m o r e r e m a r k a b l e since, at the t i m e o f its first p u b l i c a t i o n , H o u s m a n , b o r n in 1 8 5 9 , w a s in his early sixties and, o u t w a r d l y at least, the fastidiously c o r r e c t professor o f L a t i n at C a m b r i d g e U n i v e r s i t y . Last Poems bears an u r g e n t , italicized e p i g r a p h b e g i n n i n g We'll to the woods no more,

The laurels are all cut, The bowers are bare of bay That once the Muses wore,

b u t o n e o f the later p o e m s , c o m p o s e d in a r o u n d 1 9 0 0 , cuts t h r o u g h the b u c o l i c , ( p r e - ) G e o r g i a n lexis a n d seems to speak f r o m the heart: T h e l a w s o f G o d , the l a w s o f m a n , H e m a y k e e p that w i l l a n d can; N o t I: let G o d a n d m a n d e c r e e L a w s for themselves a n d n o t for m e ; A n d i f m y w a y s are n o t as theirs L e t t h e m m i n d their o w n affairs. T h e i r deeds I j u d g e a n d m u c h condemn, Y e t w h e n d i d I m a k e l a w s for t h e m ? Please y o u r s e l v e s , say I , a n d t h e y N e e d o n l y l o o k the o t h e r w a y .

' Y O U

A N D

A R E

O U T L A W S '

35

B u t n o , they w i l l not; they m u s t still W r e s t their n e i g h b o u r to their w i l l , A n d m a k e m e d a n c e as t h e y desire W i t h j a i l a n d g a l l o w s a n d hell-fire. A n d h o w a m I to face the o d d s O f m a n ' s b e d e v i l m e n t and G o d ' s ? I, a stranger and afraid In a w o r l d I n e v e r m a d e . T h e y w i l l b e master, right o r w r o n g ; T h o u g h b o t h are foolish, b o t h are strong. A n d since, m y soul, w e c a n n o t fly T o Saturn n o r to M e r c u r y , K e e p w e m u s t , i f k e e p w e can, T h e s e foreign laws o f G o d and m a n .
1 0

I n c h o o s i n g to w r i t e , albeit privately, a n o v e l w i t h an e x p l i c i t l y h o m o sexual t h e m e at this t i m e , then, E . M . F o r s t e r w a s v e n t u r i n g i n t o a n o m a n ' s land. N o t for n o t h i n g w a s Maurice wistfully d e d i c a t e d to 'a H a p p i e r Y e a r ' . H e d g e d a r o u n d n o less than H o u s m a n b y the a d m i t tedly caricatured p r o s p e c t o f 'jail a n d g a l l o w s a n d h e l l - f i r e ' , a n d b y the a l l - t o o - p o t e n t spectre o f ' l a w ' a n d 'the l a w s ' (the w o r d s a p p e a r five times in H o u s m a n ' s p o e m ) , Forster nevertheless d e c i d e d to m a k e the best o f things. H e e x p l a i n e d in i 9 6 0 that 'a h a p p y e n d i n g w a s i m p e r a t i v e . I s h o u l d n ' t h a v e b o t h e r e d to w r i t e [the n o v e l ] o t h e r w i s e . I w a s d e t e r m i n e d that in fiction a n y w a y t w o m e n s h o u l d fall in l o v e a n d r e m a i n in it for the e v e r a n d e v e r that fiction a l l o w s . ' " T h a t last s e n t e n c e is i m p o r t a n t . It e x a c d y encapsulates the sentiments o f the p o s t - W i l d e a n h o m o s e x u a l . (Forster, b o r n in 1 8 7 9 , w a s s i x t e e n at the t i m e o f the W i l d e trials; t h i r t y - f o u r a n d , l i k e his p r o t a g o n i s t , still closely tied to his m o t h e r w h e n h e b e g a n w o r k o n Maurice.) T h e r e are t w o i m p l i c i t ides: that ' t w o m e n s h o u l d fall in l o v e a n d r e m a i n in it'; a n d that - at least until the turn o f that ' H a p p i e r Y e a r ' - s u c h a situation c o u l d o b t a i n o n l y 'for the e v e r a n d e v e r that fiction a l l o w s ' . T h e t o n e is s i m u l t a n e o u s l y optimistic a n d despairing. S o , t o o , is the n o v e l ' s . A b r a v e , i f slight, w o r k ('publishable but w o r t h it?' Forster n o t e d , h a v i n g r e - r e a d a n d s l i g h d y r e - w r i t t e n it in i 9 6 0 ) , its heart is v e r y clearly o n its s l e e v e . A l t h o u g h it has far m o r e

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in c o m m o n w i t h s u c h o f Forster's earlier n o v e l s as The Longest

Journey

( 1 9 0 7 ) a n d A Room with a View ( 1 9 0 8 ) than w i t h his later a n d m o r e d e n s e l y s y m b o l i c A Passage to India ( 1 9 2 4 ) , it is also i n c o m p a r a b l y m o r e o p e n a n d h o n e s t than any h o m o - e r o t i c o r h o m o s e x u a l l y i n c l i n e d n o v e l actually p u b l i s h e d at this p e r i o d . E v e n The Loom of Youth ( 1 9 1 7 ) , A l e c W a u g h ' s t h e n n o t o r i o u s story i n v o l v i n g a p u b l i c s c h o o l 'pash', is fey in c o m p a r i s o n . In a fractured narrative (four parts; f o r t y - s i x short chapters, s o m e o f w h i c h r u n for litde m o r e than h a l f a page) Maurice tells the story o f the e p o n y m o u s M a u r i c e H a l l ' s progress t h r o u g h p u b l i c s c h o o l a n d C a m b r i d g e to superficial c o m m e r c i a l e m i n e n c e in L o n d o n a n d u l t i m a t e s e x u a l fulfilment. E v e n b e f o r e h e w a s o u t o f his teens, Forster tells us, M a u r i c e h a d r e c o g n i z e d his o w n sexuality a n d realized that he was trapped and floundering in a threateningly alien w o r l d . W h i l e still at s c h o o l h e h a d ' l o n g e d for smut, b u t h e a r d litde a n d c o n t r i b u t e d less, a n d his c h i e f i n d e c e n c i e s w e r e solitary [. . .] h e desisted f r o m these after the n o v e l t y w a s o v e r , f i n d i n g that t h e y b r o u g h t h i m m o r e fatigue than p l e a s u r e ' .
12

M a s t u r b a t i o n , the silent serial-adoration o f f e l l o w -

pupils a n d the d e v e l o p m e n t o f strategies for self-protection c a m e to d o m i n a t e his w a k i n g life. B u t n o t h i n g is w h o l l y satisfactory. H e is in 'the V a l l e y o f the S h a d o w o f L i f e ' , a n d remains in it ' l o n g e r than m o s t b o y s ' . . . until h e g o e s u p to C a m b r i d g e , i n d e e d ; until h e e n c o u n t e r s a f e l l o w - s t u d e n t , the upper-class C l i v e D u r h a m , in the D e a n ' s translation class. T h e n , s u d d e n l y , e v e r y t h i n g seems to fall i n t o place: M r C o r n w a l l i s o b s e r v e d in a flat toneless v o i c e : ' O m i t : a reference to the u n s p e a k a b l e v i c e o f the G r e e k s . ' D u r h a m o b s e r v e d afterwards that h e o u g h t to lose his f e l l o w s h i p for s u c h h y p o c r i s y . M a u r i c e laughed. ' I r e g a r d it as a p o i n t o f p u r e scholarship. T h e G r e e k s , o r m o s t o f t h e m , w e r e that w a y i n c l i n e d , a n d to o m i t it is to o m i t mainstay o f Athenian society.' 'Is that s o ? ' ' Y o u ' v e r e a d the Symposium?' M a u r i c e h a d not, a n d d i d n o t a d d that h e h a d e x p l o r e d M a r t i a l . 'It's all t h e r e - n o t m e a t for babes, o f c o u r s e , b u t y o u o u g h t to r e a d it. R e a d it this v a c . '
1 3

the

I n e v i t a b l y , 'a breath o f l i b e r t y ' h a v i n g fired M a u r i c e ' s passion, the t w o

'YOU

AND

I ARE

OUTLAWS'

37 Symposium around

e m b a r k o n an affair - b u t o n e chastely c o n s t r a i n e d b y the

a n d its platonic p r o t o c o l s : ' T h e y w a l k e d a r m in a r m o r a r m

s h o u l d e r n o w . W h e n they sat it w a s nearly a l w a y s in the same p o s i t i o n - M a u r i c e in a chair, a n d D u r h a m at his feet, l e a n i n g against h i m . I n the w o r l d o f their friends this attracted n o n o t i c e . M a u r i c e w o u l d stroke D u r h a m ' s h a i r . '
14

It is n o t altogether surprising that the y o u n g m e n ' s sedate b e h a v i o u r 'attracted n o n o t i c e ' - n o r that the r e a d e r is a c t i v e l y e n c o u r a g e d to b e l i e v e that M a u r i c e rather w i s h e s that it w o u l d . ' " Y o u a n d I are o u d a w s , " ' h e tells D u r h a m , optimistically, o n o n e o c c a s i o n . ' " A l l this" - h e p o i n t e d to the middle-class c o m f o r t o f the r o o m - " w o u l d b e taken f r o m us i f p e o p l e k n e w . " '
1 5

T h i s is the t h e m e w h i c h F o r s t e r acceptable,

w i s h e s to e x p l o r e . E x p l i c i t l y , in Maurice h e pits sedate,

socratic, h a i r - s t r o k i n g n o t i o n s o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y against a m u c h m o r e carnal reality in e x a c t l y the same w a y as D . H . L a w r e n c e w a s to test the ideal o f L o v e o n the a n n e a l i n g - s t o n e o f s e x in Lady Lover Chatterley's ( 1 9 2 8 ) . It w a s o n l y b e c a u s e C o n s t a n c e C h a t t e r l e y w a s s u c h a

' g o o d f u c k ' that h e r husband's g a m e k e e p e r , M e l l o r s , s t a y e d w i t h h e r (and v i c e versa). M o r e d e c o r o u s l y than L a w r e n c e , F o r s t e r pursues this reality in Maurice. ( T e l l i n g l y , the w o r d ' f u c k ' o c c u r s o n l y o n c e in the n o v e l - but that is o n c e m o r e than in the w h o l e o f the oeuvre w h i c h w a s p u b l i s h e d in his lifetime.) M a u r i c e H a l l w a n t s that same g o o d fuck, a n d it q u i c k l y b e c o m e s apparent that h e is n o t g o i n g to get it from C l i v e . D o w n f r o m C a m bridge, pursuing independent careers in the C i t y a n d at the B a r respectively, the m e n rapidly fall into a c o n v e n i e n t b u t asexual a n d frustratingly s u b u r b a n respectability: M a u r i c e ' s habits b e c a m e regular. H e ate a large breakfast a n d c a u g h t the 8.36 to t o w n . In the train h e read the Daily afternoon. Returning home, Telegraph. He the w o r k e d until 1 . 0 0 , l u n c h e d l i g h d y , a n d w o r k e d again t h r o u g h

he h a d s o m e e x e r c i s e a n d a large

dinner, a n d in the e v e n i n g h e read the e v e n i n g paper, o r laid d o w n the l a w , o r p l a y e d billiards o r b r i d g e . B u t e v e r y W e d n e s d a y h e slept at C l i v e ' s little flat in t o w n . W e e k ends w e r e also i n v i o l a b l e . T h e y said at h o m e w o u l d be most a n n o y e d . '
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' Y o u must

never He

interfere w i t h M a u r i c e ' s W e d n e s d a y s o r w i t h his w e e k e n d s .

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O u t w a r d l y , the t w o l i v e ' l i k e o t h e r m e n ' a n d h a v e 'as m u c h happiness as m e n u n d e r [their] star can e x p e c t ' : ' W h a t a solid y o u n g citizen [ M a u r i c e ] l o o k e d - quiet, h o n o u r a b l e , p r o s p e r o u s w i t h o u t v u l g a r i t y . O n s u c h does E n g l a n d r e l y , ' Forster c o m m e n t s . B u t there, a l o n g w i t h his later d e p i c t i o n o f M a u r i c e a n d C l i v e ' s pat, c o n v e n t i o n a l v e r s i o n o f b a c h e l o r ' p e r f e c t i o n ' , h e is at his m o s t scornfully i r o n i c . H i s portrait o f their relationship is o n l y t o o r e d o l e n t o f the crusty, p i p e s - s l i p p e r s housekeeper-and-no-questions relationships enjoyed by Sherlock Pygmalion H o l m e s a n d D r W a t s o n in A r t h u r C o n a n D o y l e ' s stories a n d H e n r y H i g g i n s a n d C o l o n e l P i c k e r i n g in G e o r g e B e r n a r d S h a w ' s ( 1 9 1 2 ) . It is all a s h a m , Forster is saying; a n d in the final chapters o f the n o v e l h e wastes n o t i m e in shattering it w i t h a p o w e r f u l plea for h o n e s t y , o p e n n e s s a n d s e x u a l liberation. M a u r i c e , the ' O u d a w ' , rebels against all that an increasingly straitl a c e d , puritanical C l i v e stands for. In particular h e c o m e s to hate his f o r m e r friend's d i s h o n e s t y a n d s e l f - d e c e p t i o n - the w a y in w h i c h h e denies his o w n ' c r i m i n a l m o r b i d i t y ' ; his insistence that 'the sole e x c u s e for a n y relationship b e t w e e n m e n is that it r e m a i n p u r e l y p l a t o n i c ' ; his s c h o o l m a s t e r l y , A r n o l d i a n n o t i o n s o f 'the ideal m a n chaste w i t h a s c e t i c i s m ' . F o r s t e r c o l l u d e s in all this b y c o n s i g n i n g C l i v e to a l i v i n g hell ( ' H e has a n n o y e d m e , ' h e notes). H e marries h i m o f f to a girl called A n n e a n d i n t o a d o m e s t i c i t y that is ' t e m p e r a t e a n d graceful'. O n c e again, the i r o n y is h e a v y a n d deliberate. T h e n o v e l gives g h a s d y glimpses o f a m a r r i a g e in w h i c h , u n l i k e m a n l y C a m b r i d g e 'sets' o r even Bloomsbury drawing rooms 'much could never be mentioned. [ C l i v e ] n e v e r s a w [ A n n e ] n a k e d , n o r she h i m . T h e y i g n o r e d r e p r o d u c t i v e a n d the d i g e s t i v e functions.' the

T h e r e w e r e , o f c o u r s e , forces far stronger than the m e r e dictates o f the p l o t a n d an author's n e e d for a ' h a p p y e n d i n g ' b e h i n d all this. O u t o f s h e e r personal p a i n a n d l o n g i n g , in M a u r i c e H a l l the r e s e r v e d a n d reticent Forster c r e a t e d almost the e x a c t antithesis o f himself. M a u r i c e w a s ' s o m e o n e h a n d s o m e , healthy, b o d i l y attractive, m e n t a l l y torpid, n o t a b a d business m a n a n d rather a s n o b ' .
1 7

H e w a s Forster's p a r a d i g m

o f the ' i d e a l ' h o m o s e x u a l ( t h o u g h far, as w e shall see, from his o w n c o n c e p t o f the ideal m a n ) . R e t r o s p e c t i v e l y , w e can also see h i m as the first c o n v i n c i n g l y real h o m o s e x u a l h e r o o f t w e n t i e t h - c e n t u r y fiction.

' Y O U

A N D

A R E

O U T L A W S '

39

H e is as fully r o u n d e d as A Passage to India's D r A z i z - and, c r u c i a l l y , he goes through the s a m e dark nights o f fear a n d self-loathing as c o m p a r a b l e real-life figures o f his a g e a n d class. H e sees d o c t o r s , h o p i n g for a ' c u r e ' that w i l l m a k e h i m j u s t as ' n o r m a l ' as C l i v e . ' M i g h t it n o t b e better to alter [ m y ] t e m p e r a m e n t a n d t o e the l i n e ? ' h e asks himself, a d d i n g that h e has ' o n l y to k e e p a w a y from b o y s a n d y o u n g m e n ' . B u t h e c a n n o t a n d , increasingly l o n e l y a n d solipsistic o n c e h e has a c c e p t e d that C l i v e is n o l o n g e r interested in h i m , h e d e c i s i v e l y t h r o w s o f f the subfusc in a desperate search for the ' p e r f e c t i o n ' w h i c h o n l y o n e o f those ' b e l o v e d ' b o y s o r y o u n g m e n can b r i n g . In a m a n n e r in w h i c h his creator c o u l d not, this ' u n s p e a k a b l e o f the O s c a r W i l d e sort' takes his life (or certainly his liberty) in his hands a n d sets o u t to crash t h r o u g h the barriers o f class a n d c o n v e n t i o n i n t o e l e m e n t a l territory w h e r e , h e is sure, happiness a n d fulfilment are to b e f o u n d . ' P e r h a p s ' , h e tells himself, ' a m o n g those w h o t o o k to the g r e e n w o o d in o l d t i m e there h a d b e e n t w o m e n l i k e h i m s e l f - t w o . A t times h e the d r e a m . T w o m e n can defy the w o r l d . '
1 8

entertained

It is at this p o i n t that F o r s t e r k n o w i n g l y takes Maurice, t o o , i n t o the r e a l m o f dreams (or at least o f the unpublishable) a n d the b o o k b e c o m e s a personal manifesto. Its final chapters tell h o w , d u r i n g a family w e e k e n d , the n e w l y e m b o l d e n e d M a u r i c e o n l y n a r r o w l y s u c c e e d s in s u b d u i n g s u d d e n , fiercely s e x u a l l o n g i n g s for a t e e n a g e d f e l l o w - g u e s t . It is a close call, a n d o n e that finally confronts M a u r i c e (and the reader) w i t h an u n s e t d i n g l y g r a p h i c v i e w o f the c h a s m w h i c h separates r o m a n tic notions o f ' o u d a w s ' a n d 'the b e l o v e d ' from w h a t w e w o u l d s o o n learn to call the ' F r e u d i a n ' urges o f ' t h e w i l d w o o d ' . ' W a s it', M a u r i c e w o r r i e s , appalled at this i n d i c a t i o n o f the real nature o f his p r o c l i v i t i e s , ' c o n c e i v a b l e that o n S u n d a y last h e h a d n e a r l y assaulted a b o y ? ' W e l l , y e s . B r a v e l y a n d u n i q u e l y , in the f e w p a g e s h e d e v o t e s t o this e p i s o d e Forster w a s addressing o n e possibly the greatest o f the h o m o p h o b i c prejudices w h i c h h a d b e e n g i v e n n e w c u r r e n c y b y the arrest a n d c o n v i c t i o n o f O s c a r W i l d e less than t w e n t y years p r e v i o u s l y . T h e n o t i o n that t h e r e w a s an essentially p a e d o p h i l i a c side t o h o m o sexual b e h a v i o u r h a d b e e n o n e o f the canards w h i c h lay b e h i n d m a n y o f the p u b l i c reports o f the W i l d e trials. ' W e r e these y o u n g m e n all a b o u t t w e n t y ? ' the f o r t y - y e a r - o l d W i l d e h a d b e e n asked. ' Y e s ; t w e n t y o r t w e n t y - t w o . I l i k e the society o f y o u n g m e n , ' h e h a d guilelessly replied. T h a t b r o u g h t it into the p u b l i c consciousness, b u t it h a d n e v e r

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b e e n far from the h o m o s e x u a l sensibility. ( T h e cant w o r d ' c h i c k e n ' , g e n e r a l l y a p p l i e d to a c h i l d o f either g e n d e r for at least t w o centuries, b e c a m e an e n d u r i n g part o f h o m o s e x u a l argot as a specific description o f an u n d e r - a g e catamite at a r o u n d this time.) I m a g e s o f a G a n y m e d e - w e m i g h t almost say a B o s i e - a beautiful, c o m p l i a n t , c u p - b e a r e r to an older, m o r e p o w e r f u l m a n , r u n t h r o u g h literature from classical times to the present. A s r e c e n d y as 1 9 8 0 Powers w i t h the breathA n t h o n y B u r g e s s b e g a n his n o v e l Earthly

t a k i n g l y a u d a c i o u s s e n t e n c e : 'It w a s the afternoon o f m y eighty-first b i r t h d a y , a n d I w a s in b e d w i t h m y catamite w h e n A l i a n n o u n c e d that the a r c h b i s h o p h a d c o m e to see m e . ' A g e n e r a t i o n earlier, in his a u t o b i o g r a p h y The World, the Flesh and Myself, M i c h a e l D a v i d s o n h a d g o n e , i f a n y t h i n g , e v e n farther in a frank d e f e n c e o f his o w n p r o clivities. S o m e w h a t u n c o n v i n c i n g l y , h e p u t it all d o w n to an i n v e t e r a t e ' m o t h e r l i n e s s ' , the b r o o d y fussiness w i t h w h i c h I ' v e c o d d l e d all m y b o y s - p l a g u i n g t h e m a b o u t w a r m u n d e r c l o t h e s o r c h a n g i n g their w e t socks, a n d t r y i n g to ' f e e d t h e m u p ' after they w e r e already full [.'..] I k n o w that in all m y relationships, o t h e r than the m o s t casual, I ' v e b e e n d r i v e n j u s t as m u c h b y a passionate p r o t e c t i v e n e s s as b y s e x u a l interest the s e c o n d , for all I k n o w , m a y b e an e x t e n s i o n o f the first, as a m o t h e r gets sensual pleasure o u t o f s u c k l i n g . A n d e v e n d u r i n g actual b o d i l y play, my pleasure b e y o n d the m e n t a l j o y o f s e e i n g a n d t o u c h i n g , w h i c h is intense t h e w h o l e p r o c e s s seems absurd a n d p o i n d e s s .
19

c o m e s f r o m a c o n s u m m a t e p r i v i t y to his pleasure; i f that's absent,

I n the years i m m e d i a t e l y f o l l o w i n g the W i l d e trials the p u b l i c a t i o n o f material s u c h as this w o u l d h a v e b e e n u n t h i n k a b l e . W i l d e ' s c o u r t r o o m o n e - l i n e r s w e r e in t h e m s e l v e s r a w r e m i n d e r s o f the recently d i s c o v e r e d ' l o a t h s o m e ' side o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y : s o m e w h a t surprisingly, A . E . H o u s m a n ' s rather d i s i n g e n u o u s references to ' l o v e l y lads' in A Shropshire in 1 8 9 6 . F o r s t e r c a n n o t quite b r i n g h i m s e l f to d e n y the potential o f the Z e u s G a n y m e d e m o d e l as the basis o f a h o m o s e x u a l relationship in I n d e e d , b r i e f as it is, his a c c o u n t o f his h e r o ' s m o m e n t a r y Maurice. temptation Lad s e e m i n g l y w e n t u n r e m a r k e d w h e n the c o l l e c t i o n w a s first p u b l i s h e d

b y the a m b i v a l e n t l y d r a w n a n d s e e m i n g l y c o m p l a i s a n t ' s c h o o l b o y ' D i c k i e B a r r y is the m o s t e x p l i c i t l y ' e r o t i c ' passage in the b o o k . It ,

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describes h o w , o n e S u n d a y m o r n i n g , M a u r i c e w a s sent u p to y o u n g s t e r ' s b e d r o o m to rouse h i m for breakfast. H e w e n t ' w i t h the tread o f an o l d e r m a n ' a n d o p e n e d the d o o r : T h e b o y , w h o h a d b e e n to a d a n c e the n i g h t b e f o r e , asleep. H e lay w i t h his limbs u n c o v e r e d . He lay

upstairs

remained the he

unashamed,

e m b r a c e d a n d p e n e t r a t e d b y the sun. T h e lips w e r e parted, c o u n d e s s glories, the b o d y w a s a delicate a m b e r . T o a n y o n e t w o paths h e b e c a m e the W o r l d ' s d e s i r e .
20

d o w n o n the u p p e r w a s t o u c h e d w i t h g o l d , the h a i r b r o k e n i n t o w o u l d h a v e s e e m e d beautiful, a n d to M a u r i c e w h o r e a c h e d h i m b y

' U n c o v e r e d ' , 'unashamed', 'embraced', 'penetrated', 'glories', 'beauti ful', ' d e s i r e ' . . . the sheer lushness o f the v o c a b u l a r y c o n v e y s the p o w e r - and i m p o r t a n c e - o f w h a t Forster is t r y i n g to say. M a u r i c e is attracted to the b o y , a n d for the w h o l e o f that S u n d a y it s e e m s l i k e l y that h e w i l l y i e l d to t e m p t a t i o n . In the afternoon h e ' g o t a r m in a r m w i t h [ D i c k i e ] , a n d e x t r a c t e d a p r o m i s e for tea. It w a s k e p t . ' T h e r e w a s o n e further tryst, t o o : T h e y m e t o n c e m o r e at m i d n i g h t . [. . .] T h e v a r i e t y o f d e v e l o p m e n t s are endless, a n d it so h a p p e n e d that [ D i c k i e ] u n d e r s t o o d the situation perfectly. I f H a l l insisted, h e w o u l d n o t k i c k u p a r o w , b u t h e h a d rather not: h e felt l i k e that a b o u t it. ' I ' m a b o v e , ' p a n t e d M a u r i c e , n o t daring. ' I n the attic o v e r this i f y o u w a n t a n y t h i n g all n i g h t a l o n e . I a l w a y s a m . ' D i c k i e ' s i m p u l s e w a s to b o l t the d o o r after h i m , b u t h e dismissed it as unsoldierly, a n d a w o k e t o the ringing o f the breakfast b e l l ,
21

w i t h the sun o n his face a n d his m i n d w a s h e d c l e a n .

'It so h a p p e n e d . . .': there is a c u r i o u s , fairy-tale patness a b o u t

the

w a y in w h i c h Forster saves M a u r i c e f r o m himself. It was a close call; a n d b y the f o l l o w i n g F r i d a y M a u r i c e is p r o f o u n d l y grateful for D i c k i e ' s bluff d e c e n c y a n d a g o n i z i n g o v e r the reasons w h i c h lay b e h i n d w h a t h a d so nearly h a p p e n e d : H i s feeling for D i c k i e r e q u i r e d a v e r y p r i m i t i v e n a m e . H e w o u l d h a v e sentimentalized o n c e a n d called it a d o r a t i o n , b u t t h e habit o f h o n e s t y h a d g r o w n strong. W h a t a stoat h e h a d b e e n ! P o o r litde D i c k i e ! H e s a w the b o y l e a p i n g f r o m his e m b r a c e , to smash t h r o u g h

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the w i n d o w a n d b r e a k his limbs, o r y e l l i n g l i k e a m a n i a c until help c a m e . H e s a w the p o l i c e ' L u s t ' . H e said the w o r d o u t l o u d .
2 2

W i t h i n litde m o r e than t h r e e pages Forster thus b o t h discusses a n d dismisses the idea o f b o y - l o v e : h a d his w o r d s a p p e a r e d in print m o r e immediately, they might even have g o n e s o m e w a y towards disen t a n g l i n g the f r e q u e n d y m a l i c i o u s y o k i n g o f pederasty a n d h o m o s e x u a l ity w h i c h w a s an e n d u r i n g feature o f n e w s p a p e r reports o f h o m o s e x u a l cases in the p o s t - W i l d e era. It is frankly a n d almost matter-of-facdy d o n e n o t least b e c a u s e the subject w a s o f little interest to h i m . It is clear from P . N . F u r b a n k ' s E. M. Forster a n d o t h e r b i o g r a p h i c a l material b o t h m o d e r n a n d c o n t e m p o r a r y that the likes o f D i c k i e B a r r y h e l d little a p p e a l for F o r s t e r himself. N o r , as Maurice m a k e s clear, d i d ' l o v e l y lads' e v e n h a v e m u c h o f a place in his d r e a m w o r l d w h e r e ' t w o m e n s h o u l d fall in l o v e for the e v e r a n d e v e r ' . Ironically, the differentiation b e t w e e n h o m o s e x u a l i t y a n d pederasty w h i c h a V i c t o r i a n o r E d w a r d i a n w o u l d h a v e m a d e is easier to appreciate n o w than it w o u l d h a v e b e e n a g e n e r a t i o n o r m o r e a g o . In the w a k e o f the d e c r i m i n a l i z a t i o n o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y in 1 9 6 7 , the e m e r g e n c e o f A I D S a n d the e v e n m o r e r e c e n t p u b l i c c o n c e r n at the possible e x t e n t o f c h i l d s e x abuse, b o t h subjects h a v e r e c e i v e d c o n s i d e r a b l e m e d i a attention, w i t h the result that the i g n o r a n t o r s o m e t i m e s wilful c o n f u s i o n o f the t w o is m a r k e d l y less w i d e s p r e a d than it u s e d to b e . H e r e a n d in the f o l l o w i n g pages it is i m p o r t a n t to m a i n t a i n this distinction. W h a t e v e r else t h e y w e r e , a n d in c o m m o n w i t h the o t h e r m e n featured in this b o o k , W i l d e a n d L o r d A r t h u r S o m e r s e t w e r e n o t pederasts. B o s i e , C h a r l e s P a r k e r a n d the was wretched procession o f Post Office 'boys' and valets with w h o m their n a m e s w e r e l i n k e d w e r e in their late teens o r o l d e r ( B o s i e t w e n t y - o n e , for instance, a n d P a r k e r e i g h t e e n ) w h e n they first b e c a m e i n v o l v e d w i t h t h e m . Similarly, the m a j o r i t y o f A . E . H o u s m a n ' s ' l o v e l y lads' w e r e s e r v i n g soldiers, w h i l e e v e n their Sicilian contemporaries, the Taormina 'peasant-boys' whom Baron von Gloeden ( 1 8 5 6 - 1 9 3 1 ) photographed plainly p o s t - p u b e r t a l . Far m o r e central to the idea o f the ' l o v e l y l a d ' a n d the w h o l e n o t i o n o f ' m a n l o v e ' t h e n , as n o w , w a s the l o w e r - c l a s s o r i g i n o f the ' l o v e d in ' S o c r a t i c ' poses, w e r e v e r y

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o n e ' . I n d e e d , the appeal o f ' a bit o f r o u g h ' o r ' r o u g h trade' in g e n e r a l a n d the risks o f a physical relationship man which w i t h a s e x u a l l y pliable but simultaneously you working-class y o u n g transcends

reinforces class b o u n d a r i e s has a l w a y s b e e n central to the h o m o s e x u a l e x p e r i e n c e . W i l d e , again, e n j o y e d 'feasting w i t h panthers' - 'Did know that Parker was a gentleman's servant out of employment?' - and he

w a s n e i t h e r the first nor, despite e v e r y t h i n g , the last. C l o s e r to o u r o w n times, J . R . A c k e r l e y , T o m D r i b e r g , W . H . A u d e n , C h r i s t o p h e r I s h e r w o o d , B e v e r l e y N i c h o l s , D e n t o n W e l c h a n d m a n y others f o u n d c o n s o l a t i o n , i f n o t real l o v e , d o w n in 'the w i l d w o o d ' . I n d e e d , the w a l k - o n role o f the frequently a n o n y m o u s 'little l a d ' , the ' g o l d e n b o y ' , the ' b a b y - b o y ' o r the u b i q u i t o u s 'secretary' is o n e o f the c e n t u r y ' s m o s t e n d u r i n g . F i n a n c i a l l y v u l n e r a b l e , frequently u n e m p l o y e d , these i n a m o r ati w e r e ' a v a i l a b l e ' , 'to b e h a d ' ( ' T B H ' in the parlance o f the day) and, t h o u g h often fundamentally h e t e r o s e x u a l , w i l l i n g l y c o m p l a i s a n t . T h e r e w e r e , famously, g u a r d s m e n to b e h a d in L o n d o n ; b u t t h e r e w e r e also t r a m - d r i v e r s , lift-boys, waiters, b a r m e n , sailors a n d (in Forster's case) p o l i c e m e n . U n i f o r m s c o n f e r r e d special status - as J o h n G a m b r i l N i c h o l s o n ' s p o e m ' Y o u r C i t y C o u s i n ' ( i n c l u d e d in a 1 9 1 1 c o l l e c t i o n called A Garland of Ladslove) h a d m a d e v e r y clear:

S m a r t l o o k i n g lads are in m y l i n e ; T h e lad that gives m y shoes a shine, T h e lad that w o r k s the lift b e l o w , T h a t lad that's lettered G P O . O u t o f t o w n , the r o u g h , m a n l y t w e e d s a n d c o r d u r o y s o f agricultural w o r k e r s (far m o r e n u m e r o u s b e f o r e the S e c o n d W o r l d W a r than t h e y are today) also h a d their appeal. W i t h all the l e a d e n sentimentality o f G a m b r i l N i c h o l s o n , in 1 8 6 6 an a n o n y m o u s c o u n t r y s q u i r e h a d w r i t t e n : A m o n g the y e o m e n ' s sons o n m y estate A gentle b o y w o u l d at m y m a n s i o n w a i t : A n d n o w that t i m e has almost b l a n c h e d m y hair, A n d w i t h the past the present I c o m p a r e ; Full w e l l I k n o w , t h o u g h d e c e n c y f o r b a d e T h e same caresses to the rustic lad, L o v e , l o v e it w a s that m a d e m y eyes d e l i g h t T o h a v e this p e r s o n e v e r in m y sight.

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M o r e than h a l f a c e n t u r y later, the w r i t e r D e n t o n W e l c h recalled h o w , as an e i g h t e e n - y e a r - o l d in the s u m m e r o f 1 9 3 3 , h e h a d g o n e alone o n a w a l k i n g t o u r o f the W e s t C o u n t r y . A s i x t e e n - y e a r - o l d farmer's b o y h a d rebuffed his a d v a n c e s , b u t t h e n a y o u n g farmer riding 'a h u g e h o r s e ' s t o p p e d h i m . W o u l d n ' t h e l i k e to j u m p u p a n d h a v e a ride? W e l c h did, a n d f o u n d h i m s e l f settled in front o f the saddle, b e t w e e n the farmer's legs: ' I c o u l d smell his clothes - the m i n g l e d t o b a c c o , b e e r , h o n e a n d s w e a t that c l u n g to t h e m ; a n d I c o u l d tell h o w hot h e w a s , for I w a s pressed h a r d against h i m as h e r e a c h e d r o u n d for the reins. I c o u l d e v e n feel his heart b e a t i n g i n t o m y b a c k [.-.] I felt the h a r d press o f his thighs a n d legs a l o n g m y o w n . '
2 3

' F u n k i n g o f i n t i m a c y ' , Forster n o t e d in 1 9 5 1 w h e n h e read an u n p u b lished v e r s i o n o f W e l c h ' s j o u r n a l s w h i c h i n c l u d e d that passage. A n d w i t h s o m e justification: a third o f a c e n t u r y (and t w o w o r l d wars) p r e v i o u s l y , h e h a d easily bettered w h a t h e called W e l c h ' s t o n e o f ' s h a m - i n n o c e n c e and cock-teasiness'.
24

T h e final chapters o f Maurice form o f proprietorialism.

h a d e x p l o r e d the true nature o f w h a t w a s , a n d h a d n e v e r b e e n o t h e r than, a class-based, essentially p r e d a t o r y o f that w o r k i n g - c l a s s , Cold thighs'. O n the surface this seems p e r v e r s e . Maurice w a s , after all, w r i t t e n a y e a r o r m o r e b e f o r e W e l c h w a s so m u c h as b o r n . B u t it is a mistake t o assume that ' g a y l i b e r a t i o n ' a d v a n c e d o n a s m o o t h , accelerating c u r v e w h i c h b r o u g h t it from the nadir o f the 1 8 9 0 s to the relative t o l e r a n c e a n d c o m m e r c i a l success it c a m e to e n j o y in the 1 9 7 0 s a n d early 1 9 8 0 s , b e f o r e the identification in B r i t a i n o f the h u m a n i m m u n o d e f i c i e n c y virus ( H I V ) a n d the first reports o f deaths related to A c q u i r e d I m m u n o d e f i c i e n c y S y n d r o m e ( A I D S ) b o t h shattered c o n f i d e n c e a n d b o l s t e r e d p o p u l a r p r e j u d i c e . A n d , as w e h a v e already seen, it is an e v e n b i g g e r m i s t a k e to see h o m o s e x u a l m e n as h a v i n g e v e r b e e n a c o h e s i v e g r o u p w i t h i n s o c i e t y . T h i s is the e r r o r N o l P e m b e r t o n B i l l i n g m a d e in l u m p i n g t o g e t h e r his p r i v y c o u n c i l l o r s a n d ' y o u t h s o f the c h o r u s ' a m o n g ' T h e First 4 7 , 0 0 0 ' . E v e n a m o n g the o u t l a w s there w a s a l w a y s s q u a b b l i n g in the c a m p . I f the Forster o f 1 9 5 1 n o w sounds T h e y h a d d e s c r i b e d the reality w h i c h lay b e h i n d W e l c h ' s e v o c a t i o n Comfort Farm-ish scent o f t o b a c c o , b e e r , h o r s e a n d s w e a t a n d his s u g g e s t i v e m e n t i o n o f the ' h a r d press o f his

'YOU

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45 what

a v u n c u l a r l y knowing,

even condescending,

in his r e a c t i o n to

W e l c h h a d w r i t t e n (and W e l c h h a d d i e d in 1 9 4 8 ) , it is i m p o r t a n t to n o t e that, irrespective o f the a g e difference b e t w e e n t h e m , the t w o m e n sprang from m a r k e d l y different traditions. T o Forster, W e l c h must h a v e s e e m e d maladroit, an ingrate, a c o c k - t e a s e r for w h o m thighs w e r e o n l y thighs a n d s e x w a s o n l y s e x . A s Maurice m a k e s clear, m o r e than a d e c a d e b e f o r e W e l c h w a s e v e n a p p r o a c h i n g a d o l e s c e n c e a w h o l l y different h o m o s e x u a l i t y h a d e m e r g e d ; o n e w h i c h , a l t h o u g h it e m b r a c e d the ideal o f the ' g o l d e n b o y ' , e v e n in the early years o f this c e n t u r y s t o o d o u t in stark contrast to the effete, effusions o f A e s t h e t i c i s m . T h e n o v e l c o n c l u d e s w i t h a h y m n to the v e r y ' i n t i m a c y ' in w h i c h W e l c h ' s faux-naf innocence plays n o part. It is an e c o m i u m to c o r d u r o y s , to the r o u g h a n d t o the same w i l d w o o d w h i c h D . H . L a w r e n c e w o u l d u n w i t t i n g l y e c h o a d e c a d e later in Lady Chatterley's Louer. W e h a v e to rejoin the story in C h a p t e r X X X V I I : m o n t h s after his n e a r - c a l a m i t o u s e n c o u n t e r w i t h D i c k i e , M a u r i c e is s p e n d i n g a w e e k e n d w i t h C l i v e a n d A n n e at P e n g e . O n e night h e t h r o w s o p e n his b e d r o o m w i n d o w in a m e l o d r a m a t i c attempt o n c e m o r e to b e c o m e 'the o u d a w ' , to cut t h r o u g h the ' r u b bish' o f his life a n d reach the reality o f that w i l d w o o d , to n o science c o u l d r e a c h ' . T h r o u g h this w i n d o w climbs A l e c S c u d d e r , u n d e r - g a m e k e e p e r know . . . I know.' T h e t w o e n j o y a passionate night t o g e t h e r , b u t the social a n d class differences b e t w e e n t h e m seems to p r e c l u d e the possibility o f their d e v e l o p i n g a d e e p e r relationship. E v e n as h e sets u p his h a p p y e n d i n g , Forster remains surprisingly l e v e l - h e a d e d . O n c e w e a r r i v e there, h e a l l o w s the realities o f life in 'the w i l d w o o d ' to speak for themselves: there is - and, h e implies, there a l w a y s w o u l d b e of rough: ' M a y I ask y o u r n a m e ? ' [ M a u r i c e ] said a w k w a r d l y . 'I'm Scudder.' 'I k n o w y o u ' r e S c u d d e r - I m e a n t y o u r o t h e r n a m e . ' 'Only Alec just.' an uneasiness a n d inequality in M a u r i c e ' s relationship w i t h his c h o s e n bit on the P e n g e estate. ' S i r , w a s y o u calling o u t for m e ? ' h e says. ' S i r , I connect w i t h ' l o v e - nobility - b i g spaces w h e r e passion clasped p e a c e , spaces

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' J o l l y n a m e to h a v e . ' 'It's o n l y m y n a m e . ' ' I ' m called M a u r i c e . '


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It's p r o p r i e t y versus p a g a n i s m , p r o s e versus passion, n u r t u r e versus n a t u r e . M a u r i c e is t o o cautious and, after the i n c i d e n t w i t h D i c k i e , c a n n o t trust h i m s e l f to see S c u d d e r again. S c u d d e r , in turn, is o n l y days a w a y f r o m e m i g r a t i n g to A r g e n t i n a . C o n f u s i o n and a r g u e ; t h e n o n the d e c k o f the S S Normannia consternation where - first at the B r i t i s h M u s e u m , w h e r e they arrange to m e e t , b u t o n l y in S o u t h a m p t o n , it is d i s c o v e r e d that S c u d d e r has n o t taken u p his b e r t h . . . R e u n i o n a n d a tentative r e c o n c i l i a t i o n take place b a c k at P e n g e w h e r e the t w o m e n r e d i s c o v e r e a c h o t h e r for that h a p p y e n d i n g : ' N o w w e shan't b e p a r t e d n o m o r e , ' S c u d d e r says, ' a n d that's finished.'

R e - r e a d t o d a y , Maurice c o m e s o v e r as a c o m p l e x a n d c o n f u s e d p i e c e o f w o r k . E s c h e w i n g the c o m p l a c e n c y o f A Room with a View, it is n e i t h e r a 'trade' n o v e l calculated to please the p r e - G r e a t W a r patrons o f B o o t s ' a n d M u d i e ' s subscription libraries n o r a tale r a u n c h y e n o u g h to satisfy the tastes o f a readership for w h o m , b y the t i m e o f its e v e n t u a l p u b l i c a t i o n in 1 9 7 1 , the t e r m 'trade' had taken o n a w h o l e n e w m e a n i n g . It s h o u l d not, h o w e v e r , b e lightly dismissed. T h e half-century gap b e t w e e n its c o m p o s i t i o n a n d p u b l i c a t i o n e x a c d y matches the p r o l o n g e d p a r t u r i t i o n a n d painful c o m i n g - o f - a g e o f the t w e n t i e t h - c e n t u r y B r i t i s h h o m o s e x u a l . A n d the fact that - u n l i k e , say, The Loom of Youth - it w a s n o t w r i t t e n for the m a r k e t gives it a special v a l u e . It is a prison diary, an h o n e s t a n d o n l y - r e c e n d y - d i s c o v e r e d a c c o u n t o f ' h o w it w a s t h e n ' . In the character o f M a u r i c e H a l l it reveals the g u l f w h i c h lay b e t w e e n w h a t early t w e n t i e t h - c e n t u r y society h a d lately c o m e to e x p e c t o f the u p p e r m i d d l e - c l a s s ( h o m o s e x u a l ) m a n ' i n d o o r s w a s his place a n d t h e r e h e ' d m o u l d e r , a respectable pillar o f s o c i e t y w h o has n e v e r h a d the c h a n c e to m i s b e h a v e ' - a n d the secret ' o u d a w ' r o l e w h i c h that s a m e s o c i e t y ' s attitudes a n d his o w n ' i n v e r s i o n ' f o r c e d h i m to adopt. Less successfully (largely, it has to b e said, b e c a u s e o f Forster's inability t o create c o n v i n c i n g w o r k i n g - c l a s s characters), it also e x a m i n e s the p o w e r f u l appeal a n d i n h e r e n t instability o f inter-class relationships a n d in d o i n g so t o u c h e s o n a far w i d e r issue. -

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' O n l y c o n n e c t ' w a s a l w a y s Forster's m e s s a g e . H e h a d m a d e it e x p l i c i t in his earlier n o v e l Howards End ( 1 9 1 0 ) : ' O n l y c o n n e c t , the p r o s e a n d the passion'. N o w h e w a s descanting o n the t h e m e a n d i m p r o v i s i n g o n the idea o f a future - a ' H a p p i e r Y e a r ' - in w h i c h it w o u l d b e possible to b e true to oneself, c o m p l e t e , a n d e n j o y a p h y s i c a l c o n n e c tion w i t h the c o m p a n i o n o f one's choice w h i c h s o m e h o w went b e y o n d D e n t o n W e l c h ' s scx-qua-sex v i e w o f things a n d r e a c h e d a l m o s t

spiritual heights. In the p e n u l t i m a t e c h a p t e r of Maurice the e p o n y m o u s h e r o has almost g o t there; h e is certainly in the foothills: H i s j o u r n e y w a s nearly o v e r . H e w a s b o u n d f o r his n e w h o m e . H e h a d b r o u g h t o u t the m a n in A l e c , a n d n o w it w a s A l e c ' s turn to b r i n g o u t the h e r o in h i m . H e k n e w w h a t the call w a s , a n d w h a t his a n s w e r m u s t b e . T h e y m u s t l i v e outside class, w i t h o u t relations o r m o n e y ; t h e y m u s t w o r k a n d stick to e a c h o t h e r till death. B u t E n g l a n d b e l o n g e d to t h e m . T h a t , besides c o m p a n i o n s h i p , w a s their reward.
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I f all this n o w sounds sentimentally unrealistic, it is b e c a u s e w e h a v e c o m e a l o n g w a y from the i m m e d i a t e p o s t - W i l d e a n w o r l d . T h e r e is n o o n e alive n o w w h o w a s adult then; n o o n e w h o c a n testify to the telling, i f a d m i t t e d l y small-scale, E d w a r d i a n r e c r u d e s c e n c e o f the o p e n sexuality w h i c h h a d characterized the early 1 8 9 0 s a n d w o u l d not e m e r g e again until the 1 9 6 0 s . In retrospect w e can p o i n t to the e m e r g e n c e o f F r e u d a n d M a r i e S t o p e s , a n d try t o s h o w h o w the c l i m a t e o f the times h a d e m b o l d e n e d D . H . L a w r e n c e . W e can search the a u t o b i o g r a p h i e s a n d p r i v a t e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e o f the p e r i o d , b u t ( w i t h the d u b i o u s e x c e p t i o n o f the flamboyantly h e t e r o s e x u a l F r a n k Harris's) they are d i s c r e e d y , legally a n o d y n e . Maurice remains a u n i q u e w o r k in the h o m o s e x u a l c a n o n b e c a u s e it attempts to capture a n d m a k e c o n c r e t e s o m e t h i n g that w a s n e v e r m o r e than an u n d e r - t o w . L i k e so m a n y currents, h o w e v e r , it w a s m i g h t i l y p o w e r f u l . I n literature it d r a g g e d at G e o r g e B e r n a r d S h a w a n d w a s e v e n t u a l l y to s h i p w r e c k L a w r e n c e o n a r e e f o f critical a n d legal c o n t r o v e r s y . B e f o r e it d i d so, h o w e v e r , it w a s L a w r e n c e w h o , e v e n m o r e v i v i d l y than Forster, best b r o u g h t it t o life. Outwardly g r o u n d e d in their author's ostensibly f e c u n d h e t e r o s e x u a l i t y ( a l t h o u g h this, like that o f E r n e s t H e m i n g w a y , has latterly b e e n the subject o f s o m e critical interest), L a w r e n c e ' s n o v e l s t o o h a v e a subtext. In Women

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in Love ( 1 9 2 1 ) G e r a l d C r i t c h a n d B i r k i n - b r o a d h e t e r o s e x u a l parallels o f M a u r i c e Hall and Scudder ' n o r m a l ' m e n , w h o also hail f r o m separate social classes, c o m e close to s w e a r i n g their u n d y i n g allegiance to e a c h o t h e r in a platonic pact inspired b y the w o r k i n g - c l a s s B i r k i n ' s s o m e w h a t u n l i k e l y enthusiasm for the ' o b s o l e t e ' m e d i e v a l G e r m a n c o n c e p t o f Blutbruderschaft ( ' b l o o d - b r o t h e r h o o d ' ) . ' W e o u g h t to s w e a r to l o v e e a c h other, y o u a n d I, i m p l i c i d y , a n d perfectly, finally, w i t h o u t a n y possibility o f g o i n g b a c k o n it,' h e tells G e r a l d . T h e latter is c o n f u s e d : ' H e l o o k e d d o w n at [ B i r k i n ] , attracted, so d e e p l y b o n d a g e d in fascinated attraction, that h e w a s mistrustful, resenting the b o n d a g e , h a t i n g the attraction.' L a t e r , h o w e v e r , b u t - tellingly - o n l y after a b o u t o f n u d e w r e s t l i n g w i t h B i r k i n , his t h o u g h t s crystallize and, quite literally, h e levels w i t h his social inferior: ' I ' v e n e v e r felt it m y s e l f n o t w h a t I s h o u l d call l o v e . I ' v e g o n e after w o m e n a n d b e e n k e e n e n o u g h o v e r s o m e o f t h e m . B u t I ' v e n e v e r felt love. I d o n ' t b e l i e v e I ' v e e v e r felt as m u c h love for a w o m a n as I h a v e for y o u - n o t Y o u understand w h a t I m e a n ? '
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love.

W r i t i n g o u t o f i m p a t i e n c e w i t h a c o n s e r v a t i v e status q u o , L a w r e n c e c o u l d say things at w h i c h the c o n g e n i t a l l y c o n s e r v a t i v e Forster c o u l d o n l y hint. B o t h , h o w e v e r , w e r e r e s p o n d i n g to the rapidly c h a n g i n g m o o d o f the times. A s w e h a v e seen, s e x , L o v e a n d love in all its forms w e r e b e g i n n i n g to b e m e n t i o n e d . E v e n the act o f w r i t i n g Maurice w a s n o a c c i d e n t . I n the ' T e r m i n a l N o t e ' w h i c h h e left to b e a p p e n d e d to the posthumously published 1 9 7 1 edition o f the novel, Forster d e s c r i b e d h o w it w a s w r i t t e n as the 'direct result' o f his a c q u a i n t a n c e ship w i t h the W h i t m a n e s q u e seer a n d s e x u a l p i o n e e r E d w a r d C a r p e n ter a n d his ' c o m r a d e ' , G e o r g e M e r r i l l . O n e i n c i d e n t in the relationship h a d m a d e a particular i m p r e s s i o n . N e a r l y h a l f a c e n t u r y later Forster w a s able to recall h o w M e r r i l l ' t o u c h e d m y b a c k s i d e gently a n d j u s t a b o v e the b u t t o c k s . I b e l i e v e h e t o u c h e d m o s t p e o p l e ' s . T h e sensation w a s u n u s u a l a n d I still r e m e m b e r it, as I r e m e m b e r the p o s i t i o n o f a l o n g v a n i s h e d t o o t h . It w a s as m u c h p s y c h o l o g i c a l as physical. It s e e m e d to g o straight t h r o u g h the small o f m y b a c k into m y ideas, w i t h o u t involving m y thoughts.'
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It is t o o easy n o w to n e g l e c t o r belitde E d w a r d C a r p e n t e r ' s

impact

o n the h o m o s e x u a l m e n left to fend for t h e m s e l v e s in the p o s t - W i l d e a n

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v a c u u m . A t the t i m e , h o w e v e r , his i n f l u e n c e w a s e n o r m o u s . In the i n d e x o f Between the Acts, a c o l l e c t i o n o f the r e m i n i s c e n c e s o f h o m o sexual m e n c o v e r i n g the years b e t w e e n 1 8 8 5 a n d 1 9 6 7 , there are six references to his n a m e ; there is o n l y o n e to W i l d e ' s . C a r p e n t e r d i d m o r e than e x p a n d the c o n c e p t a n d v o c a b u l a r y o f E d w a r d i a n sexuality. U n t i l v e r y shortly b e f o r e his death in 1 9 2 9 h e w a s a u n i q u e link b e t w e e n the t h e n e m e r g i n g B r i t i s h M o d e r n i s m a n d the avant-garde o f h a l f a c e n t u r y earlier - the F e l l o w s h i p o f the N e w Life; H . G . W e l l s , S i d n e y a n d B e a t r i c e W e b b a n d the p r o t o - s o c i a l i s t Fabian S o c i e t y ; W i l l i a m M o r r i s a n d the Arts a n d Crafts m o v e m e n t . T h e fact that h e w a s h o m o s e x u a l w a s almost incidental: his life story itself w a s almost e m b l e m a t i c . B o r n in 1 8 4 4 into a secure, p r e - D a r w i n i a n w o r l d , b y the a g e o f t w e n t y - t h r e e h e h a d b e e n o r d a i n e d as an A n g l i c a n priest a n d a p p o i n t e d a clerical f e l l o w at T r i n i t y H a l l , C a m b r i d g e . B u t a c a d e m i a d i d n o t suit h i m . H e w a s b o r e d b y 'everlasting discussions o f theories w h i c h n e v e r c a m e a n y w h e r e n e a r actual life'; n e w ideas w e r e , quite literally, a b r o a d . O n a visit to A m e r i c a h e h a d b e c o m e a friend a n d disciple o f W a l t W h i t m a n . ' G o o u t to nature t h r o w y o u r s e l f in h e r arms s u b m i t to h e r destinies,' W h i t m a n h a d told h i m . It d i d n ' t take C a r p e n t e r l o n g ; b y 1 8 8 0 h e h a d d e c i d e d to ' g o a n d m a k e [his] life w i t h the mass o f the p e o p l e a n d the m a n u a l w o r k e r s ' . T h e r e w a s o n e a b i d i n g reason for this. C a r p e n t e r later e x p l a i n e d : ' M y ideal o f l o v e is a p o w e r f u l , strongly built m a n , o f m y o w n age o r rather y o u n g e r - preferably o f the w o r k i n g class. T h o u g h h a v i n g solid sense a n d character, h e n e e d n o t b e specially i n t e l l e c t u a l . '
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A t first C a r p e n t e r b o t h m a d e his life a n d f o u n d his ideal o f l o v e in the village o f T o d e y , outside Sheffield. In 1 8 8 3 , h o w e v e r , h e m o v e d to an estate at n e a r b y M i l l t h o r p e w h e r e , w i t h M e r r i l l , h e created his o w n v e r s i o n o f w h a t w a s t h e n called 'the S i m p l e L i f e ' . H e e s p o u s e d v e g e t a r i a n i s m a n d p i o n e e r e d the free, natural lifestyle w h i c h w o u l d c o m e o f age in the c o m m u n e s o f the 1 9 6 0 s a n d 1 9 7 0 s . H e s p u n r o u g h , t w e e d y cloth f r o m w h i c h h e m a d e his o w n clothes a n d s p u r n e d shoes entirely 'leather coffins', h e called t h e m - p r e f e r r i n g to w e a r his sandals. H e a n d M e r r i l l s u n b a t h e d w h e n e v e r the and own home-made

w e a t h e r w a s g o o d e n o u g h - h e w a s n i c k n a m e d 'hairy l e g s ' -

s w a m n a k e d in the n e a r b y river. S o t o o d i d their h o u s e - g u e s t s . A n d h e , C a r p e n t e r , w r o t e - a n d w r o t e . T h e titles o f j u s t s o m e o f his m o r e

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n o t a b l e p u b l i c a t i o n s accurately s u m u p his p r e o c c u p a t i o n s . T h e r e w a s England's Ideal a n d Civilization, Its Cause and Cure, Sex a n d Love's and there w e r e of Age. His his later studies, The Intermediate Coming

a u t o b i o g r a p h y , M y Days and Dreams, w a s p u b l i s h e d in 1 9 1 6 . C a r p e n t e r w a s a m a v e r i c k , b u t an i m p o r t a n t o n e . H e w a s n o t a o n e - i s s u e h o m o - p o l i t i c a l activist o f the t y p e w i t h w h i c h w e are familiar t o d a y . ( H e w a s , for instance, s e e m i n g l y c o n t e n t for M e r r i l l to b e taken as his ' m a n s e r v a n t ' . ) R a t h e r , at M i l l t h o r p e a n d in his b o o k s h e w a s r e a c t i n g to a g e n e r a l f e e l i n g o f u n e a s e , a p a n i c w h i c h w a s w e l l s u m m e d u p b y the p o p u l a r n o v e l i s t S i r H e n r y R i d e r H a g g a r d (King Solomon's Mines) w h e n h e w r o t e , in 1 8 9 9 , that 'the great t o w n s r o b those w h o d w e l l a n d l a b o u r in t h e m ' . H e w a s hardly a l o n e in this. W i t h i n a v e r y f e w y e a n o f the f o u n d a t i o n o f Millthorpe t w o 'progressive' N e w S c h o o l s h a d b e e n established: A b b o t s h o l m e ( 1 8 8 9 ) , d e d i c a t e d to the pursuit o f 'the life o f true f r e e d o m ' - s c h o o l h y m n , ' T h e L o v e o f C o m r a d e s ' ; c o m p u l s o r y n u d e b a t h i n g w a s r u n b y a o n e - t i m e disciple o f C a r p e n t e r ' s , C e c i l R e d d i e ; the m o r e structured B e d a l e s ( 1 8 9 3 ) b y J . H . B a d l e y , w h o had been influenced b y both Carpenter and R e d d i e . I n effect, t h e n , C a r p e n t e r w a s a g u r u , the g u r u , for a g e n e r a t i o n o f 'little m e n ' - the M a u r i c e Halls a n d L e o n a r d Basts o f Forster's fiction w h o w e r e also in q u i e t r e b e l l i o n against w h a t F o r s t e r called the ' v u l g a r i t y ' o f u r b a n life. Forster, w h o s e o w n y e a r n i n g s for a ' H a p p i e r Y e a r ' h a p p e n e d to c h i m e w e l l w i t h C a r p e n t e r ' s U r a n i a n i s m , w a s to recall in i 9 6 0 that C a r p e n t e r h a d 'a prestige w h i c h c a n n o t b e u n d e r s t o o d t o d a y ' . H a l f a lifetime o n , those w o r d s are m o r e true than e v e r . Forster w e n t on: h e w a s a r e b e l appropriate to his a g e . H e w a s sentimental a n d a little sacramental [. . .] a socialist w h o i g n o r e d industrialism a n d a s i m p l e - l i f e r w i t h an i n d e p e n d e n t i n c o m e a n d a W h i t m a n n i c poet w h o s e n o b i l i t y e x c e e d e d his strength [. . .] finally, h e w a s a b e l i e v e r in the L o v e o f C o m r a d e s , w h o m h e s o m e t i m e s called U r a n i a n s . It w a s this last aspect o f h i m that attracted m e in m y l o n e l i n e s s . Finally,
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says Forster, ' h e w a s a b e l i e v e r in the L o v e o f C o m r a d e s ' . . .

A n d this is n o idle t a x o n o m y . S e x w a s n e v e r the centre o f things at M i l l t h o r p e . ' I h a d n e v e r h a d to d o w i t h actual paederasty, so called,' C a r p e n t e r w a s to e x p l a i n , in a particularly graceless p i e c e o f prose. ' M y c h i e f desire in l o v e is b o d i l y nearness o r contact, as to sleep n a k e d

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w i t h a n a k e d friend.' T h e opportunities f o r n u d e s u n b a t h i n g a n d all that m i g h t f o l l o w f r o m it w e r e n e v e r the p r i n c i p a l reasons f o r v i s i t i n g h i m . R a t h e r , a b r o a d cross-section o f the e m e r g i n g intelligentsia o f the Left h e a d e d n o r t h in search o f 'a blessed p h y s i c i a n for b o d y , s o u l , and spirit' (as R e d d i e p u t it). D . H . L a w r e n c e , G e o r g e B e r n a r d S h a w , B e r t r a n d Russell a n d R u p e r t B r o o k e all a r r i v e d in the h o p e o f e n l i g h t enment. B u t there were, not unnaturally, many homosexual men a m o n g the M i l l t h o r p e h o u s e - g u e s t s . ' N o r m a n ' w a s o n e such. B o r n , almost s y m b o l i c a l l y , in 1 8 9 5 , a n d at the t i m e o f his visit a sales assistant in a south L o n d o n store, h e h a d already d i s c o v e r e d C a r p e n t e r ' s w o r k and was seemingly seeking some reassurance in the post-Wilde vacuum: I h a d read The Intermediate Sex b y [about 1 9 1 5 ] . I w a s also r e a d i n g

C o m p t o n Mackenzie, D . H . L a w r e n c e , Dostoevsky, and o h m y G o d , I w a s u p there in the clouds, m o r e brain than balls. I n e v e r r e a d these n e w b o o k s a b o u t h o m o s e x u a l i t y n o w , [but] I r e a d C a r p e n t e r at that t i m e . T h e s e r e c e n t b o o k s that y o u see in the papers, I ' v e n e v e r read. I l i k e r e a d i n g personal b o o k s . I r e a d Love's Coming of Age a n d
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Towards Democracy. I h a d a c o p y w h e n I w a s a s o l d i e r .

Possessing, as h e p u t it, ' m o r e brain than balls', N o r m a n k n e w U r a n i a n i s m o f The Intermediate it hardly mattered: Sex a n d Love's

he

had, after all, r e a d the almost unreadable Towards Democracy - that the Coming of Age w a s o n l y a part o f the M i l l t h o r p e m i l i e u . Fascinatingly, w h a t ' s m o r e , for h i m

I s a w C a r p e n t e r t w i c e . O n c e in L o n d o n , w h e r e h e w a s s t a y i n g in a b o a r d i n g - h o u s e in T a v i s t o c k S q u a r e . I can r e m e m b e r g o i n g t h e r e . I m u s t h a v e l i k e d the o l d m a n , b e c a u s e w h e n I w e n t n o r t h , f o r a t i m e I t h o u g h t I w o u l d g o a n d see h i m again. Of course, I know that he was homosexual. didn't I didn't even think of that. H e l i v e d w i t h

G e o r g e M e r r i l l , w h o naturally I w a s n ' t interested in. I t h o u g h t h e w a s the g a r d e n e r . It w a s in the g a r d e n that M e r r i l l kissed m e . I m u s t h a v e b e e n o n l y t w e n t y - o n e . N o t g o o d l o o k i n g . I w a s rather s h o c k e d , o w i n g to m y loveless early life. I d i d n ' t k n o w about kissing.
32

anything

52

HEROES

AND

VILLAINS

W e are b a c k to Maurice - to the distinction b e t w e e n the platonic ideals o f ' m a n - l o v e ' a n d the m o r e p h y s i c a l pull o f lust. In the n o v e l Forster g r o p e s his w a y t o w a r d s b r i d g i n g this g a p : ' o n l y c o n n e c t ' . H e castigates a C a m b r i d g e in w h i c h the d o n s 'felt it right to spoil a l o v e affair w h e n they c o u l d '
3 3

a n d a w o r l d in w h i c h s o m e o n e like C l i v e D u r h a m is
34

p r o m o t e d as 'the ideal m a n - chaste w i t h a s c e t i c i s m '

in his search

for a greater, a l l - e m b r a c i n g h o n e s t y . A n d s l o w l y , v e r y s l o w l y , he a l l o w s M a u r i c e to find it. G r a d u a l l y , insight o f a distincdy C a r p e n t e r i a n k i n d dawns. Maurice w o u l d n o t - a n d this w a s the test - p r e t e n d to care a b o u t w o m e n w h e n the o n l y s e x that attracted h i m w a s his o w n . H e l o v e d m e n a n d a l w a y s h a d l o v e d t h e m . He longed to embrace them and mingle his being with theirs.
35

H e c o u l d die for s u c h a friend, h e w o u l d a l l o w s u c h a friend to d i e for h i m ; they would make any sacrifice for each other, and count the world nothing, neither death nor distance nor crossness could part
36

them,

b e c a u s e 'this is m y f r i e n d ' .

B u t , u n l i k e C a r p e n t e r , Forster w a s a realist, a pragmatist. M a u r i c e is a c o n v i n c i n g h o m o s e x u a l e m b l e m precisely b e c a u s e his creator is n o w i d e - e y e d C a n d i d e . Forster's sense o f i r o n y suffuses the n o v e l ' s s u b text. ' T h e u n i v e r s e h a d b e e n p u t in its p l a c e , ' M a u r i c e thinks, as h e rushes to P e n g e for his r e c o n c i l i a t i o n w i t h A l e c S c u d d e r . B u t h a d it? W a s s e x illicit, albeit consensual s e x e n o u g h to c h a n g e n o t j u s t the w o r l d o r d e r b u t the entire universe? Forster w a s far t o o a w a r e o f the realities o f the life w h i c h w a s l i v e d in the B r i t a i n o f the first t w o decades o f this c e n t u r y b y m e n l i k e h i m to g i v e a simple a n s w e r . Instead, h e h e d g e d . B u t in d o i n g s o , perhaps u n w i t t i n g l y , in Maurice h e i d e n t i f i e d the u n d e r l y i n g , often u n r e c o g n i z e d , h o l l o w n e s s o f g a y life o v e r the n e x t fifty y e a r s . E a r l y o n in the n o v e l h e h a d described h o w M a u r i c e had 'remembered that C l i v e a n d h e h a d o n l y b e e n t o g e t h e r o n e day! A n d t h e y h a d spent it c a r e e r i n g a b o u t l i k e fools instead o f in o n e a n o t h e r ' s arms! M a u r i c e d i d n o t k n o w that they h a d thus spent it perfectly - h e w a s t o o y o u n g to detect the triviality o f c o n t a c t f o r contact's s a k e . '
37

'I'm Awfully Proud to Think He's My Friend'

'SEX

W A S , IT

A L W A Y S

I S , / T h e most enticing o f mysteries', w r o t e

W . H . A u d e n in a l i g h t - h e a r t e d squib o f a p o e m l o o k i n g b a c k to the E d w a r d i a n certainties o f his c h i l d h o o d .


1

Increasingly, h o w e v e r , during

that s a m e p e r i o d sex in itself c a m e to b e s e e n as m e r e l y the b e g i n n i n g o f s o m e t h i n g m o r e serious; a n d the e x i g e n c i e s o f the G r e a t W a r o n l y accelerated the process. W r i t i n g in 1 9 1 3 - 1 4 , E . M . Forster h a d b e e n m o r e p r e s c i e n t than he could have imagined. After describing h o w M a u r i c e Hall and C l i v e D u r h a m h a d spent the majority o f their t i m e t o g e t h e r ' c a r e e r i n g a b o u t like fools instead o f in o n e another's arms!' h e h a d g o n e o n
2

to If,

r e m a r k , almost casually, that that w a s o n l y b e c a u s e M a u r i c e h a d b e e n ' t o o y o u n g to detect the triviality o f c o n t a c t for contact's s a k e ' . for a m o m e n t , w e a l l o w the real w o r l d to i m p i n g e o n the fictional, h o w e v e r , it is possible to flesh o u t that aside. W e c a n i m a g i n e M a u r i c e , called u p o n l y m o n t h s after 'taking u p ' w i t h A l e c S c u d d e r , a g e i n g v e r y rapidly; for the 'trouble in the B a l k a n s ' w h i c h p r e c i p i t a t e d five-year pre-European British h o m o s e x u a l , t o o . In the history b o o k s maps are r o l l e d u p a n d the lights g o o u t all o v e r E u r o p e at this p e r i o d . A n d , in c o n s e q u e n c e , litde has b e e n d i s c o v e r e d o r at a n y rate r e p o r t e d a b o u t the e m o t i o n a l , let a l o n e sexual, lives o f ' o u r b o y s ' o n 'the F r o n t ' .
3

a the

conflagration

had

its i m p l i c a t i o n s

for

the

A n d they w e r e just boys.

It gives s o m e sort o f p e r s p e c t i v e to the tale o f h o m o s e x u a l e v o l u t i o n to n o t e that a b o y b o r n o n the day o f O s c a r W i l d e ' s c o n v i c t i o n in M a y 1 8 9 5 w o u l d h a v e b e e n n i n e t e e n , fresh o u t o f p u b l i c s c h o o l perhaps, o r already a w o r k - h a r d e n e d f a c t o r y - h a n d o r agricultural l a b o u r e r , w h e n , S3

54

H E R O E S

A N D

V I L L A I N S

o n 4 A u g u s t 1 9 1 4 , Britain declared w a r on G e r m a n y . H e w o u l d have b e e n n o t quite t w e n t y - o n e w h e n L l o y d G e o r g e ' s c o a l i t i o n g o v e r n m e n t instituted the g e n e r a l c o n s c r i p t i o n into the a r m e d forces o f all single m e n a g e d b e t w e e n e i g h t e e n a n d f o r t y - o n e in M a r c h 1 9 1 6 . E v e n the p u b l i s h e d w o r k s o f such labile participants as Siegfried S a s s o o n a n d the M i l l t h o r p e - i n f l u e n c e d R u p e r t B r o o k e are strangely silent a b o u t their feelings for their f e l l o w - c o m b a t a n t s : rare i n d e e d are t h o u g h t s s u c h as those o f S t e p h e n S p e n d e r w h o , o n c o m i n g across the b o d y o f a b o y shot d e a d in the Spanish C i v i l W a r , m u s e s that ' H e w a s a b e t t e r target for a k i s s ' . T h i s is p a r a d o x i c a l , g i v e n the e n f o r c e d p r o p i n q u i t y o f w h a t memorialists w e r e q u i c k to d u b 'the c r e a m o f the n a t i o n ' s m a n h o o d ' in barracks, trenches a n d d u g - o u t s a n d the d e v i l - m a y - c a r e attitude e n g e n d e r e d b y a situation in w h i c h odds o n the s u r v i v a l o f a front-line infantry officer w e r e calculated in hours rather than days o r w e e k s . T a n t a l i z i n g e v i d e n c e exists, h o w e v e r , that s o m e f o r m o f i n n o c e n t i n t i m a c y w a s present, e v e n o n the front line. E v e r since its first p r o d u c t i o n in D e c e m b e r 1 9 2 8 , Journey's End, R . C . S h e r r i f f ' s ostensibly c o n v e n t i o n a l play a b o u t t r e n c h life, has b e e n w i d e l y praised for h a v i n g c a u g h t 'the m o o d ' a n d b r o u g h t to the stage an accurate portrayal o f H o w T h i n g s S e e m e d at the T i m e . A 1 9 2 9 poster called it ' T h e P l a y T h a t Is S w e e p i n g the W o r l d ' - b u t in all p r o b a b i l i t y that w a s d u e m o r e to the p r e s e n c e in the cast o f a y o u n g L a u r e n c e O l i v i e r than to the p l a y ' s o w n v e r i s m o d e p i c t i o n o f the w a y things w e r e b e t w e e n 1 8 a n d 2 1 M a r c h 1 9 1 8 (Sherriff is v e r y specific a b o u t specifics) in a f r o n t - l i n e d u g - o u t at S a i n t - Q u e n t i n in central F r a n c e . E v e n t o d a y , the script is n o t w i t h o u t interest. It o p e n s w i t h a c o n v e r s a t i o n b e t w e e n t w o m i d d l e - a g e d officers, C a p t a i n H a r d y ('redfaced, cheerful-looking') and Osborne ('a fine h e a d , w i t h c l o s e c r o p p e d , i r o n - g r e y hair. H e l o o k s a b o u t f o r t y - f i v e - physically as hard as nails'). T h e y are ' o l d soldiers' and, o v e r a tot o f w h i s k y , discuss the i m m i n e n t arrival o f a n e w y o u n g captain, S t a n h o p e : T h e r e isn't a m a n to t o u c h h i m as a c o m m a n d e r o f laughs.)
4

O S B O R N E :

m e n . H e ' l l c o m m a n d the battalion o n e d a y if


H A R D Y :

Y e s , if! (He

O S B O R N E :

Y o u d o n ' t k n o w h i m as I d o ; I l o v e that f e l l o w . I ' d

g o to hell w i t h h i m .

' I ' M

A W F U L L Y

P R O U D

T O

T H I N K

H E ' S M Y

F R I E N D '

55

H A R D Y :

O h , y o u s w e e t , sentimental o l d darling! C o m e a l o n g . F i n i s h h a n d i n g o v e r a n d stop b l i t h e r i n g .


5

O S B O R N E : H A R D Y :

T h e r e ' s n o t h i n g else to d o .

T h e r e is a r e l a x e d b o n h o m i e h e r e ; n o t h i n g in all the a v u n c u l a r l y e v e n o l d - m a i d i s h - E d w a r d i a n bluster ('I l o v e that f e l l o w ' ; ' s e n t i m e n t a l old darling!'; 'stop b l i t h e r i n g ' ) betrays the slightest h i n t o f a h o m o s e x u a l under-tow. T h e s e are m e n f o r c e d b y c i r c u m s t a n c e s to ' r u b along t o g e t h e r ' , w h o are c o n t r i v i n g to d o e x a c d y that. A m e m b e r o f the O x f o r d s h i r e a n d B u c k i n g h a m s h i r e L i g h t Infantry r e m e m b e r e d the c a m a r a d e r i e a n d affection w h i c h u n i t e d t h o s e o f the r e g i m e n t ' s officers a n d m e n w h o w e r e f o r c e d to s p e n d the C h r i s t m a s o f 1 9 1 6 in F r a n c e : . . . o u r C o m p a n y O f f i c e r u s e d to get u p at the front a n d say, ' C o m e o n , W i l l i a m s , g i v e us a s o n g , a n d k e e p the lads g o i n g . ' R e a l b a w d y songs they w e r e , b u t it g a v e t h e m a l a u g h a n d k e p t t h e m g o i n g . A n y w a y at C h r i s t m a s w e ' d all h a d p l e n t y to d r i n k a n d the lads h a d m e o n to sing. S o I g a v e t h e m a f e w o f m y specials. A n d t h e y a l w a y s w a n t e d the apple s o n g . I once k n e w a fellow his n a m e w a s B e n , H e h a d n i n e o f a family (nearly ten!) . . . N o w all y o u gents If y o u w a n t any m o r e , I ' v e an apple u p m e arse A n d y o u can h a v e the c o r e ! A n d that w a s n ' t the w o n t o f it, b y a n y m e a n s ! I c o u l d n ' t in all d e c e n c y repeat w h a t c a m e in the m i d d l e . B u t the lads l i k e d it. T h e y all j o i n e d in, a n d after it w a s finished o u r sergeant c a m e u p a n d h e said, ' W i l l i a m s , the C o l o n e l w a n t s to see y o u ! ' I t h o u g h t , ' T h i s is it! C o u r t martial for m e . ' S o I w e n t u p to the table w h e r e all the officers w e r e , and C o l o n e l B e s t ' s sitting t h e r e w i t h his j a c k e t u n d o n e , s m o k i n g a cigar. H e says, ' T h a t w a s a g o o d s o n g , m y lad. D o y o u k n o w a n y m o r e l i k e that?' I said, ' W e l l , j u s t a f e w , S i r . ' S o h e said, ' W e l l , sing ' e m , b o y . S i n g ' e m ! ' A n d h e g a v e m e a bottle o f c h a m p a g n e !
6

56 Journey's

H E R O E S

A N D

V I L L A I N S

End also hints, h o w e v e r - a n d it w n o m o r e than a h i n t

that there m i g h t h a v e b e e n a certain, repressed s e x u a l tension b e h i n d all this. Q u i t e r e a s o n a b l y , SherrifF implies that a k h a k i - c l a d v e r s i o n o f m o r e o r less serious p u b l i c - s c h o o l 'pashes' a n d h e r o - w o r s h i p , in w h i c h reluctant subalterns c o u l d w e l l h a v e b e e n i n d u l g i n g o n l y a m a t t e r o f w e e k s b e f o r e their c a l l - u p , c o n t i n u e d in the trenches. H e sets u p a classically c h a r g e d situation, c o n f r o n t i n g Captain Dennis Stanhope but w i t h the u n e x p e c t e d arrival o f a o n e - t i m e s c h o o l friend, R a l e i g h . S t a n h o p e h i m s e l f is ' n o m o r e than a b o y ; tall, slimly built, broad-shouldered. H i s dark hair is carefully b r u s h e d ; his uniform,

t h o u g h o l d a n d w a r - s t a i n e d , is w e l l cut a n d c a r e d for. H e is g o o d l o o k i n g , rather from attractive features than the healthy g o o d l o o k s o f R a l e i g h . ' R a l e i g h , t o o , is absurdly y o u t h f u l : 'a w e l l - b u i l t , h e a l t h y looking b o y o f about eighteen'.
7

T h e d e c i s i v e m o m e n t c o m e s in the

c l o s i n g lines o f A c t 1 1 S c e n e I . C l e v e r l y , SherrifF keeps R a l e i g h o f f stage. Instead, h e s h o w s us O s b o r n e a n d S t a n h o p e c e n s o r i n g the letters h o m e w r i t t e n b y their m e n . O n e is f r o m R a l e i g h :

O S B O R N E

(reading): H e says: ' A n d n o w I c o m e to the great n e w s .

I r e p o r t e d at B a t t a l i o n H e a d q u a r t e r s a n d the c o l o n e l l o o k e d i n a little b o o k , a n d said, ' Y o u r e p o r t to C C o m p a n y - C a p t a i n S t a n h o p e . ' C a n ' t y o u i m a g i n e w h a t I felt? I w a s taken a l o n g s o m e trenches a n d s h o w n a d u g o u t . T h e r e w a s an a w f u l l y n i c e officer there - q u i t e o l d - w i t h g r e y hair' ( O S B O R N E

dears

his throat) - ' a n d t h e n later D e n n i s c a m e in. H e l o o k e d tired, b u t that's b e c a u s e h e w o r k s so frightfully hard, a n d b e c a u s e o f the responsibility. T h e n I w e n t o n d u t y in the front l i n e , a n d a sergeant t o l d m e all a b o u t D e n n i s . H e said that D e n n i s is the finest officer in the battalion, a n d the m e n s i m p l y l o v e h i m . H e hardly e v e r sleeps in the d u g o u t ; h e ' s a l w a y s u p in the front l i n e w i t h the m e n , c h e e r i n g t h e m o n w i t h j o k e s , a n d m a k i n g t h e m k e e n a b o u t things, l i k e h e d i d the kids at s c h o o l . I ' m awfully p r o u d to t h i n k h e ' s m y friend.'

(There is silence, read.)

S T A N H O P E

has not moved while

O S B O R N E

has

T h a t ' s all. (Pause.) Shall I stick it d o w n ?


( S T A N H O P E sits with lowered head. He murmurs something that sounds like ' Y e s , please'. He rises heavily and crosses to the shadows

V M

A W F U L L Y

P R O U D

T O

T H I N K

H E ' S

M Y

F R I E N D

57

by

O S B O R N E ' S

bed. The sun is shining quite brightly in the trench

outside.)
T H E C U R T A I N F A L L S
8

A s o n stage, so o n the p a g e : f r o m v e r y different p e r s p e c t i v e s b o t h W i l f r e d O w e n a n d M i c h a e l D a v i d s o n also r u m i n a t e d a b o u t the e m o tional t h e - m e n - s i m p l y - l o v e - h i m a m b i g u i t y e n g e n d e r e d b y s e r v i c e life. E a c h w a s also a m e m b e r o f 'the officer class' a n d w r i t i n g from direct e x p e r i e n c e . T h i s is O w e n , d e s c r i b i n g a L i e u t e n a n t (acting C a p t a i n ) S o r r e l in a letter h e sent h o m e f r o m the S o m m e in the s p r i n g o f 1 9 1 7 : H e c h o k e s filthiness as s u m m a r i l y as I e v e r h e a r d a captain d o , o r try to d o . H e is h i m s e l f an aesthete, a n d n o t v i r t u o u s a c c o r d i n g to E n g l i s h standards, perhaps, b u t n o m a n swears in his p r e s e n c e , n o r b r o a c h e s those pleasantries w h i c h so a m u s e the E n g l i s h officer's m i n d . H e seems to b e o n e o f the f e w y o u n g m e n w h o l i v e u p to m y principle: that A m u s e m e n t is n e v e r an e x c u s e for ' i m m o r a l i t y ' , b u t that Passion m a y b e s o .
9

Q u i t e w h a t O w e n m e a n s b y d e s c r i b i n g S o r r e l as 'an aesthete' a n d ' n o t v i r t u o u s a c c o r d i n g to E n g l i s h standards, p e r h a p s ' it is n o w as i m p o s s i b l e to d i s c o v e r as the true i m p o r t o f the f o l l o w i n g p a r a g r a p h . ( B u t w e m i g h t n o t e that O w e n ' s b i o g r a p h e r J o n S t a l l w o r t h y has established that, shortly after this letter w a s w r i t t e n , S o r r e l w a s i n v a l i d e d h o m e , suffering f r o m s h e l l - s h o c k . ) L i e u t e n a n t (acting C a p t a i n ) S o r r e l c o m e s o v e r , h o w e v e r , as a real-life D e n n i s S t a n h o p e . S i x t y years o n , M i c h a e l D a v i d s o n - s o m e t h i n g o f a real-life R a l e i g h b a c k in 1 9 1 8 - w a s characteristically m o r e c a n d i d w h e n h e c a m e to w r i t e a b o u t the G r e a t W a r in his a u t o b i o g r a p h y : I was adjudged a 'good officer'; b u t I wasn't [. . .] I wasn't from

g o o d for the m e n : I w a s t o o sorry for t h e m , a n d shrank

' c h e c k i n g ' t h e m o r ' t a k i n g a n a m e ' o r d o i n g a n y t h i n g t o a d d to their miseries a n d discomforts. I w a s 'familiar' w i t h t h e m - a d i s gracefully u n o f f i c e r - l i k e lapse in those days; a n d I m a d e favourites; the pathetic elderly, h o m e s i c k for their w i v e s ; the y o u n g e s t a n d prettiest. . .
1 0

58

H E R O E S

A N D

V I L L A I N S

D e s p i t e their c o m p a r a t i v e rarity, the

first-hand

recollections o f the

' o t h e r ranks', o f o r d i n a r y soldiers w h o h a d v o l u n t e e r e d o r w e r e c o n scripted for s e r v i c e in the G r e a t W a r , o v e r w h e l m i n g l y b e a r o u t officers' mess a c c o u n t s l i k e these. V i r t u a l l y all tell o f a w o r l d o f T o m B r o w n - i s h affection a n d c o l d - s h o w e r purity. E v e n the m e m o r i e s o f o p e n l y g a y m e n in the m a i n paint a p i c t u r e o f a s e r v i c e life w h o s e w h o l e s o m e n e s s w o u l d h a v e a p p e a l e d to D r A r n o l d . T h e r e are, s e e m i n g l y , n o official figures; so it is to this slim b o d y o f a n e c d o t a l e v i d e n c e that w e m u s t turn to try to estimate the nature o f p r e v a l e n c e o f a c t i v e h o m o s e x u a l i t y (or, m o r e accurately, the lack o f it) in the trenches; a l t h o u g h w e m u s t b e cautious in o u r e x a m i n a t i o n o f e v e n this material. O b v i o u s l y , relationships m u s t h a v e d e v e l o p e d f r o m t i m e to t i m e j u s t as t h e r e w e r e isolated cases o f desertion o r (as the w a r t i m e G e n e r a l O r d e r s p u t it) o f ' m i s b e h a v i n g b e f o r e the e n e m y in s u c h a m a n n e r as to s h o w c o w a r d i c e ' . T h a t t h e y w e r e n o t officially n o t e d , c o m m e n t e d o n in letters h o m e o r e v e n specifically r e m e m b e r e d b y the great m a j o r i t y o f s u r v i v o r s , h o w e v e r , is in itself important. F o r , j u s t as the v e r y w o r d ' h o m o s e x u a l ' w a s n o t in c o m m o n c u r r e n c y at the t i m e o f the G r e a t W a r , it seems at least distincdy possible that in working-class, non-metropolitan c o m m u n i t i e s , rather than sophisti cated, u r b a n p u r l i e u s , t h e r e w a s n o real n o t i o n that h o m o s e x u a l activity w a s ' w r o n g ' , a b n o r m a l o r in a n y w a y unnatural - a n d it w a s f r o m just such communities drawn. ' W h e r e o f w e d o n o t k n o w , t h e r e o f w e c a n n o t s p e a k ' , the p h i l o s o p h e r L u d w i g W i t t g e n s t e i n w a s shortly to w r i t e . A n d o n e o f the m o s t telling features w h i c h the contributors to K e v i n P o r t e r a n d Jeffrey W e e k s ' s a n t h o l o g y o f h o m o s e x u a l r e c o l l e c t i o n s , Between the Acts, h a v e in c o m m o n is a certain innocence. T h e r e is little o f the angst a n d isolation w h i c h fuels Forster's M a u r i c e . R a t h e r , P o r t e r a n d W e e k s ' s i n t e r v i e w e e s share a simplicity a n d matter-of-factness. ' O f c o u r s e , I d i d n ' t k n o w t h e n that I w a s h o m o s e x u a l ' , is a c o m m o n c o m m e n t . N o t infrequently, t o o , t h e y d e s c r i b e h o w they virtually drifted i n t o m a r r i a g e . ' F r e d ' d i d a n d r e m a i n e d m a r r i e d for the greater part o f his adult life. ' I n e v e r w e n t w i t h a w o m a n in m y life, o t h e r than m y o w n w i f e , ' h e says, w h i l e e x p l a i n i n g that g o i n g w i t h m e n m e a n t p l a y i n g b y a different set o f rules. It w a s s o m e h o w different, m o r e natural: that the m a j o r i t y o f the o t h e r ranks w e r e

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I ' v e a l w a y s preferred a m a l e ' s c o m p a n y to a female's c o m p a n y , a n d I d o n o w today. I ' d rather c u d d l e a m a n than I w o u l d a w o m a n . F e m a l e s n e v e r m e a n t a n y t h i n g to m e , really - a l t h o u g h I a l w a y s kept m y v o w s . I was honest and I n e v e r w e n t w i t h another w o m a n in m y life o t h e r than m y w i f e . B u t as regards s e x w i t h o t h e r m e n , w e l l , I m u s t o p e n l y confess that I w o u l d n ' t d o it w i t h e v e r y T o m , D i c k a n d H a r r y . I h a v e h a d s e x w i t h o t h e r m e n a n d still d o i f it c o m e s m y w a y a n d w e a g r e e , o n e w i t h the o t h e r . I find a m a l e ' s c o m p a n y is w o n d e r f u l . T h e r e ' s s o m e t h i n g a b o u t y o u r o w n s e x . Y o u ' r e free a n d easy to talk a n d to g i v e a n d to l o v e . Y o u ' r e n o t b o u n d to h a v e s e x , it's e n o u g h to l o v e a p e r s o n . I u s e d to k e e p the b o a r pigs, a n d I r e m e m b e r the first t i m e I h a d it w i t h a y o u n g farm l a b o u r e r . H e w a s e i g h t e e n a n d I w a s a b o u t t w e n t y - s i x then. H e b r o u g h t the s o w to the d o o r a n d . . . h a v e y o u e v e r seen a b o a r s e r v i n g a s o w ? W e l l , it takes a b o u t half-an-hour. T h i s particular t i m e , the b o a r w a s s e r v i n g the s o w i n the p e n a n d this y o u n g f a r m e r - k i d d i e says to m e , ' H e y , d o n ' t y o u e v e r feel l i k e a bit o f s e x w h e n y o u see this g o i n g o n ? ' ' A y e , ' I says, ' h o w a b o u t it?' j u s t l i k e that. I d i d n ' t t h i n k n o m o r e . ' O h , ' h e says, ' I w i l l i f y o u w i l l . ' A n d o f c o u r s e that d i d it. I w a s r e a d y a n d h e w a s r e a d y . "

R e a d in the light o f material l i k e this the w a r t i m e e x p e r i e n c e s o f the p s e u d o n y m o u s ' N o r m a n ' fall i n t o a m o r e c o n v i n c i n g c o n t e x t . C a u g h t u p in the g e n e r a l c o n s c r i p t i o n o f 1 9 1 6 , h e s o o n f o u n d h i m s e l f in F r a n c e - quite literally, an i n n o c e n t a b r o a d . E v e r y bit as g r a p h i c a l l y as the officers', his m e m o r i e s e x p l o r e the d i c h o t o m y b e t w e e n (physical) i n t i m a c y a n d true affection, as w e l l as p r o v i d i n g a t e x t b o o k e x a m p l e o f w h a t a n e w b r e e d o f F r e u d i a n psychoanalysts w a s j u s t b e g i n n i n g to describe as ' s u b l i m a t i o n ' :

. . . I was completely withdrawn. In the a r m y I m a d e o n l y o n e friend. A litde c h a p c a l l e d W a l t e r . T h e r e w a s n o t h i n g b e t w e e n us. I w a s q u i t e i n n o c e n t . W e n e v e r talked a b o u t a n y t h i n g . I can't r e m e m b e r a n y talk a b o u t s w e a r a lot, b u t I d i d n ' t h e a r a n y talk, surprisingly [. . .] In F r a n c e it w a s v e r y p r i m i t i v e ; all the soldiers w e r e w o r k i n g - c l a s s homo sexuality d u r i n g that a r m y p e r i o d , a r o u n d 1 9 1 6 . T h e m e n w o u l d

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m e n . A f o r m e r barber, a f o r m e r w a i t e r , I g o t o n v e r y w e l l w i t h all o f t h e m . I g o t v e r y friendly w i t h a b o y called D a v i d a n d I slept w i t h h i m , b e c a u s e w e h a d t w o blankets e a c h , so w e ' d h a v e o n e underneath and three on top. O f course, nothing happened. I mean I d i d n ' t w a n t to sleep w i t h h i m , b u t in the a r m y t h e y d i d n ' t b o t h e r a b o u t p e o p l e s l e e p i n g t o g e t h e r . It w a s n ' t suspicious. P e o p l e d i d n ' t e v e n j o k e a b o u t h o m o s e x u a l i t y . I d i d n ' t realise I w a s h o m o s e x u a l . T h e r e w e r e all these m e n a n d I s a w t h e m b a t h i n g a n d e v e r y t h i n g , b u t I w a s m u c h m o r e m e n t a l than sensual, a n d I t h i n k that's p r o b a b l y w h y I wasn't interested.
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' G e r a l d ' (born in 1 8 9 2 ) is a n o t h e r o l d soldier w h o describes this i m p l i c i t c o d e o f chastity, b u t f r o m a different a n d rather m o r e interest i n g p e r s p e c t i v e . A l b e i t fleetingly - ' y o u g o t n o c h a n c e for v e r y m u c h . It all h a d to b e d o n e in a m o m e n t ' h e had h a d sex in the a r m y . A l t h o u g h it is n o w i m p o s s i b l e to k n o w for certain, it seems likely that this o c c u r r e d d u r i n g training, b e f o r e a c t i v e s e r v i c e : ' I w e n t in the a r m y in 1 9 1 4 , a n d that w a s the first t i m e I actually g o t s e d u c e d b y a soldier, it w a s a sergeant. It w a s t h e n I realised that I w a s that w a y . E v e r s i n c e , m y life has g o n e that w a y . T h a t w a s the first c o n t a c t I h a d w i t h a n y b o d y , y o u k n o w , f r o m w h a t t h e y call, [to] p u t it bluntly, "bumming".' T h a t incident notwithstanding, G e r a l d ' s testament is strikingly similar to N o r m a n ' s : ' A t that t i m e [during the G r e a t W a r ] t h e r e w a s n o talk a b o u t h o m o s e x u a l i t y . N o t the slightest.' G e r a l d g o e s further than N o r m a n , h o w e v e r , a n d tries to e x p l a i n this a b s t i n e n c e , at least in so far as h e w a s c o n c e r n e d : T h e r e w a s n o s e x u a l c o n t a c t w i t h a n y b o d y in the services. T h e s i m p l e reason [for m e w a s ] , I g o t p r o m o t e d to sergeant f r o m c o r p o r a l . A s y o u ' r e g e t t i n g p r o m o t i o n s , y o u c o u l d n ' t take n o chances. I h a d several c h a n c e s , m i n d y o u , w i t h t w o o r three different private soldiers I k n e w . Y o u c a n g a u g e ' e m , b u t the p o i n t is, w h e n y o u c o m e to l o o k at it y o u say to y o u r s e l f - W e l l , is it m i n d o v e r matter? Y o u k n o w , y o u say to yourself, N o , I m u s t n ' t . Y o u ' r e jeopardising y o u r chances, because if something happened y o u ' r e g o i n g to g e t a c o u r t m a r t i a l .
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T h e v e r y real fear o f e x p o s u r e w e i g h e d o n ' F r e d ' , t o o . ' I w a s a l w a y s s c a r e d , ' h e told J e f f r e y W e e k s in the late 1 9 7 0 s . A W e l s h m a n , born

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in 1 8 9 4 , h e w a s a w a r e o f his s e x u a l o r i e n t a t i o n b e f o r e e n t e r i n g

the

a r m y , a n d t o o k great pains to c o n c e a l it. A n e p i s o d e w h i c h o c c u r r e d o n e n i g h t shortly b e f o r e his d e m o b i l i z a t i o n r e m a i n e d in his m e m o r y . H e w a s at a barracks in Cardiff: . . . this y o u n g c h a p c a m e in d r u n k . W e ' d practically all g o n e t o b e d , a n d w e h a d the light o n a n d h e w a s s i n g i n g there; a n d so h e strips o f f in the n u d e , h e did, a n d c o m e s o v e r to m y b e d . A n d , o f c o u r s e , w h e n h e c a m e o v e r to m y b e d h e h a d a hard o n , a n d h e said, ' C o m e o n , F r e d b a c h , y o u ' v e g o t to h a v e this!' S o I c l u t c h e d h o l d o f the clothes, a n d t h o u g h t to myself, ' I ' l l learn h i m a lesson!' as h e w e n t to p u l l the clothes off. ' H e y ! h a n g o n a m i n u t e ! ' I said, ' o n o n e c o n d i t i o n . ' H e said, ' W h a t ' s that?' I said, ' T h a t I shag y o u first.' A n d , o f c o u r s e , his o l d b o y w e n t d o w n j u s t l i k e that! A n d t h e y all burst o u t l a u g h i n g , m a d e h i m l o o k a fool. H e n e v e r tried it o n after.
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I n his a u t o b i o g r a p h y The World, the Flesh and Myself, M i c h a e l D a v i d son a d v a n c e d a n o t h e r reason for the p r e v a l e n c e o f his perhaps u n e x p e c ted b u t still understandable s e l f - d e n y i n g o r d i n a n c e . It is i m p l i c i d y (the class-based a n d p r e d i c a t e d o n his o w n p a e d o p h i l e p r e f e r e n c e s

b o o k b e g i n s w i t h the frank admission, ' T h i s is the life-story o f a l o v e r o f b o y s ' ) . It is i m p o r t a n t , h o w e v e r , since D a v i d s o n ' s a w a r e n e s s a n d a c c e p t a n c e o f his h o m o s e x u a l i t y o c c u r r e d at almost e x a c d y the s a m e t i m e as he w a s c o m m i s s i o n e d as an officer in the M a c h i n e G u n C o r p s . H e w a s j u s t e i g h t e e n - ' t w o y e a n earlier', h e r e m e m b e r e d , ' I h a d n ' t even reached puberty': Thompson [his m i d d l e - a g e d r e g i m e n t a l b a t m a n ] turned into a

d u m b , d e v o t e d friend: as o n e ' s C h i n e s e o r M a l a y f a c t o t u m b e c o m e s . H e s p o k e in sniffs a n d grunts, b u t his g e n d e p r e s e n c e w a s also a c o m f o r t ; h e l o o k e d after m e w i t h the o b j e c t i v e care h e g a v e t o [ D a v i d s o n ' s h o n e ] T r i x i e . O n e o f his tasks w a s to a r r a n g e h o t w a t e r a n d m y canvas bath; a n d s o m e h o w h e g o t i n t o the habit o f d r y i n g m e h i m s e l f after I ' d h a d it. W e b o t h e n j o y e d this, I think; t h o u g h n e i t h e r s t e p p e d o v e r the p u r e l y a b l u t i o n a r y b o r d e r (I n e v e r h a d a n y t h i n g 'to d o ' w i t h m y s o l d i e n - I s u p p o s e t h e y w e r e t o o o l d for m e ; b u t I ' v e b e e n told it w a s often a part o f t r e n c h life). A n y h o w , sexuality at the front w a s for m e g e n e r a l l y q u i e s c e n t , e x c e p t as a casual, s e l f - c o n t a i n e d c h o r e . . . "

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In Maurice F o r s t e r h a d d e s c r i b e d h o w , as a s c h o o l b o y , M a u r i c e Hall's ' c h i e f i n d e c e n c i e s w e r e solitary' a n d ' b r o u g h t h i m m o r e fatigue than p l e a s u r e ' . N o w h e r e is D a v i d s o n a v e r y different t y p e o f m a n s a y i n g a l m o s t the s a m e thing; w r i t i n g a b o u t h o w ' q u i e s c e n t ' w a s the t r e n c h life o f an o t h e r w i s e priapic y o u n g m a n , h o w s e x u a l e x p r e s s i o n b e c a m e n o m o r e than a 'casual, s e l f - c o n t a i n e d c h o r e ' . It w a s almost as i f s e r v i c e life n o t o n l y p e r p e t u a t e d b u t c o n c e n t r a t e d the pariah status assigned to h o m o s e x u a l s at h o m e b e f o r e the o u t b r e a k o f hostilities. G e r a l d ' s m e m o r i e s o f the v e r y real fear o f courts martial are illustrative o f a r e g i m e in w h i c h , understandably, o n e ' c o u l d n ' t take n o c h a n c e s ' . But ironically, a n d v i e w e d in retrospect, t h e y also p o i n t the w a y forward. Gerald goes on: I o n l y m e t o n e o t h e r h o m o s e x u a l in the a r m y . T h a t w a s at L e H a v r e in 1 9 1 7 . W e w a s [51c] o n the b o a t c o m i n g h o m e . I d o n ' t k n o w h o w these things w o r k , w h e t h e r it's t h r o u g h the c o n v e r s a t i o n , o r w h e t h e r it's the attitude o f the i n d i v i d u a l c o n c e r n e d , b u t w e s e e m e d to c o m e t o g e t h e r , see. A l l o f a s u d d e n his a r m w a s r o u n d m y n e c k a n d this, that a n d the other; a n d then, o f c o u r s e , o n e t h i n g led to another.
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T h e i m p o r t a n t w o r d s h e r e are, ' W e w a s o n the b o a t c o m i n g h o m e ' . T h e y b a r e l y c o n t a i n the i m p a t i e n c e a n d l o n g i n g to b e b a c k in ' B l i g h t y ' , w h i c h also f o u n d e x p r e s s i o n in the soldiers' songs o f the p e r i o d , w h o s e bitter, i r o n i c t o n e w a s m u c h later to c o l o u r the T h e a t r e Workshop

musical Oh, What a Lovely War!:


W h e n this l o u s y w a r is o v e r , N o m o r e s o l d i e r i n g for m e , W h e n I g e t m y c i v v y clothes o n , O h , h o w h a p p y I shall b e ! N o m o r e c h u r c h parades o n S u n d a y , N o m o r e p u t t i n g in for l e a v e , I shall kiss the Amen. sergeant-major, H o w I'll miss h i m , h o w h e ' l l g r i e v e !

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T h e r e is, significantly a n d q u i t e naturally, n o l a c k o f e v i d e n c e f o r this atavistic y e a r n i n g for h o m e a n d I v o r N o v e l l o ' s h o m e fires. M a n y o f the songs reflect it. ' I w a n t to g o h o m e , ' m o a n e d the m o s t simplistic: . . . I w a n t to g o h o m e , I d o n ' t w a n t to g o in the trenches n o m o r e , W h e r e w h i z z b a n g s a n d shrapnel, t h e y w h i s t l e a n d roar. T a k e m e o v e r the sea, w h e r e the a l l e y m a n c a n ' t g e t at m e O h m y , I d o n ' t w a n t to die, I w a n t to g o h o m e . It w a s a n o t h e r s o n g , h o w e v e r , a p a r o d y o f a c o n t e m p o r a r y m u s i c - h a l l hit, w h i c h u n w i t t i n g l y m o s t accurately r e c o r d e d the m o o d o f r e t u r n i n g s e r v i c e m e n l i k e G e r a l d . S u n g to the t u n e o f ' I ' l l M a k e a M a n o f Y o u ' , the squaddies' v e r s i o n h a d an u r g e n c y all o f its o w n : I d o n ' t w a n t to b e a soldier, I d o n ' t w a n t to g o to w a r , I ' d rather stay at h o m e , A r o u n d the streets t o r o a m , A n d l i v e o n the earnings o f a l a d y typist. I d o n ' t w a n t a b a y o n e t in m y b e l l y , I d o n ' t w a n t m y b o l l o c k s shot a w a y , I ' d rather stay in E n g l a n d , In m e r r y , m e r r y E n g l a n d , A n d fornicate m y b l e e d i n g life a w a y . L i n e s l i k e ' l i v e o n the earnings o f a l a d y typist' ( e v e n m o r e m e n t w h i c h the p r o s p e c t o f h o m e l e a v e , 'a B l i g h t y o n e ' , j u s t as m u c h in s e r v i n g h o m o s e x u a l s as in their loving or whore-hunting than

references to ' m e r r y , m e r r y E n g l a n d ' ) e x a c d y s u m u p the febrile e x c i t e eventual d e m o b i l i z a t i o n o r , m o r e rarely, a f e w days in Paris - ' P a r - e e ' - a r o u s e d home-and-hearthheterosexual comrades. ' T h e high-flying

" s p i r i t u a l " e m o t i o n a l i s m o f the last y e a r o r t w o [ o f the w a r ] w a s r e p l a c e d almost o v e r n i g h t b y an insatiable h u n g e r for d o w n r i g h t carnal e x p e r i e n c e a c r a v i n g to know the p h y s i c a l secrets o f as m a n y b o y s as p o s s i b l e . '
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G a y o r straight, for m o s t single s e r v i c e m e n o n h o m e l e a v e t h e r e w a s o n l y o n e p l a c e t h e y w a n t e d to b e - a n d , h a p p i l y a n d c o n v e n i e n t l y , boat-trains from the C h a n n e l ports b r o u g h t them right there, to V i c t o r i a a n d C h a r i n g C r o s s stations right in the heart o f the W e s t E n d

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o f L o n d o n . ' W e w a s o n the b o a t c o m i n g h o m e ' -

G e r a l d ' s Une is

t y p i c a l o f m a n y a n d seems to encapsulate n o t j u s t relief at h a v i n g s u r v i v e d , b u t also a d e t e r m i n a t i o n to m a k e u p for lost t i m e : O n the arrival o f the train there w o u l d b e scores o f y o u n g sailors t u m b l i n g o u t o f the train, all it s e e m e d in n e e d o f a g o o d piss. T h e y ran h e l t e r - s k e l t e r i n t o the large l a v a t o r y o n the platform, a n d p u l l i n g d o w n the flap o f their trousers pissed for all t h e y w e r e w o r t h . . . i f t h e y h a p p e n e d to n o t e s o m e e a g e r l o o k e r , t h e y w o u l d e x c l a i m , ' H e ' s a b e a u t y , isn't h e ? L i k e h i m u p y o u r b u m , c h u m ? ' T h i s sally w o u l d b e f o l l o w e d b y gales o f l a u g h t e r f r o m all the o t h e r pissing f e l l o w s . . .
1 8

It m u s t h a v e s e e m e d l i k e a n o t h e r w o r l d to m e n w h o o n l y a c o u p l e o f days earlier h a d b e e n at Y p r e s o r o n the S o m m e , for u n l i k e the S e c o n d W o r l d W a r , the G r e a t W a r h a d c o m p a r a t i v e l y litde effect o n the life o f the capital. T h e r e w e r e irregular Z e p p e l i n attacks a n d a i r raids (on 9 J u l y 1 9 1 7 The Times r e p o r t e d that 'at least t w e n t y aeroplanes a p p e a r e d o v e r L o n d o n . T h e y h o v e r e d o v e r L o n d o n for a considerable t i m e [. . .] F o r t u n a t e l y the casualties, t h o u g h serious e n o u g h , w e r e far f e w e r than in the [ p r e v i o u s raid, in J u n e ] , a n d the d a m a g e d o n e w a s small w h e n c o m p a r e d w i t h the m a g n i t u d e o f the r a i d ' ) . T h e r e w e r e b l a c k o u t restrictions, a l t h o u g h these w e r e n o t a p p l i e d w i t h a n y t h i n g l i k e the s e v e r i t y o f those in force d u r i n g the B l i t z . T h e r e w a s r a t i o n i n g t o o . B u t , again, this w a s n o t h i n g l i k e as s e v e r e as that at the e n d o f the S e c o n d W o r l d W a r . C o m p l a i n t s a b o u t it w e r e litde m o r e than glum, long-suffering grumbles: M y T u e s d a y s are m e a d e s s M y W e d n e s d a y s are w h e a d e s s I ' m g e t t i n g m o r e eadess e a c h day. M y h o m e it is headess M y b e d it is sheedess T h e y ' r e all sent to Y M C A .

M y C l u b R o o m s are treatless, M y coffee is s w e e d e s s E a c h d a y I get p o o r e r a n d w i s e r , M y stockings are feetless, M y trousers are seatless, M y G o d , b u t I d o hate the K a i s e r !
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E v e n this, h o w e v e r , s h o u l d b e seen in c o n t e x t . M r s A n i t a M o s t y n l o n g r e m e m b e r e d the e v e n i n g h e r father, an a r m y c o l o n e l , a r r i v e d b a c k in L o n d o n o n h o m e l e a v e in 1 9 1 8 : ' O u r c o o k h a d d i n n e r all ready, laid o u t o n the d i n i n g - r o o m table, d e l i c i o u s roast b e e f a n d Yorkshire pudding w h i c h she'd made with t w o o f o u r w e e k l y rationed eggs. F a t h e r k e p t saying, " G o o d n e s s ! I h a d n o idea y o u c o u l d still eat as w e l l as this in E n g l a n d . " '
2 0

I n m a n y respects, then, life c o n t i n u e d as n o r m a l - all the m o r e so in the W e s t E n d , w h e r e social life w e n t o n regardless. F o r e v e n a m o d e r a t e l y m o n e y e d m e m b e r o f w h a t w a s t h e n c a l l e d 'the officer class', i n d e e d , it m u s t h a v e s e e m e d as i f n o t h i n g h a d c h a n g e d . M i c h a e l D a v i d s o n w a s n o real 'toff', b u t e v e r y (public) m o m e n t w h e n h e w a s in L o n d o n seems to h a v e b e e n spent in a r o u n d o f s o c i e t y d i n i n g a n d p a r t y i n g in a n d a r o u n d D u k e Street w h i c h w o u l d n o t h a v e d i s g r a c e d an E d w a r d i a n lush. H e f o u n d t i m e , t o o , for haircuts at T r u e f i t t ( ' w h o m a d e G e o r g e I V ' s w i g s ' ) , drinks at the C a f R o y a l , the C a r l t o n o r P r i n c e ' s in P i c c a d i l l y , a n d m o r n i n g - a f t e r ' p i c k - m e - u p s ' at H e p p e l ' s in the H a y m a r k e t . B e v e r l e y N i c h o l s also h a d 'a g o o d w a r ' . W o r k i n g as an instructor in the O f f i c e r C a d e t B a t t a l i o n at its headquarters C a m b r i d g e and later in w h a t h e rather g r a n d l y called the in 'Secret

Service', he enjoyed extended periods o f leave during 1 9 1 7 and 1 9 1 8 a n d m o v e d in v e r y m u c h the s a m e circles as D a v i d s o n . A c c o r d i n g to his b i o g r a p h e r B r y a n C o n n o n , h e t o o ' e n j o y e d n o n - s t o p R i t z , the C a r l t o n o r the C a f R o y a l ' . A s s u r e d l y , b o t h D a v i d s o n a n d N i c h o l s spent m u c h o f their p r e c i o u s t i m e in t o w n in ' s y m p a t h e t i c ' c o m p a n y : o n e c o u l d h a r d l y , at that t i m e , arrive at the C a f R o y a l w i t h a b o y in t o w . B u t it is i m p o r t a n t to n o t e that their g a d d i n g a r o u n d w a s j u s t an o f f i c e r s - o n l y v e r s i o n o f w h a t w a s h a p p e n i n g all o v e r t o w n . E v e n in the w e e k s b e f o r e the A r m i s t i c e , L o n d o n ' s restaurants w e r e still o p e n a n d theatres w e r e p l a y i n g to full houses. Lillie L a n g t r y w a s at the L o n d o n C o l i s e u m ; t h e r e w e r e r e v u e s w i t h tides l i k e Bubbly, Tail-Up, Hullo, America! a n d A n d r C h a r i o t ' s Buzz-Buzz p l a y i n g in the Strand a n d o n Shaftesbury A v e n u e . A farce called A Little Bit of Fluff w a s c o m i n g to t h e e n d o f its r u n o f o v e r 1 , 2 0 0 p e r f o r m a n c e s at the C r i t e r i o n T h e a t r e , w h i l e the m u s i c a l Chu Chin Chow w a s w e l l o n its w a y to n o t c h i n g u p almost d o u b l e that n u m b e r at H i s M a j e s t y ' s . T h e r e w e r e prostitutes ( o f b o t h sexes) meetings w i t h friends in the setting o f the S a v i l e o r the B a c h e l o r s ' C l u b , the

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p l y i n g their trade in P i c c a d i l l y a n d c h o r u s girls w a i t i n g to ' m a k e a m a n ' o f a n y o n e in u n i f o r m at a score o f stage d o o r s . E v e n for the m o r e o r d i n a r y , o t h e r - r a n k s h o m o s e x u a l , then, the a t m o s p h e r e o f the capital in the years l e a d i n g u p to a n d i m m e d i a t e l y after the A r m i s t i c e w a s c h a r g e d a n d often p o s i t i v e l y electric. A l t h o u g h t h e y date f r o m a f e w years later, ' R o y ' s m e m o r i e s o f the W e s t E n d s c e n e h a v e the ring o f authenticity: I t o o k m y aunt o u t o n e n i g h t to the theatre a n d w e w e n t to the gallery o f the o l d P r i n c e o f W a l e s theatre. It's b e e n tremendously altered n o w . W e w e n t to see The Ghost Train. W e w e r e in the gallery a n d I realised then, m y instinct. N o b o d y told m e . I k e p t o n l o o k i n g at the b a c k a n d it w a s j e t - b l a c k a n d c r o w d e d , c r o w d e d full o f p e o p l e standing, a l t h o u g h there w e r e a lot o f e m p t y seats. A n d that w a s , I t h i n k , m y first realisation that this w a s a scene w h i c h I w a n t e d to j o i n in, I w e n t b a c k t w o o r three days afterwards to see The Ghost Train a n d s t o o d at the b a c k a n d w h a t w a s g o i n g o n there w a s n o b o d y ' s business! T h e y w e r e b i g m e e t i n g places. Y o u d i d m e e t n i c e p e o p l e in those days, s o m e t h i n g y o u d o n ' t d o these days; a n d w e a l t h y p e o p l e too. T h e y w e r e not nasty p e o p l e . T h e y ' d p r o b a b l y give you to a w h i s k y , w h i c h I t h o u g h t w a s n i c e . N e v e r o c c u r r e d to m e take m o n e y . J u s t n e v e r o c c u r r e d to t h e m , I s h o u l d n ' t lot.
21

think. It

n e v e r o c c u r r e d to a n y o n e . I w e n t r o u n d those theatres quite a

A l l in all, 'it w a s ' , as M i c h a e l D a v i d s o n recalled, 'a L o n d o n

where

" B o a t R a c e N i g h t " r o w d i n e s s w a s the rule e v e r y b o d y e x p e c t e d to b e k i l l e d as s o o n as his l e a v e w a s o v e r , a n d there w a s n o b l a c k o u t o r blitz to s e n d o n e h o m e . '


2 2

T h r e e - q u a r t e r s o f a c e n t u r y o n , it is difficult to d e c i d e w h e t h e r it w a s this d e t e r m i n e d r o w d i n e s s a n d carpe diem m e n t a l i t y w h i c h directly l e d to the e m e r g e n c e o f a r e c o g n i z a b l y ' m o d e r n ' h o m o s e x u a l u n d e r w o r l d in L o n d o n at this p e r i o d , o r w h e t h e r it h a d a l w a y s b e e n a r o u n d in a similar f o r m a n d m e r e l y b e g a n to coalesce in the desperate, feverish m o o d o f the w a r t i m e capital. O n b a l a n c e , the s e c o n d sounds more l i k e l y ( D a v i d s o n a d d e d that it w a s in 1 9 1 7 that ' I deliberately b e g a n

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p u r s u i n g m y secret w a n t s . I d i d n ' t l o o k for b o y s " o n the g a m e " -

hardly knew there were any' ( m y italics)).


W h i c h e v e r , b y the e n d o f the w a r the ' s c e n e ' h a d d e v e l o p e d i n t o s o m e t h i n g a p p r e c i a b l y different f r o m the L o n d o n w h i c h W i l d e h a d k n o w n o n l y a quarter o f a c e n t u r y p r e v i o u s l y . T h a t , as w e h a v e s e e n , h a d f r e q u e n d y b e e n sordid a n d amateurish; A l f r e d T a y l o r ' s b r o t h e l and his m a l a d r o i t attempts to pass h i m s e l f o f f as a sort o f u p p e r - c l a s s p a n d e r c a n n o t b e d e s c r i b e d as a n y t h i n g else. B u t t h e r e h a d also b e e n s o m e t h i n g dilettantish a b o u t it - w h a t w e m i g h t call the ' S a v o y H o t e l a n d cigarette cases' side o f things. N o w , almost abruptly, things h a d g o t a great deal m o r e ' p r o f e s s i o n a l ' a n d c o d i f i e d . B y 1 9 1 7 , for instance, w h e n h e w a s still o n l y t w e n t y , M i c h a e l D a v i d s o n w a s already adept at separating his p u b l i c from his v e r y m u c h less m o d i s h private life. A t a party that y e a r a w o m a n guest ' s u d d e n l y said: " T h e r e ' s s o m e t h i n g fishy a b o u t M i c h a e l I t h i n k h e ' s a w o m a n - h a t e r . I b e l i e v e h e likes little b o y s ! " ' D a v i d s o n ' s r e a c t i o n w a s w h o l l y in p e r i o d : ' O f c o u r s e , I r o a r e d w i t h

laughter; my double life had taken shape.'

23

A l t h o u g h there w a s n o realistic alternative to s u c h b e h a v i o u r , D a v i d son seems to h a v e r e v e l l e d in the subterfuge a n d d u p l i c i t y it i n v o l v e d : a d i n n e r party o n e d a y , a furtive visit to ' s o m e s w i m m i n g baths w h i c h a m p l y s u p p l i e d the needs o f the voyeur I w a s b e c o m i n g , [ w h e r e ] g e n e r a tions o f " d i r t y o l d m e n " , apparently, h a d systematically b o r e d p e e p holes t h r o u g h the w o o d e n partitions b e t w e e n e v e r y d r e s s i n g - b o x ' , the n e x t . It w a s all v e r y m u c h to his taste. H i s particular p r o c l i v i t i e s also l e d h i m to 'a strip o f the S e r p e n t i n e in H y d e P a r k [ w h i c h ] h a d b e e n insulated b y tradition a n d a surprisingly u n p r u d i s h B o a r d o f W o r k s for the b a t h i n g o f " m a l e s o n l y " . T h e r e w a s a w o n d e r f u l lot o f j u v e n i l e n u d i t y there,' h e recalled. T h e r e w e r e p o l i c e m e n t o o . O n e d a y , h e wrote: I h a d taken m y b a t h i n g - d r a w e r s and, a w a r e o f the n o t i c e o n l y ' , w a s sitting o n the grass w o n d e r i n g h o w c h i l l y the 'bathers breeze

b l o w i n g f r o m the M a r b l e A r c h m i g h t b e - besides, I h a d lent m y slip to a b o y w h o w a s s h y e r than m o s t a b o u t g o i n g in w i t h n o t h i n g o n . A l l at o n c e the d e l i c i o u s scene w a s harshly s h i v e r e d : I w a s b e i n g astonishingly s p o k e n to b y a p o l i c e m a n , b e i n g o r d e r e d t o ' g o a l o n g ' w i t h h i m o u t o f the b a t h i n g e n c l a v e ; I w a s in the hands of the Law.

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B y n o t instantly undressing a n d p l u n g i n g i n t o the w a t e r , b y d a l l y i n g o n the b a n k fully clad, I ' d b r o k e n a Parks R e g u l a t i o n - that w a s all; y e t w a l k i n g a w a y u n d e r p o l i c e escort, I felt that e a c h o f those staring e y e s w a s b o r i n g i n t o m y secret m i n d , that e v e r y m a n a n d b o y d i s c e r n e d that I w a s ' l i k e that' . . .
2 4

It w a s his first - t h o u g h hardly his last - brush w i t h the l a w . H i s p a t h o l o g i c a l attraction to 'feasting w i t h partners' w a s several times to b r i n g h i m to the attention o f the p o l i c e and, as w e shall see, o n o n e o c c a s i o n lead h i m to p r i s o n d u r i n g the n e x t t w e n t y years. In w h a t is n o w almost r o u t i n e l y d e s c r i b e d as his ' c o u r a g e o u s ' a u t o b i o g r a p h y The World, the Flesh and Myself (forgivably s o , since it w a s first p u b l i s h e d as l o n g a g o as 1 9 6 2 , five years b e f o r e the legalization o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y ) D a v i d s o n discusses all this a n d freely admits that b y 1 9 1 9 h e b e c o m e an ' o l d h a n d ' . H e w a s c o n v e r s a n t w i t h the processes o f ' p i c k i n g u p ' : as easy as w i n k i n g at that t i m e w h e n a m u l t i t u d e o f y e a r n i n g faces, y o u n g a n d o l d , u s e d - in H o l b r o o k J a c k s o n ' s w o r d s a b o u t Francis T h o m p s o n - to ' h a u n t the E m b a n k m e n t , the c a v e r n o u s arches o f C h a r i n g C r o s s , a n d the b l a c k a n d dusty c o l o n n a d e s o f C o v e n t G a r d e n . . .' a n d o n e shameful n i g h t w h i c h still, 40 years later, puts m e in a c o l d s w e a t w h e n I t h i n k o f it, I s m u g g l e d a b o y i n t o [our h o m e in] Q u e e n ' s Gate
2 5

had

w h i l e m y m o t h e r w a s asleep a n d s m u g g l e d h i m o u t w i t h the d a w n .

T h e r e is m o r e than a t o u c h o f b r a g g a d o c i o in these passages. R e a d in c o n t e x t , t h e y are a s e x u a l parallel to D a v i d s o n ' s a c c o u n t o f his life as a raffish, often g i n - s o a k e d , f o r e i g n c o r r e s p o n d e n t (criss-crossing c o n t i n e n t s to file stories for the Observer, risking his life to report o n the w a r in K o r e a ) w h i c h forms the c o r e o f the b o o k . B u t the e x p e r i e n c e s t h e y d e s c r i b e are n o t u n i q u e . then more numerous
26

I n his m o r e private

off-duty he

m o m e n t s B e v e r l e y N i c h o l s c h o s e to cruise the capital's T u r k i s h baths, than t h e y are t o d a y . ( ' U n e v e n t f u l n i g h t ' , n o t e d l a c o n i c a l l y in his diary after o n e s u c h visit to the Russell S q u a r e b a t h s . ) I n d e e d , it is hardly t o o fanciful to catch a refined e c h o o f the t o n e o f D a v i d s o n ' s (and H o l b r o o k J a c k s o n ' s ) nostalgia for C h a r i n g C r o s s a n d C o v e n t G a r d e n in the start o f a p o e m A . E . H o u s m a n c h o s e t o i n c l u d e in his Last Poems. It h a d b e e n w r i t t e n b e f o r e the turn

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o f the c e n t u r y , b u t its i n c l u s i o n in the significant:

1 9 2 2 c o l l e c t i o n is in itself

W h e n first m y w a y to fair I t o o k F e w p e n c e in purse h a d I , A n d l o n g I used to stand a n d l o o k A t things I c o u l d n o t b u y . N o w times are altered: i f I care T o b u y a thing, I can; T h e p e n c e are h e r e a n d h e r e ' s the fair, B u t w h e r e ' s the lost y o u n g m a n ?
2 7

O v e r a n d a b o v e the b r a g g a d o c i o , for the g e n e r a l reader, o f c o u r s e , a n o t h e r aspect o f D a v i d s o n ' s b o o k remains p r o b l e m a t i c . A s a selfp r o c l a i m e d ' l o v e r o f b o y s ' (as against H o u s m a n ' s 'lads' o r ' y o u n g m e n ' ) , h e is teetering at the v e r y e d g e o f w h a t , e v e n t o d a y , is s e e n as a c c e p t a b l e h o m o s e x u a l c o n d u c t . B e c a u s e o f this, perhaps, there is a t r u c u l e n c e in his style, an insistence that w e m u s t share in e v e r y t h i n g w h i c h h e e x p e r i e n c e d . O r d i n a r i l y , this w o u l d b e w e l c o m e ; frankness is all but, particularly o n matters s e x u a l , h e is t o o strident. E v e n the a r r a n g e m e n t o f the three n o u n s h e uses in the tide o f the b o o k is n o a c c i d e n t n o m o r e than is its n o d t o w a r d s the B o o k o f C o m m o n P r a y e r ' s r e f e r e n c e to 'the w o r l d , the flesh a n d the d e v i l ' . D a v i d s o n wants to b e the v e r y d e v i l , b u t s o m e o f the b o o k ' s k e y passages, s m u g g l e d in at u n e x p e c t e d m o m e n t s , s h o w h i m as s o m e o n e v e r y different, s o m e o n e v e r y m u c h m o r e sensitive. P e r c e p t i v e as e v e r , A r t h u r K o e s t l e r r e c o g n i z e d this w h e n , in r e v i e w i n g the b o o k , h e d e s c r i b e d it in part as the story o f 'a c o u r a g e o u s a n d l o v a b l e p e r s o n ' s struggle to c o m e to terms w i t h his G r e c i a n h e r e s y ' . C e r t a i n l y , these p e r s o n a l a n i m a d v e r s i o n s o f D a v i d s o n ' s p u t m o r e lurid passages such as those q u o t e d a b o v e i n t o a m o r e accurate c o n t e x t . F o r a m o m e n t , itself: T h e moralists w i l l e x e c r a t e , the pundits doubtless p o o h - p o o h me. t h e n , w e m u s t p u t aside a n y p r e j u d i c e a n d a l l o w o n e o f these ' p u r p l e ' passages to s p e a k for

B u t h e r e I ' m stating, as far as I ' m able, the truth a b o u t myself: m y highest, m o s t intense, pleasure o r happiness is o f the mind; a n d c o m e s f r o m seeing, b e i n g w i t h , t o u c h i n g , l o o k i n g i n t o the mind of, a b o y w h o , e m o t i o n a l l y , m e n t a l l y , rather than b o d i l y , is simpatico;

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a n d f r o m visually a b s o r b i n g the m u l t i p l e delights o f his nakedness. A n y s e x u a l acts w h i c h m a y , a n d generally d o , a c c o m p a n y , f o l l o w o r p r e c e d e this m e n t a l j o y are adjuncts - p r o l o g u e o r e p i l o g u e to the essential m o n o g r a p h o f the m i n d .
2 8

T h e italicization h e r e is D a v i d s o n ' s o w n ; b u t the l o n g i n g a n d b e i n g w i t h , t o u c h i n g , l o o k i n g i n t o the m i n d o f

the

loneliness w h i c h u n d e r p i n the w o r d s is far m o r e universal. ' S e e i n g , . . . the w o r d s n o t o n l y g o s o m e w a y t o w a r d s vitiating w h a t m i g h t b e p e r c e i v e d as the 'nastiness' o f D a v i d s o n ' s m o r e g r a p h i c effusions; t h e y catch the m o o d w h i c h F o r s t e r h a d so presciently identified b e f o r e w a r h a d e v e n b e e n d e c l a r e d , the sake' . . . realization o f 'the triviality o f c o n t a c t for contact's

U n b i d d e n , unconsciously, spontaneously, a n e w w o r l d was emerging. F o r all their b r a v e w o r d s , seers a n d p r o p h e t s s u c h as E d w a r d C a r p e n t e r ( w h o l i v e d until 1 9 2 9 ) c o u l d o n l y accept cups o f tea o r g i n - a n d - I t s a n d , l i k e w i s e uncles, a w a i t n e w s f r o m the d e l i v e r y r o o m . F o r , j u s t as t h e w a r b r o u g h t m e n t o g e t h e r , so t o o did the p e a c e . D e m o b i l i z a t i o n l e v e l l e d the g a p w h i c h h a d h i t h e r t o e x i s t e d b e t w e e n 'officers' and ' o t h e r r a n k s ' ' m e n ' a n d in so d o i n g established a c u r i o u s , classless, i n t e r d e p e n d e n t confraternity o f h o m o s e x u a l m e n w h i c h d e v e l o p e d in L l o y d G e o r g e ' s ' l a n d fit for h e r o e s to l i v e i n ' , a n d w h i c h , at least in e s s e n c e , is still the p a r a d i g m for the v e r t i g i n o u s c o m p l e x i t i e s o f the contemporary gay scene. In this respect, R o y ' s r e m i n i s c e n c e s o f those e v e n i n g s h e spent at the P r i n c e o f W a l e s T h e a t r e are especially i m p o r t a n t . In c o m p a r i s o n w i t h the likes o f M i c h a e l D a v i d s o n a n d B e v e r l e y N i c h o l s , R o y , b o r n in 1 9 0 8 a n d b r o u g h t u p in the south L o n d o n s u b u r b o f B r i x t o n , w a s a social n o b o d y . A n d y e t , at the theatre h e m e t ' n i c e p e o p l e ' , e v e n ' w e a l t h y p e o p l e ' . H e w a s n ' t there b e c a u s e h e w a s ' o n the g a m e ' ; he w a s n ' t a rent b o y p u t t i n g h i m s e l f a b o u t to m a k e m o n e y . I n d e e d , it n e v e r o c c u r r e d to h i m to take m o n e y f r o m a n o t h e r m a n ; 'it n e v e r o c c u r r e d to a n y o n e ' , h e says. T h i s is crucial, for w h a t R o y w a s e n g a g e d in w a s a social rather than a c o m m e r c i a l transaction - albeit o n e in w h i c h s o m e f o r m o f sexual activity m i g h t o r m i g h t n o t h a v e p l a y e d its part (the offer o f tots o f

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w h i s k y suggests that it p r o b a b l y d i d ) . H i s story, i n d e e d , is as perfect an encapsulation o f the h o m o s e x u a l w o r l d as it w a s in a r o u n d 1 9 2 0 as A l f r e d T a y l o r ' s is o f that s a m e w o r l d in the 1 8 9 0 s . I m p l i c i t l y , it hints at all the m a c r o c o s m i c social a n d p h i l a n t h r o p i c aspirations o f t h e p o s t - w a r e p o c h . ( W o m e n o v e r the a g e o f thirty w e r e g i v e n the right to v o t e in 1 9 1 8 . ) E x p l i c i t l y , a n d m o r e i m p o r t a n t l y for o u r p u r p o s e s , it e x e m p l i f i e s a w o r l d in w h i c h n e w liaisons w e r e d e v e l o p i n g , r e l a t i o n ships w h i c h crossed b o t h class b o u n d a r i e s a n d social n o r m s . ' S p e c i a l friendships' w h i c h m i g h t o r m i g h t n o t d e v e l o p i n t o s o m e t h i n g more permanent w e r e b l o s s o m i n g ; 'things' w h i c h w e r e far completely

different f r o m the c y n i c i s m a n d c o m m e r c i a l i s m so apparent i n A l f r e d T a y l o r ' s w o r l d w e r e h a p p e n i n g . Less than a d e c a d e after h e h a d d e d i cated Maurice to it, it w a s e v e n possible to b e l i e v e that E . M . Forster's 'better w o r l d ' m i g h t b e d a w n i n g . It w a s possible, b u t . . . It w a s H o u s m a n , again, w h o p u t things i n t o a m o r e realistic p e r s p e c t i v e and, l i k e o n e o f his classical sages, w a v e d a h o r t a t o r y finger. O n e o f the lesser o f his Last Poems s h r e w d l y p o i n t e d o u t that, h o w e v e r m u c h m e n l i k e R o y o r F o r s t e r l o o k e d to a w o r l d in w h i c h ' t w o m e n s h o u l d fall in l o v e a n d r e m a i n in it for e v e r a n d e v e r ' , that w o r l d w a s n o t g o i n g to a p p e a r o v e r n i g h t . N o r , a n y better - than the present: In the m o r n i n g , in the m o r n i n g , In the h a p p y field o f h a y , O h t h e y l o o k e d at o n e B y the light o f day. In the b l u e a n d silver m o r n i n g O n the h a y c o c k as t h e y l a y , O h t h e y l o o k e d at o n e another
2 9

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A n d then they l o o k e d a w a y .

A t this p o i n t it is w h o l l y fitting that w e s h o u l d r e t u r n to G e r a l d , c o l d a n d l o n e l y o n the d e c k o f the ship b r i n g i n g h i m b a c k f r o m L e H a v r e in 1 9 1 7 . A m a n has c o m e to stand b e s i d e h i m . H e smiles and, later, slips an a r m a r o u n d G e r a l d ' s shoulder. H i s n a m e is P h i l , a n d 'one t h i n g leads to a n o t h e r ' - v e r y rapidly h e a n d G e r a l d h a v e fallen in

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l o v e . It is the b e g i n n i n g o f w h a t G e r a l d later r e m e m b e r e d as the 'affair I h a d for s e v e n y e a r s ' . Things had changed. T h e y certainly h a d n ' t g o n e a c c o r d i n g to p l a n w h e r e G e r a l d w a s c o n c e r n e d . B e f o r e m e e t i n g P h i l h e h a d b e l i e v e d that h e w o u l d enter i n t o a n o r m a l , h e t e r o s e x u a l m a r r i a g e , b e c a u s e that w a s 'the proper t h i n g to d o , a l t h o u g h I h a d e x p e r i e n c e o f the o t h e r s i d e ' . N o w , a n e w s c e n a r i o w a s p r e s e n t i n g itself: ' W h e n I c o m e [sic] o u t o f the a r m y , w e s t u c k t o g e t h e r . I w a s l i v i n g at the t i m e in Ilford. I r e j o i n e d the a r m y in 1 9 2 0 , t h e n I w e n t o u t to G e r m a n y . I w a s l i v i n g w i t h P h i l at the same time and I saw h i m w h e n I came h o m e on leave and w e kept a flat t o g e t h e r . ' T h i s is a v i r t u a l l y u n i q u e declaration. T h e r e had, o f c o u r s e , b e e n h o m o s e x u a l couples before. T h e poet A l g e r n o n Charles Swinburne, for instance, h a d shared a P o o t e r i s h life w i t h T h e o d o r e W a t t s - D u n t o n at N o . 2 T h e P i n e s , P u t n e y , for thirty years w h e n h e d i e d in 1 9 0 9 . B u t e v e n the P o o t e r s h a d servants. G e r a l d ' s story is startling in its modernity: W e h a d q u i t e a h a p p y life together. W e d o n e [sic] the h o u s e w o r k b e t w e e n us. W e shared e v e r y t h i n g fifty-fifty. I f I s a w the s t o v e w a n t e d c l e a n i n g I ' d clean the s t o v e . I f h e s a w the chest o f d r a w e r s [ w a n t e d ] p o l i s h i n g h e ' d p o l i s h the chest o f d r a w e r s . I used to g o o u t a b o u t half-past e i g h t in the m o r n i n g , a n d h e ' d g o o u t p r o b a b l y earlier, s o m e w h e r e a b o u t half-past s e v e n . O n a v e r a g e , I w a s h o m e a b o u t half-past five, h e c a m e h o m e a b o u t half-past six. W h o e v e r c a m e h o m e first m a d e the m e a l . T h i s w a s u p to 1 9 2 6 , ' 2 7 .
3 0

T h e c o n t e m p o r a r y - s o u n d i n g m u n d a n e n e s s o f this a c c o u n t o f w h a t n o w seems a v e r y o r d i n a r y partnership shared e v e r y t h i n g fifty-fifty,' belies its i m p o r t a n c e . 'We Oscar the G e r a l d says. E x c e p t in hotels,

W i l d e n e v e r l i v e d w i t h B o s i e , let a l o n e m a d e his e v e n i n g m e a l ; n o r is it possible to p i c t u r e S w i n b u r n e a n d W a t t s - D u n t o n sharing c l e a n i n g a n d p o l i s h i n g i n their P u t n e y mnage--deux. E q u a l l y , it is difficult t o b e l i e v e that a n y o f the y o u n g m e n p a r a d e d in the witness b o x i n the T a y l o r - W i l d e trials w e r e b y 1 9 2 0 settling d o w n to e n j o y the b e g i n n i n g s o f a p e a c e f u l l y d o m e s t i c m i d d l e a g e . F o r s e v e n y e a n G e r a l d a n d P h i l w e r e p i o n e e r i n g w h a t w a s to c o m e the e x c l u s i v e ' c o s y ' malemale relationship w h i c h h a d b e e n

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a n a t h e m a to E d w a r d C a r p e n t e r a n d the t u r n - o f - t h e - c e n t u r y

socio-

sexual radicals a n d h a d f o u n d n o real p l a c e , e v e n in the h u g g e r - m u g g e r o f barracks a n d trenches, d u r i n g the G r e a t W a r . G e r a l d ' s a c c o u n t g o e s o n , i n d e e d , to delineate the d e c l i n e a n d fall o f w h a t w a s , essentially, a modem relationship. I f o n l y to s e r v e as a foretaste o f w h a t w a s to c o m e , it is w o r t h q u o t i n g at s o m e l e n g t h : I d o n ' t t h i n k o u r friends o r families k n e w [about o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p ] , y e t they h a d a v e r y g o o d suspicion. P h i l a n d I often t a l k e d a b o u t it; o n l y h e said ' W e l l [. . .] as l o n g as w e l o v e e a c h other, w h a t ' s it to d o w i t h o t h e r p e o p l e ? ' A n d that w a s the true situation. W e w e r e faithful to e a c h o t h e r . It w a s n ' t a case o f i f h e w a n t e d to b r i n g s o m e b o d y h o m e h e ' d b r i n g ' e m h o m e ; there w a s n o t h i n g l i k e that. W e ' d p r o b a b l y h a v e s e x o n c e a w e e k , o n c e a fortnight, all a c c o r d i n g to the m o o d w e w e r e i n . T h e n , w e w e n t o u t o n e n i g h t [to] the Q u e b e c C l u b i n P i c c a d i l l y . It w a s a g a y c l u b at that t i m e . W e h a d n ' t b e e n in there t w o m i n u t e s w h e n , all o f a s u d d e n , u p c o m e s this o t h e r c h a p . . . T h e y kiss e a c h o t h e r a n d all that sort o f business. I t h o u g h t to myself, W e l l , I d o n ' t k n o w , t h e y ' r e g e t t i n g a bit t o o close t o g e t h e r in their c o n v e r s a t i o n a n d this, that a n d the other. I g o t a bit a n n o y e d . O n e t h i n g l e d to another, a n d this c h a p t u r n e d r o u n d . H e said, ' G o o d g r a c i o u s alive! G e r a l d darling, d o n ' t y o u k n o w I k n e w P h i l l o n g b e f o r e y o u k n e w h e r . ' W e l l , o f c o u r s e , that a g g r a v a t e d it a n d t h e n left the flat. I left the flat to h i m .
3 1

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t h e y w e r e still c o m m o n l y c o n s i d e r e d ' q u e e r s ' , ' n o n c e s ' ,

'poofters',

' b e n d e r s ' , ' b r o w n - n o s e s ' , 'shirt-lifters' o r ' n a n c y - b o y s ' . B u t fashion able L o n d o n at least w a s b e g i n n i n g to e m b r a c e a n e w gay sensibility i n b o t h senses o f the w o r l d . ' G a y ' w a s o n e o f the k e y w o r d s in its l i m i t e d v o c a b u l a r y . ( ' S o ' , as in 'so utterly', a n d ' t o o , too . . .' a n d 'simply' w e r e a m o n g the others, j u s t as t h e y h a d b e e n a m o n g the Aesthetes.) B u t it is i m p o r t a n t to r e m e m b e r that the w o r d ' g a y ' t h e n still c o n v e y e d little m o r e than n o t i o n s o f g e n e r a l i n n o c e n c e a n d frivolity a n d c o n t i n u e d t o d o so for the n e x t q u a r t e r - c e n t u r y . N o v e l l o o p e n e d in L o n d o n w i t h the title Gay's infrequently r e v i v e d today. The ' g a y n e s s ' o f the 1 9 2 0 s , h o w e v e r , m a d e possible - i f it d i d n ' t A s late as 1 9 5 1 a the Word. T h e r e m u s i c a l b y the ( h o m o s e x u a l ) W e l s h c o m p o s e r a n d m a t i n e i d o l I v o r w e r e n o titters w h e n the curtain w e n t u p ; b u t , understandably, it is
2

e x a c t l y b r i n g a b o u t - the e m e r g e n c e in the W e s t E n d o f N o v e l l o , N o l C o w a r d a n d J a c k B u c h a n a n ; the a p p e a r a n c e o f fashionable n e w novelists s u c h as B e v e r l e y N i c h o l s , H u g h W a l p o l e , Rafael Sabatini a n d M i c h a e l A r l e n ; the success o f H a r o l d N i c o l s o n ' s ' f u n n y n e w friend', the c o u t u r i e r E d w a r d M o l y n e u x ( w h o c o n t i n u e d to design c o s t u m e s for C o w a r d p r o d u c t i o n s until 1 9 6 6 ) ; the rise o f C e c i l B e a t o n ; the v e r y e x i s t e n c e o f his friends D a v i d a n d S t e p h e n T e n n a n t ('His lips are t o o m a g e n t a for m y taste,' L y t t o n S t r a c h e y w a s to n o t e o f the latter); the d i s c o v e r y o f a y o u n g a c t o r called J o h n G i e l g u d ( w h e n he p l a y e d R o m e o in 1 9 2 4 ) ; a n d the g l o r i o u s t w i l i g h t o f such w e a l t h y , e x o t i c dandies as G e r a l d T y r w h i t t , the fourteenth L o r d B e r n e r s , a n d N e d ,

74

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the fifth E a r l o f L a t h o m ( w h o w a s to die f r o m tuberculosis in 1 9 3 0 , as i f to m a r k the e n d o f an era). It did n o t m a t t e r that b o t h B u c h a n a n a n d A r l e n w e r e (apparently) sturdily h e t e r o s e x u a l ; in the climate o f the t i m e t h e y w e r e gay. This w a s the 'Jazz A g e ' , after all. E v e r y o n e w a s h a v i n g a ball in a w o r l d w h i c h A r l e n d e s c r i b e d as o n e o f ' u n s e a s o n a b l e delicacies, a r t i c h o k e s a n d asparagus, oysters a n d strawberries, p l o v e r s ' eggs a n d caviare a n d c a n t a l o u p ' . T h e r e w a s B e r n e r s , a dilettante c o m p o s e r , w r i t e r a n d artist, h i g h spiritedly d y e i n g in pastel shades the d o v e s w h i c h fluttered o u t s i d e his h o u s e at F a r i n g d o n in O x f o r d s h i r e w h i l e m a k i n g sure that e v e r y t h i n g inside w a s w h a t N i c h o l s called ' a m u s i n g ' : 'the feather flowers, the b i g b o w l s o f p i n k s w e e t s u n d e r p i n k g e r a n i u m s , the N o t t i n g h a m of surrealistic magazines, etc.'. There was until Arlen, he originally a lace an new curtains in the u l t r a - m o d e r n b a t h r o o m s , the p a p e r shrines, the c o p i e s Armenian called D i k r a n Kouyoumdjian from plucked grouse,

English-sounding name around London in

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London the

telephone glamorous

d i r e c t o r y , w h o w h e n h e w a s n o t in the S o u t h o f F r a n c e d r o v e a canary-yellow Rolls-Royce, Atalanta, o n e o f B r i t a i n ' s first ' t r o p h y - w i v e s ' , b y his side. E v e r y t h i n g h a d b e e n p a i d for b y the e x t r a o r d i n a r y success o f his s e c o n d n o v e l , The Green Hat, w h i c h w a s first p u b l i s h e d in the s u m m e r o f 1 9 2 4 . ' I ' m e v e r y o t h e r i n c h a g e n t l e m a n ! ' h e gleefully told those real g e n t l e m e n w h o t h o u g h t they, n o t h e , w e n t the full m i l e . There was, too, the fabulously w e a l t h y L o r d L a t h o m . Always he either the referred to in the gossip c o l u m n s as 'that i n v e t e r a t e first-nighter', insisted that his f o o t m e n h e a t e d i n c e n s e in s p o o n s to p e r f u m e his L o n d o n h o m e in C u m b e r l a n d P l a c e o r his c o u n t r y

retreat in

Y o r k s h i r e b e f o r e guests a r r i v e d . H i s passions w e r e o r c h i d s a n d

theatre. T h e f o r m e r he b a n k e d in front o f m i r r o r s b e f o r e e v e r y party; the latter h e e x t r a v a g a n t l y b a n k - r o l l e d . H e f i n a n c e d W e s t E n d s h o w s a n d private p r o d u c t i o n s o f b o t h his o w n , i n v a r i a b l y unsuccessful plays (one w a s called Wet Paint) a n d s h o w s w h i c h h a d b e e n refused a p u b l i c p e r f o r m a n c e l i c e n c e b y the L o r d C h a m b e r l a i n . H e m o u n t e d elaborate after-dinner m a s q u e s for the e n t e r t a i n m e n t o f his friends, a n d s u b s i d i z e d the early careers o f ' b o y s ' such as N i c h o l s , N o v e l l o a n d C o w a r d w h o m h e f o u n d ' a m u s i n g ' to s u c h an e x t e n t that b y the e n d o f the d e c a d e h e w a s virtually penniless. A l t h o u g h h e h a d a b s o l u t e l y n o use

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for t h e m , h e b o u g h t

t w o o f C o w a r d ' s earliest songs. Later, w h e n sum a

C o w a r d k n e w h i m rather better a n d a p p r o a c h e d h i m for a loan, h e refused - b u t i m m e d i a t e l y g a v e h i m 2 0 0 , a n o t - i n c o n s i d e r a b l e in 1 9 2 1 , as an o u t r i g h t gift. F a r better, h e friendship . . . T h e r e w e r e the b o y s , t o o . N e w c o m e r s to the s c e n e , i f t h e y d i d n ' t h a v e the aristocratic b a c k g r o u n d o r the family m o n e y o f B e r n e r s a n d L a t h o m , t h e y w e r e p r e d o m i n a n t l y m i d d l e a n d u p p e r m i d d l e class a n d p e r h a p s m o r e i m p o r t a n t l y - y o u n g m e n b o r n a d e c a d e o r so after the W i l d e trials a n d g e n e r a l l y after W i l d e ' s death. J o i n d y a n d severally, N o l C o w a r d h a d the m e a s u r e o f t h e m : in o n e o f his slighter cabaret songs h e listed t h e m as ' P r e t t y b o y s , w i t t y b o y s [. . .] H a u g h t y b o y s , n a u g h t y b o y s [. . .] F a d e d b o y s , j a d e d b o y s , w o m a n k i n d ' s gift to a b u l l d o g nation'. B e a t o n , N o v e l l o , N i c h o l s , W a l p o l e , the designers E d w a r d M o l y n e u x , O l i v e r M e s s e l a n d R e x W h i s d e r , the n o w - f o r g o t t e n writers C o l l i e K n o x a n d G o d f r e y W i n n a n d the slightly o l d e r C o w a r d h i m s e l f w e r e de facto the n e o - A e s t h e t e s . M o s t w e r e , l i k e C o w a r d a n d N o v e l l o , u n t a i n t e d b y a u n i v e r s i t y e d u c a t i o n a n d - a n o t h e r o f the k e y w o r d s o f the d e c a d e s splendidly theatrical. B e r n e r s a n d L a t h o m a n d their likes (and t h e r e w e r e m a n y ) almost t o o literally t o o k t h e m to their b o s o m . T h e y i n t r o d u c e d t h e m to the delights o f fine w i n e , g o o d f o o d a n d w e e k e n d s in the c o u n t r y ; a n d L a t h o m at least w h o preferred a c o l o g n e a p d y called ' S u i v e z - M o i , J e u n e H o m m e ' r e w a r d e d their attentions w i t h gifts o f C a r t i e r rings a n d cigarette cases for all the w o r l d as i f O s c a r W i l d e h a d n o t b e e n castigated for d o i n g m u c h the s a m e . T h e wealthy novelist and playwright Somerset M a u g h a m took G o d f r e y W i n n u n d e r his w i n g , e v e n i n v i t i n g h i m to stay for a m o n t h at the V i l l a M a u r e s q u e , his h o m e at C a p Ferrat. F o r W i n n this h o l i d a y w i t h his 'literary g o d ' w a s the first unsettling g l i m p s e o f a w h o l e n e w w o r l d . ' I h a d n o idea h o w m u c h w a s to b e a d d e d to m y p r e v i o u s l y constricted k n o w l e d g e o f h u m a n emotions,' he w r o t e . W h e n I p r e s e n t e d m y s e l f in the salon, b e f o r e l u n c h , o n the day o f m y arrival straight f r o m the train, in m y o r t h o d o x E n g l i s h g r e y flannel suit, m y host t o o k o n e l o o k at m e a n d g a v e m e m y first m a r c h i n g orders. ' N o tie, n o j a c k e t , n o socks. T h i s is the S o u t h o f F r a n c e in said, than r u i n i n g

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A u g u s t , n o t Finals D a y at W i m b l e d o n . ' W h e n I r e t u r n e d f r o m m y r o o m for his reappraisal, h e a d d e d , ' G e r a l d , take G o d f r e y i n t o N i c e this afternoon a n d get h i m s o m e l i n e n slacks, shirts a n d espadrilles at the B o n M a r c h , l i k e y o u r s . ' I g l a n c e d across at the m a n dressed in c a n d y - p i n k b e a c h - c l o t h e s , w h o w a s h a n d i n g r o u n d drinks, a n d i n s t i n c t i v e l y s o m e t h i n g in m e

revolted. / don't want to look like you. To resemble you in any way, ever. [. . .]
G e r a l d H a x t o n , the m a n w h o h a d b e e n M a u g h a m ' s c o m p a n i o n o n his e x t r e m e l y fruitful w o r l d travels, w a s , I s u p p o s e , at that t i m e in his late thirties. A l r e a d y the signs o f the dissipation that w a s ultimately to destroy h i m w e r e b e g i n n i n g to s h o w o n his face, a n d in his increasingly b l o o d s h o t eyes [. . .] O n l y w h e n h e d i v e d g r a c e fully f r o m the p l a n k at o n e e n d o f the p o o l , set h i g h o n the hillside a n d s u r r o u n d e d b y o l e a n d e r bushes, d i d h e c a p t u r e a n d e c h o the c h a r m o f his s u r r o u n d i n g s a l t h o u g h for m y s e l f that w a s c a n c e l l e d o u t b y his insistence o n a l w a y s b a t h i n g n a k e d , e v e n w h e n t h e r e w e r e w o m e n s u n b a t h i n g o n the y e l l o w cushions a l o n g the m a r b l e v e r g e . I c l u n g to m y b r i e f shorts t h r o u g h o u t m y visit. It w a s n ' t so m u c h that I w a s p r i m , as that I w a s still u n f l e d g e d .
3

A n e w w o r l d w a s e m e r g i n g , albeit a small a n d select o n e w h i c h w a s c e n t r e d o n the W e s t E n d o f L o n d o n a n d e x t e n d e d n o further than a belt o f c o u n t r y houses in the H o m e C o u n t i e s . W i t h i n it, h o w e v e r , a n e w h o m o s e x u a l h e d o n i s m , w h i c h in m a n y w a y s o u t d i d the c a m p n e s s o f W i l d e a n d the A e s t h e t e s , e v o l v e d a n d flourished. E v e r y o n e k n e w e v e r y o n e else a n d felt safe in his c o m p a n y . B y 1 9 3 0 , for e x a m p l e , C e c i l B e a t o n (then j u s t t w e n t y - s i x ) w a s setting u p h o m e for h i m s e l f at A s h c o m b e in W i l t s h i r e a n d d o i n g so in s o m e c o n s i d e r a b l e style:

Summer ig^o
. . . It h a p p e n e d that all m y guests w e r e painters a n d since the w e a t h e r w a s t o o i n c l e m e n t to t e m p t us o u t o f d o o r s , the S u n d a y w a s d e d i c a t e d to transforming m y b e d r o o m i n t o a c i r c u s - r o o m . T h e r o o m w a s to b e p a i n t e d in garish c o l o u r s w i t h n i c h e s filled w i t h circus p e r f o r m e r s , w i t h b a r o q u e e m b l e m s , b a r l e y - s u g a r p o l e s and flowered mirrors. E a c h guest set to w o r k o n the w h i t e walls 'fat to c o n t r i b u t e his o w n panel. R e x W h i s t l e r p a i n t e d a s u p e r b

w o m a n ' , L o r d B e r n e r s a C o l u m b i n e w i t h p e r f o r m i n g d o g s (a v e r y

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u n g a i n l y mastiff w a s c a u g h t in the a g o n i z i n g act o f j u m p i n g t h r o u g h a p a p e r h o o p ) , C h r i s t o p h e r S y k e s p a i n t e d a t u m b l e r , upside d o w n , b a l a n c i n g , a m o n g o t h e r objects, a goldfish b o w l o n his feet. O l i v e r M e s s e l c r e a t e d a small n e g r o , n a k e d e x c e p t for a p i n k f l a m i n g o ostrich feather w o r n o n his head. M m e v o n B i s m a r c k p i c t u r e d an equestrienne on a flower-dappled circus p o n y , a n d h e r husband d e c i d e d to p o r t r a y 'the strong m a n o f the F a i r ' w i t h v o l u t e m u s t a chios, tattoo m a r k s , h e a v y b a l l - w e i g h t s a n d chains. H o w e v e r , Y o r c k Bismarck eschewed the traditional circus m a n n e r o f carefully finished realistic p a i n t i n g for the m o r e m o d e r n slapdash strokes o f the b r u s h , a n d the n e x t w e e k e n d R e x W h i s t l e r c o u l d n o t resist t o u c h i n g u p the flowing c h e v e l u r e a n d m u s t a c h i o s , the better to c o n f o r m w i t h the o t h e r murals. 'Please d o n ' t , R e x ! ' I p l e a d e d . ' T h e r e ' l l b e hell to p a y i f Y o r c k ever discovered y o u ' v e touched a thing.' B u t the t e m p t a t i o n w a s t o o great. R e x w a s u n a b l e to resist repainting, m e t i c u l o u s l y a n d realistically, the crisply w a v i n g hair, the m u s t a c h i o s , then, o f c o u r s e , the c o l u m n - l i k e throat, the b r a w n y chest, a n d so o n d o w n the w h o l e o v e r - m u s c u l a r b o d y .
4

U n f o r t u n a t e l y , n o visual r e c o r d o f the fantastic, b a r o q u e campness t h e r e is n o o t h e r w o r d - o f the circus b e d r o o m seems to h a v e s u r v i v e d . H o w e v e r , as B e a t o n ' s diary entry i m p l i e s , it is n o t the archness o f h a v i n g a ' w e e k e n d e r ' w h e r e 'all m y guests w e r e painters' o r e v e n the n o t i o n o f w a n t i n g a circus b e d r o o m at all w h i c h s h o u l d interest us. R a t h e r , it is the fact that L o r d B e r n e r s , a hereditary p e e r a n d b y then a p p r o a c h i n g fifty, s h o u l d so w i l l i n g l y h a v e a g r e e d to m u c k in w i t h ' b r i g h t y o u n g things' scarcely h a l f his a g e - e v e n y o u n g e r than B e a t o n , the p a i n t e r a n d d e s i g n e r R e x W h i s t l e r t u r n e d t w e n t y - f i v e o n l y in 1 9 3 0 and have continued to d o s o . T h e m o s t f a m o u s p h o t o g r a p h of B e r n e r s is a snap w h i c h B e a t o n t o o k in 1 9 3 7 . It s h o w s the p e e r at an elaborate A s h c o m b e jte-champtre. H e is w e a r i n g fifty-five years o f a g e w h e n it w a s taken. A s t h e y said, t h o u g h , it w a s all j u s t a sign o f the times. F i v e years later still, in 1 9 4 2 , F i e l d M a r s h a l L o r d W a v e l l w a s to i n t r o d u c e B e r n e r s to friends w i t h the phrase: ' H e ' s a m u s i c i a n , a n d a s a u c y f e l l o w . '
5

eighteenth-century around

court costume and a pig's head mask. H e w o u l d have been

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A l t h o u g h he is perhaps less w e l l k n o w n t o d a y than, say, C o w a r d , B e a t o n o r e v e n N o v e l l o , B e v e r l e y N i c h o l s u n i q u e l y personifies w h a t we m i g h t call the ' s o c i e t y h o m o s e x u a l ' o f the t w e n t i e s . I n d e e d , his life d u r i n g the early part o f the d e c a d e w a s in m a n y w a y s t h e m o s t typical. At the e n d o f the G r e a t W a r h e h a d criss-crossed A m e r i c a p e r f o r m i n g largely e x i g u o u s duties as the secretary o f a B r i t i s h d e l e g a t i o n c h a r g e d w i t h f i n d i n g w a y s in w h i c h closer c o - o p e r a t i o n c o u l d b e established b e t w e e n B r i t i s h a n d A m e r i c a n universities. F o r m a l l y d e m o bilized in the first w e e k s o f 1 9 1 9 , h e r e t u r n e d t o O x f o r d U n i v e r s i t y to c o n t i n u e w o r k i n g t o w a r d s the B A for w h i c h h e h a d b e e n r e a d i n g w h e n h e w a s called u p . B u t his heart w a s n e v e r in the w o r k . R a t h e r like m a n y an u n d e r g r a d u a t e b e f o r e a n d since h e d e v o t e d days a n d w h o l e w e e k s to the t i m e - c o n s u m i n g business o f b e c o m i n g an O x f o r d 'character' a n d establishing w h a t h e called a 'suitable P l a t f o r m ' as s o o n as h e c a m e d o w n . H e h a d to. S e t t i n g o u t to s h o c k in the O x f o r d o f the 1 8 7 0 s , W i l d e a n d the Aesthetes h a d n o t n e e d e d to try v e r y hard. A p p a l l e d , a m u s e d o r j u s t b e w i l d e r e d , their f e l l o w - u n d e r g r a d u a t e s w e r e a c a p t i v e a u d i e n c e , o n l y t o o e a g e r to r e c o r d a n d relate e v e r y last aperu, n o m a t t e r h o w foolish, n o m a t t e r h o w footling. ( O n e a c o l y t e s a w W i l d e d r o o l i n g o v e r a student athlete a n d w r o t e d o w n w h a t h e h e a r d . H e n c e , a l t h o u g h W i l d e ' s w o r d s o n that o c c a s i o n ' H i s left l e g is a G r e e k p o e m ' w e r e hardly m e m o r a b l e , t h e y h a v e still g a i n e d a p l a c e in T h e C a n o n . ) W i t h i n a f e w decades, h o w e v e r , the n a r r o w , trail-blazing p a t h o f this tiny, self-advertising c l i q u e h a d b e e n c r o w d e d b y a t h r o n g o f fellow-travellers. U p at T r i n i t y H a l l , C a m b r i d g e , in 1 9 0 9 t h e r e w a s the archly c a m p R o n a l d F i r b a n k . A M a x B e e r b o h m de son jour, he was later to m a k e his n a m e w i t h n o v e l s w h o s e v e r y titles Concerning
6

from

w h i c h he c o u l d l a u n c h h i m s e l f i n t o a c a r e e r o f w e a l t h a n d c e l e b r i t y

the Eccentricities of Cardinal Pirelli ( 1 9 2 6 ) ; Prancing Nigger ( 1 9 2 4 ) - clearly


i n t i m a t e d that they w e r e n o t in the Boys' Own Paper ' S a p p e r ' - J o h n Buchan mould. Nor was Firbank:

In his r o o m [at C a m b r i d g e ] h e w o u l d sit i n c u r t a i n e d a n d s h a d e d t w i l i g h t , b e h i n d his h e a d the y e l l o w g l i m m e r o f candles set in c a r v e d a n d g i l d e d candelabra. A s h e talked in his h i g h - p i t c h e d v o i c e , the

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silhouette o f his face, large a n d

fleshy,

with low brow,

aquiline

n o s e , a n d full lips, w o u l d pass across the light. H i s hands, clasping his ankles o r c i r c l i n g his h e a d in frequent gestures, g l i n t e d w i t h the s o m b r e c o l o u r s o f his rings. U s u a l l y h e w o r e a g r e e n j a d e C h i n e s e ring, b u t o c c a s i o n a l l y h e preferred the c o l o u r o f s o m e b l u e E g y p t i a n rings, made o f earthenware. In a p p e a r a n c e , h e a l w a y s r e m i n d e d A . C . L a n d s b e r g o f the portraits o f s o c i e t y w o m e n b y B o l d i n i . . J

A n d that w a s at C a m b r i d g e , w h e r e scientia (or, as w e shall see, C a e s a r ' s 'scientia a t q u e usus m i l i t u m ' ) w a s traditionally rated as at least the e q u a l o f the humanitas o f the O x f o r d S c h o o l s . A t B a l l i o l a d e c a d e a n d a h a l f later N i c h o l s s a w the w a y that things w e r e g o i n g a n d realized that h e h a d n o t i m e to lose. In the 1 9 2 0 s O x f o r d w a s feting the arrival o f s u c h as H a r o l d A c t o n , E v e l y n W a u g h , J o h n high-profile Betjeman, undergraduates

A n t h o n y P o w e l l , B r i a n H o w a r d and, a little later, W . H . A u d e n a n d S t e p h e n S p e n d e r . A l o n g w i t h a score o r so o f less literary c o n t e m p o r aries, these h a v e s u b s e q u e n d y b e e n labelled 'the B r i d e s h e a d G e n e r a t i o n ' in d e f e r e n c e to W a u g h ' s n o v e l , b e c a u s e o f their c a m p , cavalier d i s r e g a r d o f all traditional ideas o f u n d e r g r a d u a t e d e c o r u m . B u t t h e y w e r e o n l y the i c i n g o n the c a k e : in the 1 9 2 0 s the w h o l e o f w h a t w a s t h e n an o v e r w h e l m i n g m a l e u n i v e r s i t y w a s , in P o w e l l ' s w o r d s , 'indifferent to h o m o s e x u a l i t y ' . Indifferent to it himself, in his a u t o b i o g r a p h i c a l w r i t i n g P o w e l l rather d o w n p l a y s w h a t w e m i g h t n o w almost describe as its p r e v a l e n c e . H i s s u a v e i r o n y belies the fact that, at least for A c t o n , H o w a r d a n d 'the fast set' a m o n g w h o m P o w e l l c o u n t e d h i m s e l f i f it w a s n o t strictly de rigueur, h o m o s e x u a l i t y w a s certainly m o r e than s i m p l y comme ilfaut. L i k e P o w e l l , W a u g h a n d B e t j e m a n w e r e also n o m o r e than dabblers (all w e r e s u b s e q u e n t l y m a r r i e d a n d i n d e e d fathered c h i l d r e n ) . A u d e n , t o o slightly y o u n g e r a n d n e v e r a m e m b e r o f a n y set p l o u g h e d his o w n f u r r o w . B u t the effete a n d , it has to b e said, p r i v i l e g e d style o f the B r i d e s head Generation permeated O x f o r d and was remarkably pervasive, t r i c k l i n g d o w n i n d e e d u n t o the third a n d fourth g e n e r a t i o n . W a u g h c a u g h t it w e l l w h e n h e l a m p o o n e d the O l d E t o n i a n B r i a n H o w a r d B r i a n C h r i s t i a n d e C l a i b o r n e H o w a r d , to g i v e h i m his full n a m e in his n o v e l Brideshead Revisited, w h i c h , w e m i g h t pause to n o t e , bears the n o w o v e r l o o k e d subtitle ' T h e S a c r e d a n d Profane
8

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M e m o r i e s o f C a p t a i n C h a r l e s R y d e r ' . T h i n l y disguised, the

friend

w h o m W a u g h o n c e d e s c r i b e d as an ' i n c o r r i g i b l e h o m o s e x u a l ' t h e r e appears as A n t h o n y B l a n c h e . H e is an a m b i v a l e n t character, o r at least o n e a b o u t w h o m his creator is a m b i v a l e n t . H e is, W a u g h tells us, 'tall, slim, rather s w a r t h y , w i t h large s a u c y e y e s [. . .] H e h a d o n a s m o o t h c h o c o l a t e - b r o w n suit w i t h l o u d w h i t e stripes, s u d e shoes, a large b o w - t i e a n d h e d r e w o f f y e l l o w , w a s h - l e a t h e r g l o v e s as h e c a m e i n t o the r o o m ; part G a l l i c , part Y a n k e e , part, perhaps J e w ; w h o l l y e x o t i c . '
9

H a r o l d A c t o n n e e d e d n o W a u g h (although aspects o f his character t o o are m e l d e d i n t o the fictional character o f A n t h o n y B l a n c h e ) . In his a u t o b i o g r a p h y Memoirs of an Aesthete, p u b l i s h e d in 1 9 4 8 , h e l o o k e d b a c k w i t h a certain c o l d e y e o n the licentious, e v e n l u d i c r o u s excesses o f his first years at O x f o r d : Aquarium, m y first v o l u m e o f p o e m s , w a s p u b l i s h e d d u r i n g my

s e c o n d t e r m [in 1 9 2 3 ] , a n d its r e d , b l a c k a n d y e l l o w striped c o v e r m e t m e e v e r y w h e r e l i k e a c h a l l e n g e . F o r a b o o k o f p o e m s it h a d a prompt success. S i n c e I w a s free from false m o d e s t y , as f r o m e v e r y t h i n g false, a n d possessed o f a resonant v o i c e , I n e v e r faltered w h e n I w a s asked to read t h e m , b u t s h o u t e d t h e m lustily d o w n a m e g a p h o n e . N o r w o u l d I tolerate interruptions. c o u l d also b e b r a n d i s h e d as a w e a p o n . H o w m a n y copies of Aquarium d i d I a u t o g r a p h w i t h t e n d e r d e d i cations! W h e r e are t h e y n o w , those witnesses o f y o u t h f u l passion? I t h i n k I k n o w the a n s w e r . N o t l o n g a g o I c a m e across a c o p y in C h a r i n g C r o s s R o a d a n d p u r c h a s e d it - for t h r e e - p e n c e . Sic transit gloria . . . A t least it h a d b e e n w e l l - t h u m b e d a n d n i c e l y battered. T h e fly-leaf w a s t o r n out. H a d it c o m p r o m i s e d the o w n e r ? M y t h o u g h t s r e t u r n e d to the b y g o n e l o v e s to w h o m I h a d g i v e n c o p i e s , to b l u e eyes, g r e e n e y e s , e y e s like black d i a m o n d s , to gentle struggles a n d s h o w e r s o f b u r n i n g kisses [. . .] I c u l l e d the prmices, a n d it is a s u b d e satisfaction, e v e n in retrospect, to h a v e k i n d l e d flames in E l g i n m a r b l e breasts. A f t e r m a n y y e a n the breasts p r e t e n d to forget . . . D o t h e y r e m e m b e r o u r ecstasies o n the T h a m e s a n d at T h a m e ? D o they
10

The

megaphone

r e m e m b e r the p o e m s t h e y inspired? L e t t h e m blush as t h e y read these w o r d s in their nuptial c o u c h e s : I h a v e n o t f o r g o t t e n a single k i s s .

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P o e t r y , published p o e t r y , b l u e eyes, g r e e n eyes, eyes l i k e b l a c k d i a m o n d s ; g e n t l e struggles; s h o w e r s o f b u r n i n g kisses; E l g i n m a r b l e breasts . . . this w a s the m i l i e u i n t o w h i c h N i c h o l s k n o w i n g l y launched himself. B u t , m o n o m a n i a c a l a n d fiercely a m b i t i o u s , despite a s o m e w h a t p r e c i o u s , s u e d e - s h o e d campness, u n l i k e A c t o n , w h i l e at O x f o r d N i c h o l s seems to h a v e h a d little interest in o r c o n t a c t w i t h the physical side o f things. Instead o f E l g i n m a r b l e breasts h e e m b r a c e d the O x f o r d student m a g a z i n e his a n d v a r i o u s national periodicals in B r i t a i n a n d A m e r i c a , b o m b a r d i n g t h e m w i t h his o w n p o e m s as w e l l as articles a n d ideas, a n d finally a c h i e v e d a l o n g - h e l d a m b i t i o n w h e n h e w a s elected P r e s i d e n t o f the U n i o n . T h a t at least g o t h i m n o t i c e d , a l t h o u g h it is i m p o s s i b l e n o w to d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r a p o p h t h e m a t i s m m a g a z i n e d u r i n g his final term: J o c u l a r levity, Seasoned with brevity, W i s d o m that's rare, H a r k to o u r B e v e r l e y , T a l k i n g so c l e v e r l y , Y o u n g a n d so fair!" F o r a m a n o f N i c h o l s ' s p r e t e n s i o n , h o w e v e r , e v e n O x f o r d w a s a small p o n d ; e v e n the p r e s i d e n c y o f the U n i o n hardly satisfied his idea o f a ' P l a t f o r m ' . W h a t w o u l d w h a t could? H e c a m e d o w n w i t h a m e d i o c r e d e g r e e and, as h e w a s later - and w h o l l y characteristically - to w r i t e , 'a stack o f u n p a i d bills f r o m w i n e m e r c h a n t s , florists a n d tailors'. H e had n o family estates to return to, n o family trusts to s u p p o r t h i m . In this respect h e w a s an essentially m o d e r n character: e v e n W i l d e , w h e n h e c a m e d o w n f r o m C a m b r i d g e , c o u l d e x p e c t as a last resort the support o f his father, S i r W i l l i a m . N i c h o l s a b a n d o n e d plans to read for the B a r a n d half-heartedly set a b o u t t r y i n g to find s o m e f o r m o f suitable e m p l o y m e n t . H e advertised his services in The Times a n d e v e n p e r s u a d e d friends to l o b b y the f o r m e r p r i m e m i n i s t e r H . H . A s q u i t h o n his behalf. ( Q u o t i n g A b r a h a m L i n c o l n , A s q u i t h let h i m k n o w that h e c o u l d d o n o t h i n g to h e l p : ' T h e r e are m o r e horses than oats.') A l m o s t i n e v i t a b l y , N i c h o l s drifted into journalism. H e had an easy facility w i t h w o r d s and, trading o n his success w i t h Isis a n d the or irony m o t i v a t e d the d e s c r i p t i o n o f h i m w h i c h a p p e a r e d in a lesser student

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O x f o r d U n i o n , w a s s o o n selling essays, feature p i e c e s ( ' H a v e Y o u Got T e l e p h o n e E a r ? ' ) a n d theatre r e v i e w s to papers r a n g i n g from

the Sunday Times to the Daily Mirror, as w e l l as to the New York


Evening Post a n d A m e r i c a n periodicals s u c h as Outlook. T h e r e w a s also a string o f slight b u t generally w e l l - r e c e i v e d n o v e l s : Prelude and ( 1 9 2 0 ) w a s f o l l o w e d in q u i c k succession b y Patchwork ( 1 9 2 1 )

Self

(1922).

If these a n d the m a n y m o r e w h i c h w e r e to f o l l o w (by the e n d o f his life he h a d p u b l i s h e d s o m e sixty b o o k s o n subjects r a n g i n g f r o m politics to g a r d e n i n g a n d his b e l o v e d cats) are n o w f o r g o t t e n , N i c h o l s ' s theatrical career, w h i c h b e g a n rather m o r e u n c e r t a i n l y at this t i m e , is virtually u n k n o w n . In 1 9 2 1 , largely d u e to the affection a n d i n f l u e n c e o f N e d L a t h o m , w h o t h o u g h t h i m a n o t h e r N o l C o w a r d , h e m a n a g e d to p e r s u a d e the impresario A n d r C h a r i o t to i n c l u d e o n e o f his s o n g s , ' E v e ' , in the r e v u e A to Z at the P r i n c e o f W a l e s T h e a t r e - C h a r i o t d i d n o t take t o o m u c h p e r s u a d i n g since L a t h o m w a s almost s i n g l e - h a n d e d l y b a c k i n g A to Z. ( N o r , g i v e n w h a t w e h a v e already seen o f the c l o s e - k n i t nature o f ' g a y ' L o n d o n at the t i m e , does it c o m e as a n y surprise to d i s c o v e r that J a c k B u c h a n a n w a s the star o f the s h o w a n d I v o r N o v e l l o a m o n g the o t h e r contributors.) A d e c a d e later, after the failure o f his d r a m a The Stag, w h i c h ran for j u s t six w e e k s at the G l o b e T h e a t r e , N i c h o l s w a s b a c k in the W e s t End, this time u n d e r the aegis o f C h a r i o t ' s rival, the p r o d u c e r C . B . Revue ( ' T h e Little T h i n g s Y o u right through with it the twenties, C o c h r a n (familiarly k n o w n as ' C o c k y ' ) . H e w a s the c o m p o s e r a n d lyricist o f three songs in Cochran's jo Do', was virtually a ' g a y ' g a n g - s h o w for, minor ' S i n c e E r o s W e n t A w a y ' a n d ' S e l e c t i o n ' ) . I n e v i t a b l y , this t o o connection demonstrates,

as e v e n N i c h o l s ' s rather

the theatre a n d in particular the m u s i c a l theatre w a s central to the 'gayness' o f L o n d o n . It is difficult i f n o t i m p o s s i b l e n o w to g a u g e the importance o f an open, acknowledged or even implicit homo sexuality at the heart o f it; b u t extracts f r o m a c o u p l e o f letters

w h i c h C o w a r d w r o t e in 1 9 2 1 a n d 1 9 2 2 , shortly after N e d L a t h o m h a d i n t r o d u c e d h i m , t o o , to C h a r i o t (and w h i c h c o u l d as easily h a v e b e e n w r i t t e n b y N i c h o l s ) , v i v i d l y c o n v e y the m o o d o f the W e s t E n d at the time:

H E R O E S

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D a r l i n g , I ' v e j u s t p l a y e d all the m u s i c to C h a r i o t a n d he's d e l i g h t e d - h e sat w i t h o u t a smile a n d t h e n t o o k m e aside a n d said they w e r e all g o o d - so that's that. I n o w quite definitely enter the ranks o f B r i t i s h C o m p o s e r s ! [. . .] it w i l l b e v e r y thrilling to h e a r all m y songs d o n e b y a g o o d orchestra, w o n ' t it? I a m v e r y e x c i t e d as the m u s i c is g o o d . . . . Y o u say y o u expect N e d is p u t t i n g u p m o n e y for the R e v u e C e r t a i n l y h e is, it's his solely and entirely, C h a r i o t is o n a salary as D i r e c t o r ! H e is the usual taciturn m a n a g e r - h e ' s b e e n c h a r m i n g to m e a n d asked i f I ' d a g r e e to let C l i f t o n W e b b play it with m e (Clifton's salary is 8 0 ) . I
s a

i d o f c o u r s e p r o v i d i n g that I w a s
1

indisputably in the s u p e r i o r position! A r e n ' t I a dear*}

I n e v i t a b l y , N i c h o l s w a s v e r y m u c h at h o m e in this m i l i e u , a n d b y the t i m e that Cochran's gjo Revue o p e n e d h e w a s at the heart o f things: I v o r N o v e l l o h a d also b e e n i n v o l v e d in the w r i t i n g ; B e r n e r s h a d c o n t r i b u t e d a short ballet s e q u e n c e ; O l i v e r M e s s e l a n d R e x W h i s t l e r w e r e a m o n g the t e a m o f set a n d c o s t u m e designers, w h i l e the cast w a s l e d b y the m a g n i f i c e n t l y c a m p D o u g l a s B y n g .

W i t t y , g o o d - l o o k i n g in a s l i g h d y effeminate w a y a n d s o m e t h i n g o f a b o u l e v a r d i e r , w i t h i n a d e c a d e o f c o m i n g d o w n f r o m O x f o r d , then, w i t h a little h e l p f r o m w e l l - p l a c e d friends, N i c h o l s h a d s e c u r e d for h i m s e l f a p o s i t i o n o f sorts in L o n d o n society. I n d e e d , after the success o f C o c h r a n ' s r e v u e h e w a s s o u n d i n g d o w n r i g h t c o m p l a c e n t . I n the spring o f 1 9 3 1 h e w r o t e in his diary: I h a v e v a r i o u s m e m o r i e s - o f a l o n g line o f c h o r u s girls in s m o k e g r e y a n d b l a c k dresses s i n g i n g ' T h e Little T h i n g s Y o u D o ' too e n c h a n t i n g l y - o f the o p e n i n g n u m b e r , the film, b e i n g g r e e t e d w i t h a r o a r o f ' a h ' - o f the n u m b e r s really h o l d i n g the a u d i e n c e o f the d e l i g h t e d C o c k y - o f s u p p e r at L a d y C u n a r d ' s afterwards, e v e r y o n e b e i n g a little w e a r y a n d w o n d e r i n g w h e t h e r t h e y o u g h t to patronize o r g u s h , a n d m y s e l f n o t c a r i n g t w o h o o t s w h a t they d i d - o f s o m e w o n d e r f u l l y g o o d a n d w o n d e r f u l l y b a d n o t i c e s the n e x t day o f C o c k y at l u n c h a s k i n g m e to w r i t e the n e x t r e v u e . S o really w h a t more could I want?
1 3

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A s s i d u o u s l y c u l t i v a t e d c o n t e m p o r a r i e s s u c h as N o v e l l o (five years his senior) a n d C o w a r d (one y e a r his j u n i o r ) , S o m e r s e t M a u g h a m , as w e l l as the v e t e r a n s o p r a n o N e l l i e M e l b a , a n d a l e g i o n o f elderly, w e l l h e e l e d h o m o s e x u a l 'patrons' h a p p i l y c a p t i v a t e d b y N i c h o l s ' s easy, charm, he now d r a w i n g - r o o m - others m i g h t say ' l o u n g e - l i z a r d ' for his a u t o b i o g r a p h y . A n d b y a n d large it w a s . A s his b i o g r a p h e r B r y a n C o n n o n demonstrated,
14

c o u n t e d a m o n g his friends. B y 1 9 2 5 h e felt that the w o r l d w a s r e a d y has

Twenty-Five, p u b l i s h e d w h e n N i c h o l s h i m s e l f w a s j u s t

t w e n t y - s e v e n a n d l a r g e l y c o m p o s e d o f m o r e o r less f a w n i n g sketches o f these friends - M a u g h a m , C o w a r d , M i c h a e l A r l e n , f e l l o w - n o v e l i s t E l i n o r G l y n , a n d e v e n W i n s t o n C h u r c h i l l - attracted n o less than sixty

r e v i e w s . T h e Morning Post praised it; so t o o d i d the Church of England


Newspaper and, e v e n m o r e bizarrely, the Architects' Journal. F r i e n d s s u c h

as C o w a r d (in the Daily Mail) a n d P . G . W o d e h o u s e (in the Weekly


Dispatch) rallied r o u n d a n d d e l i v e r e d p r e d i c t a b l e 'puffs'. J u m p - s t a r t e d b y such self-perpetuating h y p e , m a n y o t h e r papers n a m e d Twenty-Five as their ' B o o k o f the W e e k ' . A m e r e t h r e e i r o n i c a l l y , in the light o f N i c h o l s ' s s u b s e q u e n t career, o n e w a s in the Gentlewoman m a g a z i n e suggested that m u c h o f the b o o k s h o u l d n e v e r e v e n h a v e g o t as far as N i c h o l s ' s editor's desk at the p u b l i s h i n g firm o f J o n a t h a n C a p e . T h e i r barbs did n o t matter, h o w e v e r . L i k e C o w a r d a n d N o v e l l o , b y the m i d - 1 9 2 0 s N i c h o l s w a s ' l a u n c h e d ' . H e m a y h a v e h a d to t r i m a n d accept a c o m f o r t a b l e m i d d l e - b r o w ' p l a t f o r m ' o n the fringes o f W e s t E n d r e v u e a n d the inside pages o f m i d d l e - b r o w newspapers (although his c o n t i n u i n g c a m p a i g n for p a c i f i c i s m g u a r a n t e e d h i m s p o r adic f r o n t - p a g e c o v e r a g e ) , b u t such incidentals as u n p a i d florists' a n d tailors' bills w e r e things o f the past. B y 1 9 2 4 , i n d e e d , h e w a s in a position to l e a v e the parental h o m e in w h i c h h e h a d intermittently l o d g e d since the e n d o f the w a r , a n d set u p o n his o w n . H e h a d to b e in L o n d o n , o f c o u r s e ; a n d in the c e n t r e o f L o n d o n . T h a t w a s w h a t w a s so b e g u i l i n g a b o u t the small h o u s e h e f o u n d i n H a s k e r Street, K n i g h t s b r i d g e , w h e r e h e initially established h i m s e l f as a b a c h e l o r - a b o u t - t o w n . M e r e l y the barest details - a n d a m i n d c a p a b l e o f i m a g i n i n g the stage sets for c o n t e m p o r a r y d r a w i n g - r o o m plays b y the likes o f C o w a r d (The Vortex, 1 9 2 4 ) , F r e d e r i c k L o n s d a l e (Aren't We

All?, 1 9 2 3 ; The Last of Mrs Cheyney, 1 9 2 5 ; On Approval, 1 9 2 7 ) a n d the


slightly y o u n g e r T e r e n c e R a t t i g a n w i l l b r i n g e v e r y t h i n g to life. M u c h

86

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o f the h o u s e w a s furnished b y a rather pathetically b e s o t t e d N e l l i e M e l b a , w h o g a v e N i c h o l s (on w h a t later transpired to b e o n l y p e r m a n e n t loan) a set o f Q u e e n A n n e chairs, a M a r i e - A n t o i n e t t e c o u c h , an E m p i r e desk a n d several smaller items a n d paintings. A c l e a n i n g lady c a m e in e v e r y d a y to m a k e sure that e v e r y t h i n g at H a s k e r Street w a s fit a n d r e a d y s h o u l d a n y o f M r N i c h o l s ' s f a m o u s friends - that M r C o w a r d , say, o r R e b e c c a W e s t o r T a l l u l a h B a n k h e a d drop by. A l t h o u g h t h e r e w e r e a f e w setbacks a n d failures, the n e x t ten years w e r e to b e his salad days. P u b l i s h e d extracts f r o m the diary h e k e p t in the early m o n t h s o f 1 9 3 4 s h o w j u s t h o w far h e h a d c o m e a n d h o w u n l i k e l y it w o u l d h a v e b e e n for a n y o f his f a m o u s friends to h a v e f o u n d h i m at h o m e , h a d t h e y a r r i v e d u n a n n o u n c e d : happen to

20 February
L u n c h e d t o d a y w i t h L a d y M o u n t T e m p l e . T h e p o o r t h i n g is in a great state o f agitation a n d told m e in a stage w h i s p e r that h e r h u s b a n d h a d left her. ' H e is a sadist,' she hissed. N e x t to m e w a s L a d y L y m i n g t o n w h o s e h u s b a n d has j u s t r e s i g n e d f r o m the T o r y party. A n i c e w o m a n , b u t u n p a r d o n a b l y m u d d l e - h e a d e d [. . .] D i n e d w i t h C a t h e r i n e d ' E r l a n g e r . C a t h e r i n e w a s in great f o r m a n d d i n n e r w a s typical. E i t h e r she o r h e r s o n - i n - l a w J o h n n y w e r e [51c] at the t e l e p h o n e . N o b o d y w a s eating the s a m e c o u r s e at the s a m e t i m e . O n e n e v e r does at C a t h e r i n e ' s . W e n t to N o e l ' s Conversation Piece [. . .] B a c k for a f e w m i n u t e s to C a t h e r i n e ' s . H o w strange that great h o m e in P i c c a d i l l y is! . . .

21 February
L u n c h e d w i t h M a r y R i d g e l y C a r t e r at 4 1 P o r t m a n S q u a r e . M a r y C . is a t i r e s o m e A m e r i c a n w h o o u g h t to h a v e b e e n cast as a h o u s e m a i d a n d m a k e s a v e r y b a d heiress. I n l o v e w i t h m e , apparently. D i n n e r w i t h P e t e r S p e n c e r , n o w L o r d C h u r c h i l l . H e o u g h t to p l a y a large part in a n y a u t o b i o g r a p h y I m a y w r i t e . H e d i n e d w i t h m e at the G a r r i c k . . .

23 February
L u n c h at C l a r i d g e ' s w i t h M a b e l C o r e y , a r a t d i n g A m e r i c a n w h o h a d c o l l e c t e d the K i n g o f G r e e c e , the D u k e o f M a r l b o r o u g h , L o r d

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E l m l e i g h , L a d y B i r k e n h e a d , L a d y A l e x a n d e r H a i g a n d m e . I sat n e x t to L a d y B . w h o told m e she g o t 8 5 for s a y i n g she u s e d L y o n s C o f f e e E x t r a c t w h i c h she h a d n e v e r tasted.

5 March
Supper with Lady Colefax, Alfred Lunt, L y n n Fontanne, Victor C a z a l e t , H . G . W e l l s a n d B a r o n e s s B u d b e r g (his l a d y l o v e ) . I d o n ' t t h i n k H . G . W e l l s likes m e . H e said, ' Y o u h a v e m a d e a profession o f perpetual y o u t h . A r e y o u taking a n y measures to p r e s e r v e it?' I replied, ' N o , o n l y m e a s u r e m e n t s . '

6 March
J o h n G i e l g u d to l u n c h . V e r y g a y a n d c h a r m i n g . T o l d m e h e h a d j u s t b o u g h t a c o u n t r y h o m e for . 1 , 0 0 0 .

7 March
L u n c h w i t h B a r b a r a B a c k [. . .] I a m tired o u t as usual.

1 3 March
I d i n e d w i t h V i c t o r C a z a l e t at the H o u s e o f C o m m o n s . . .

14 March
T o d a y I l u n c h e d at C l a r i d g e ' s w i t h A l e x a n d e r K o r d a , the H u n g a r i a n genius. . .

17 March
I spent the w e e k e n d w i t h G e r a l d B e r n e r s at F a r i n g d o n , motoring P e t e r C h u r c h i l l u p . N o b o d y there e x c e p t L a d y B i r k e n h e a d , O l g a L y n n a n d R o b e r t H e b e r - P e r c y , generally k n o w n as 'the m a d b o y ' w h y m a d , I d o n o t k n o w , for h e struck m e as m e r e l y r u d e . T h e m a i n interest o f a dull w e e k e n d w a s the character o f o u r host w h i c h is a fluffy m i x t u r e o f a great m a n y talents w i t h o u t a n y basis o f w o r k or application.
15

S i x t y years o n , m u c h o f this m i g h t strike us as L o r d B e r n e r s struck N i c h o l s that w e e k e n d , as d o w n r i g h t 'fluffy' a n d superficial. It w o u l d b e w r o n g , h o w e v e r , to see N i c h o l s as b e i n g ' w i t h o u t a n y basis o f w o r k o r a p p l i c a t i o n ' . In spite o f all the g a d d i n g a b o u t h e remained p r o d i g i o u s l y prolific t h r o u g h o u t this p e r i o d - a n d a d a r k e r side o f his character w a s also e m e r g i n g . W h i l e t h e y r e v e l in the s n o b b i s h l y ' g a y ' side o f things (it is hardly accidental that the e n t r y d e s c r i b i n g the

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C l a r i d g e ' s d i n n e r o n 2 3 F e b r u a r y lists his f e l l o w guests w i t h a pedantic r e g a r d for social o r d e r ) his diaries discreetly fail to m e n t i o n another d i v e r s i o n w h i c h n o t i n f r e q u e n d y k e p t N i c h o l s a w a y f r o m the h o u s e i n H a s k e r Street. B r y a n C o n n o n has established that in the m i d - 1 9 2 0 s h e b e g a n r e n t i n g a series o f a n o n y m o u s flats in a n d a r o u n d C h e l s e a w h e r e h e c o u l d m o r e p r i v a t e l y a n d c o n v e n i e n t l y entertain r o u g h trade a n d g u a r d s m e n f r o m the n e a r b y barracks w h o s e c o m p a n y h e s o u g h t w h e n e v e r his p u n i s h i n g p u b l i c s c h e d u l e a l l o w e d . A t this t i m e , t o o - w h e n h e w a s still n o t q u i t e thirty years o f a g e h e m a d e perhaps the definitive a n n o u n c e m e n t o f his arrival o n the ' g a y ' s c e n e b y r e c r u i t i n g , in addition to his c l e a n i n g ladies, the first o f a series o f c o o k - v a l e t - b u d e r - c o m p a n i o n s w h o w o u l d l o o k after h i m for m o s t o f the rest o f his life. G a s k i n , t h e n j u s t t w e n t y - o n e , c a m e h i g h l y r e c o m m e n d e d . B u t absolute discretion w a s o b v i o u s l y essential i n s u c h a post. W a s G a s k i n , w e l l you know... ? ' G a y ? H e a l m o s t i n v e n t e d it!' a c o n t e m p o r a r y w h o k n e w b o t h N i c h o l s a n d G a s k i n later recalled. A n d h e w a s using the w o r d in its c o n t e m p o r a r y sense.

S p e a k i n g m o r e than t w e n t y years a g o in a t e l e v i s i o n d o c u m e n t a r y , G l a d y s C a l t h r o p , N o l C o w a r d ' s l o n g - t i m e d e s i g n e r a n d factotum, g a v e g r a p h i c t e s t i m o n y to h o w c o s y e v e r y t h i n g h a d b e e n w i t h i n the c h a r m e d N i c h o l s - C o w a r d - L a t h o m - B e a t o n circle d u r i n g the 1 9 2 0 s : B y c h a n c e N o l h a p p e n e d to b e l u n c h i n g w i t h M i c h a e l A r l e n , the A r m e n i a n n o v e l i s t w h o s e n e w b o o k The Green Hat w a s a best-selling success in L o n d o n that y e a r . T h e y w e r e discussing their w o r k , a n d N o l t o l d h i m that [his play] The b e c a u s e o f the financial p r o b l e m . ' H o w m u c h d o y o u n e e d to p u t it o n ? ' M i c h a e l asked. ' O h , a b o u t 2 0 0 , ' N o l replied, a n d w i t h that, M i c h a e l t o o k o u t his c h e q u e - b o o k at the l u n c h e o n table, w r o t e o u t a c h e q u e for 2 5 0 , a n d h a n d e d it to h i m w i t h o u t so m u c h as a s k i n g to read the play.
16

Vortex w a s in a ghastly mess

E v e n as C a l t h r o p t o l d it, it all s o u n d e d so easy. N o l j u s t h a p p e n e d t o k n o w n e w l y w e a l t h y , best-selling n o v e l i s t M i c h a e l ; they j u s t h a p p e n e d to b e l u n c h i n g t o g e t h e r a n d discussing their w o r k . . . T o d a y ,

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it is quite i m p o s s i b l e to d e c i d e w h e t h e r in 1 9 7 3 she w a s m o r e a b s o r b e d b y f o n d m e m o r i e s o f an e p o c h e v e n t h e n l o n g d e a d o r b y t h e social solecism w h i c h the e g r e g i o u s A r l e n h a d c o m m i t t e d b y t a k i n g o u t his c h e q u e b o o k at a l u n c h e o n table. (Impossible to i m a g i n e the fifth E a r l o f L a t h o m d o i n g that w h e n he c a m e to w r i t e C o w a r d a c h e q u e ! ) Q u i t e possibly it w a s m i x t u r e o f b o t h . T h e A r m e n i a n - b o r n - C a l t h r o p effortlessly g o t that i n t o the i n t e r v i e w - A r l e n certainly o c c u p i e d a u n i q u e place in the literary w o r l d o f the i n t e r - w a r years. I f there w a s an e l e m e n t o f s h a m a n d n i m - f l a m m e r y a b o u t him, h o w e v e r - s o m e t h i n g slightly shady, slightly b o g u s - it w a s r e f l e c t e d in the c o m p a n y h e k e p t . It is as difficult n o w as it w a s t h e n to m a k e a n y m o r a l differentiation b e t w e e n A r l e n a n d the a m b i t i o u s , a c q u i e s c e n t a n d w i t h i n their o w n circle o p e n l y h o m o s e x u a l y o u n g m e n - a b o u t t o w n like N i c h o l s , N o v e l l o , W a l p o l e a n d C o w a r d . E v e r y bit as m u c h as h e w a s , they t o o w e r e p l a y i n g a g a m e . F o r e x a c d y the s a m e reasons that A r l e n felt it necessary to disguise his eastern E u r o p e a n o r i g i n s , they h a d n o o p t i o n b u t to p u b l i c l y play d o w n their s e x u a l p r o c l i v i t i e s . E v e n in a w o r l d i m m e a s u r a b l y m o r e i n n o c e n t a n d less p r u r i e n t t h a n o u r o w n , a n y s u g g e s t i o n o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y in a 'man-about-town' such as N i c h o l s , a m a j o r n e w personality o r a g o s s i p - c o l u m n f i g u r e in the n e w f i r m a m e n t o f stars w o u l d h a v e b e e n s i m p l y u n i m a g i n a b l e . H a p p i l y for t h e m , h o w e v e r , i n the 1 9 2 0 s a n d 1 9 3 0 s t h e d i s s e m b l i n g w a s easy e n o u g h . L o o k i n g b a c k in 1 9 5 7 (incidentally, in a letter to B e v e r l e y N i c h o l s ) , C o w a r d recalled that it t o o k n o m o r e than ' a p p e a r i n g to b e as blas, w o r l d - w e a r y a n d " j a g g e d w i t h s o p h i s t i c a t i o n " as w e possibly c o u l d ' . T h a t , plus a stiff collar, the c o m p a n y o f a c o m p l a i s ant female friend ( G l a d y s C o o p e r w a s especially in d e m a n d ) and, w h e n the o c c a s i o n d e m a n d e d , a g o o d dinner-suit a r m o u r - p l a t e d t h e m f r o m i n n u e n d o a n d the w r o n g sort o f gossip. They were unconditionally, if sometimes uncomprehendingly, 'taken u p ' o n their o w n terms b y s o c i e t y w h i l e still m a n a g i n g to pass as ' n o r m a l ' in a w i d e r w o r l d . It w a s , h o w e v e r , s o m e t h i n g o f a s c h i z o p h r e n i c e x i s t e n c e . S o m e r s e t M a u g h a m ' s d o u b l e life w a s not atypical. A n early l e a v e r f r o m o n e o f L a d y E m e r a l d C u n a r d ' s e x h a u s t i n g l a t e - n i g h t parties in the 1 9 3 0 s , h e e x c u s e d h i m s e l f w i t h t h e w o r d s 'I h a v e to k e e p m y y o u t h ' - o n l y to h a v e his d i s i n g e n u o u s hostess ask, ' T h e n w h y d i d n ' t y o u b r i n g h i m w i t h y o u ? ' H a p p i l y for h i m , the denizens o f G r o s v e n o r S q u a r e w e r e discreet in those days, a n d the

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fashionable y o u n g n o v e l i s t a n d p l a y w r i g h t c o u l d rest assured that his secret w o u l d r e m a i n h i d d e n from the g e n e r a l p u b l i c . T o t h e m , i n d e e d , h e w a s j u s t a n o t h e r author: in a series o f cigarette cards celebrating f a m o u s w r i t e r s w h i c h w a s issued at a r o u n d this t i m e his portrait (as w e l l as those o f A r l e n , N i c h o l s a n d H u g h W a l p o l e ) a p p e a r e d reassuringly a l o n g s i d e those o f bluffer, m o r e d o w n - t o - e a r t h figures s u c h as J . B . Priestley, ' S a p p e r ' a n d C o m m a n d e r S t e p h e n K i n g - H a l l . M o r e fundamentally, this necessary discretion w a s also to have did

u n e x p e c t e d a n d l o n g - l a s t i n g c o n s e q u e n c e s , for the subterfuge

m u c h to t e m p e r the g e n e r a l p u b l i c ' s i m a g e o f the h o m o s e x u a l m a n . T h e m a t i n e - i d o l carapace w h i c h N o l C o w a r d built a r o u n d h i m s e l f in particular w a s to b e especially e n d u r i n g , n o t least b e c a u s e it a p p e a l e d as m u c h to w o m e n as it d i d to those w h o w e r e m e m b e r s o r putative m e m b e r s o f his o w n circle. W e m i g h t c o m p a r e , for instance, the reactions to C o w a r d o f G i n e t t e S p a n i e r a n d the y o u n g J o h n G i e l g u d w h e n The Vortex finally o p e n e d in 1 9 2 4 . ' N o l C o w a r d w a s the B e a t l e s o f o u r d a y , ' S p a n i e r o n c e recalled, a n d w e n t o n : D o y o u realise that u p till t h e n n o b o d y h a d e v e r called s o m e b o d y ' d a r l i n g ' unless they w e r e h a v i n g a l o v e affair w i t h them? A n d the fact o f e v e r y b o d y b e i n g so sophisticated a n d calling each o t h e r ' d a r l i n g ' w a s a habit started b y N o l w h i c h has g o n e o n till t o d a y . [. . .] I w a n t e d to m e e t h i m so badly. I used to l o o k r o u n d the c o r n e r in case h e c a m e d o w n the street. A n d t h e n after the w a r , it must h a v e b e e n 1 9 4 5 o r 1 9 4 6 , quite b y c h a n c e w e m e t in the S o u t h o f F r a n c e a n d in three m i n u t e s w e b e c a m e intimate, close a n d w o n d e r ful f r i e n d s .
17

G i e l g u d w a s similarly g u s h i n g . A f t e r visiting the o n e - t i m e m i d d l e class b o y f r o m an o b s c u r e L o n d o n s u b u r b in his dressing room f o l l o w i n g a p e r f o r m a n c e o f The Vortex, h e w r o t e : ' I w e n t to see N o l at the R o y a l t y T h e a t r e in D e a n Street, v e r y a p p r e h e n s i v e o f c o u r s e , b u t v e r y thrilled to m e e t h i m . H i s d r e s s i n g - r o o m w a s full o f b o t d e s o f C h a n e l N o . 5, w i t h t w e n t y d r e s s i n g - g o w n s in the w a r d r o b e . '
1 8

C o w a r d w a s to p r e s e r v e this s e x u a l a m b i v a l e n c e until the v e r y e n d o f his life. E n i g m a t i c o n - s t a g e partnerships w i t h G e r t r u d e L a w r e n c e as m u c h as later 'friendships' w i t h the y o u n g Princess M a r g a r e t a n d M a r l e n e D i e t r i c h effectively b l u r r e d the issue for d e c a d e after d e c a d e

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- not least in the eyes o f the ' a d o r i n g m i d d l e - a g e d w o m e n o f W o k i n g ' w h o , at least in the y e a n b e f o r e w h a t h e h i m s e l f called ' D a d ' s R e n a i s s a n c e ' , increasingly typified his a u d i e n c e . B u t i f h e c a n b e c r i t i c i z e d for m a i n t a i n i n g the p r e t e n c e far l o n g e r than w a s stricdy necessary, it is i m p o r t a n t to r e m e m b e r that b y the t i m e h e c o u l d h a v e discreetly ' c o m e o u t ' h e w a s trapped in a g i l d e d c a g e e v e r y bit as s e c u r e as the o n e w h i c h h a d i m p r i s o n e d his p o o r little rich girl: the i m a g e h a d l o n g since taken o v e r f r o m reality.

Until

very recendy

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'sophisticated',

Chanel-scented

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he gin-

particularly c a m e to personify - c i g a r e t t e - h o l d e r in o n e h a n d ,

a n d - t o n i c o r dry M a r t i n i in the o t h e r - s o m e h o w t r a n s c e n d e d s e x a n d defused the w h o l e idea o f w h a t w e m i g h t call the p h y s i c a l side o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y . Stories o f m e n arrested in p u b l i c lavatories, o f e r r i n g clergymen or desperate businessmen caught with guardsmen still periodically m a d e f r o n t - p a g e headlines in the 1 9 3 0 s , b u t at the s a m e time a n d at a d e e p e r , almost u n c o n s c i o u s , l e v e l , h o m o s e x u a l i t y w a s q u i c k l y b e c o m i n g associated w i t h the ' i n n o c e n t ' e c c e n t r i c i t y o f the m e m b e r s o f his n e w beau monde w h o s e lifestyle w a s far m o r e frequently c h r o n i c l e d o n the inside feature pages. B y the 1 9 3 0 s , i n d e e d , an effete, essentially harmless caricature ' q u e e r ' h a d e m e r g e d as the safe p o c k e t c a r t o o n i m a g e o f a 'certain t y p e ' o f B r i t i s h m a n (think hairdresser, think antiques-dealer, think b a l l e t - d a n c e r ) . T h e 'darling's, the i m p l i c i t off-stage p r e s e n c e o f ' c h o r u s b o y s ' , his p r e d i l e c t i o n for cocktails a n d c h a m p a g n e , e v e n w h i s p e r s o f s u c h telltale signs o f d e b a u c h e r y as his taste for black satin sheets all e n t e r e d the national c o n s c i o u s n e s s , b u t as props o n a par w i t h the l a b o u r e r ' s cloth cap a n d D e n n i s the M e n a c e ' s catapult. T h e s t e r e o t y p e w a s to p r o v e as harmless - a n d as useful - as it w a s e n d u r i n g . A l t h o u g h J u l i a n a n d his friend S a n d y m i g h t (and f r e q u e n d y did) ape the c a m p excesses o f the C o w a r d era, n o o n e w a s seriously affronted b y their exploits o n Round the Home, the B B C radio c o m e d y series w h i c h r e m a i n e d a p o p u l a r S u n d a y l u n c h t i m e f a v o u r i t e as late as the m i d - 1 9 6 0 s . S i m i l a r l y , at the s a m e t i m e as h u g e a u d i e n c e s E r n i e W i s e apparently sharing a b e d , the o u t r a g e o u s M r were c o n t e n t to accept w i t h o u t c o m m e n t the idea o f E r i c M o r e c a m b e a n d Humphries ( ' I ' m free!') w a s able to m i n c e a r o u n d the m e n s w e a r f l o o r o f G r a c e

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B r o t h e r s d e p a r t m e n t store w h o l l y free o f a n y libidinous pre-life in the 1 9 7 0 s t e l e v i s i o n series Are You Being Served? It w a s as i f t h e r e e x i s t e d a tacit a g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n the h o m o s e x u a l a n d the w i d e r c o m m u n i t y ; as if, at s o m e t i m e in, say, the m i d - i 9 3 0 s , a line h a d b e e n d r a w n w h i c h n e i t h e r side either cared o r d a r e d to cross. T h u s D a n n y L a R u e ' s o u t r a g e o u s drag a n d the innuendo-laden patter o f K e n n e t h W i l l i a m s a n d L a r r y G r a y s o n w e r e a c c e p t e d at face v a l u e , a n d w i t h e x a c t l y the s a m e lack o f p r u r i e n t curiosity w h i c h h a d b e e n afforded the C o w a r d s a n d N i c h o l s e s o f h a l f a c e n t u r y earlier. W i l l i a m s h i m s e l f w a s struck b y this, as h e told J o e O r t o n in J u l y 1 9 6 7 , o n l y days after P a r l i a m e n t ' s d e c r i m i n a l i z a t i o n o f m a l e h o m o s e x u a l acts. O r t o n n o t e d in his diary: H e told m e h o w h e ' d visited an East E n d p u b . ' A n d all these y o u n g chaps w e r e c r o w d i n g r o u n d . O n e o f t h e m said to m e , " K a w ! K e n , it's legal n o w , y o u k n o w . " A n d h e started to pull his trousers d o w n . A n d the landlady said, " E r n i e ! N o w then! W e ' l l h a v e n o n e said. " N o t that k i n d o f s h o w , " the landlady said. S h e w a s disapproving type.' This comfortable,
1 9

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t h a t . " " B u t he's a celebrity, w e ' v e g o t to p u t o n a s h o w , " E r n i e

acceptable face o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y in his

own

a c c o u n t o f the East E n d e v e n i n g the n o r m a l l y fastidious W i l l i a m s a d m i t t e d h e ' e n j o y e d it v . m u c h ' - persisted w e l l i n t o the 1980s b e c a u s e e v e r y o n e p l a y e d b y rules w h i c h C o w a r d ( w h o d i e d in 1 9 7 3 ) w o u l d have understood. G r a y s o n w a s able to talk a b o u t w h a t his 'friend' E v e r a r d h a d d o n e - b u t o n l y b e c a u s e p e r f o r m e r a n d a u d i e n c e alike k n e w that t h e y w o u l d n e v e r see h i m d o i n g it. In the s a m e w a y , until AIDS f o r c e d their hands, p e r f o r m e r s such as L i b e r a c e and F r e d d i e M e r c u r y w e r e able to e n j o y h u g e international celebrity, trading o n w h a t a m o u n t e d to parodies o f the p r e - w a r subfusc w h i l e still insisting o n a n d against all the e v i d e n c e c o n v i n c i n g a u d i e n c e s o f their o w n heterosexuality . . .

S u p e r f i c i a l l y t h e n , as late as the early 1980s it a p p e a r e d as i f n o t h i n g h a d c h a n g e d f o r m o r e than fifty years. It w a s still possible to i m a g i n e that, w e r e it n o t for A I D S , n o t h i n g e v e r w o u l d - large n u m b e r s o f t h e g a y s c e n e , i n d e e d , b e l i e v e d e x a c t l y that. In clubs their loudest

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applause w a s r e s e r v e d for drag entertainers w h o i m p e r s o n a t e d J u d y Garland, Bette Davis, M a r i l y n M o n r o e , C a r m e n Miranda and other d o y e n n e s o f w h a t , rightly o r w r o n g l y , t h e y still p e r c e i v e d as their o w n belle poque. It w a s as i f t h e y w e r e desperate to p e r p e t u a t e the safe ( p r e - A I D S ) w o r l d o f C o w a r d a n d N i c h o l s w h e r e the champagne a l w a y s flowed; the w o r l d w h e r e e v e r y J u l i a n h a d his S a n d y (and m o n e y e n o u g h f r o m s o m e w h e r e to set h i m s e l f u p in an a n t i q u e s h o p ) , w h e r e g a y m e a n t g a y per se, the w o r d ' q u e e r ' w a s a w h i s p e r e d t e r m o f endearment, a n d there w e r e w i l l i n g , u n c o m p l i c a t e d b o y s o n e v e r y street c o r n e r . Ironically, h o w e v e r , that v e r y w o r l d w a s c o m i n g to an e n d e v e n as C o w a r d w a s s c o r i n g his first b o x - o f f i c e success a n d a largely female readership w a s first d i s c o v e r i n g its taste for N i c h o l s ' s sugary p r o s e . T h e late 1 9 2 0 s w e r e the last years in w h i c h paternalistic, p e r s o n a l p a t r o n a g e , e v e n in the rather etiolated f o r m practised b y the likes o f G e r a l d B e r n e r s a n d N e d L a t h o m , h a d a n y real effect o n the h o m o s e x u a l w o r l d (or, for that matter, a n y o t h e r ) . T h e r e w e r e still a n d o f c o u r s e there c o n t i n u e to b e - relationships b a s e d o n the W i l d e - a n d - B o s i e , o l d e r - m a n - a n d - y o u n g - a t t r a c t i v e - p a r t n e r m o d e l , b u t b y the e n d o f the d e c a d e a v a r i e t y o f circumstances h a d c o n s p i r e d to p u t p a i d to the full M e d i c i style. It w a s i n e v i t a b l e . T h e g a y w o r l d o f the t w e n t i e s a n d thirties as w e h a v e p r e v i o u s l y seen it w a s n o m o r e i m m u n e to the vicissitudes o f a w i d e r fate than the m o r e q u o t i d i a n w o r l d o f the straights: . . . the day c a m e w h e n B r i t a i n w e n t o f f the g o l d standard. T h i s i m m e n s e l y rich c o u n t r y , w h i c h h a d b e e n subsidising o t h e r nations a n d w a s the e n v y o f E u r o p e , s u d d e n l y , o n e m o r n i n g in the a u t u m n o f 1 9 3 1 , f o u n d itself o n the v e r g e o f b a n k r u p t c y [, . .] T h e a t m o sphere w a s that o f w e a l t h y p e o p l e o n the Titanic, w h o s e sense o f d o o m w a s a g g r a v a t e d b y w h a t t h e y h a d to lose in a d d i t i o n to their lives. " Q u i t e s i m p l y , the e c o n o m i c a n d social m a y h e m w h i c h f o l l o w e d the Wall Street Crash, and the subsequent international depression, c h a n g e d e v e r y t h i n g . F o r those subsisting o n i n v e s t m e n t i n c o m e o r w h a t h a d p r e v i o u s l y b e e n called ' o l d m o n e y ' , the c o n s e q u e n c e s w e r e devastating. F e w w e r e able to w e a t h e r the s t o r m w i t h the i n s o u c i a n c e o f the B o h e m i a n socialite D a v i d T e n n a n t w h o , w i t h his t h e n w i f e
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H e r m i o n e B a d d e l e y , m a n a g e d to m a i n t a i n s o m e t h i n g o f the seigneurial style: W i t h a p r i v a t e i n c o m e o f 1 5 , 0 0 0 a y e a r , D a v i d d i d n o t h a v e to w o r r y a b o u t a n y t h i n g e x c e p t fun. H e b o u g h t a h o u s e in W i l t s h i r e - n o t far a w a y f r o m C l o u d s [the h o m e o f his friend T . E . L a w r e n c e ] - a n d k e p t a fleet o f c a n a n d a G y p s y M o t h a e r o p l a n e . H e d r o v e v e r y fast d o w n c o u n t r y lanes in r a c i n g cars o f the latest m o d e l , o r t o o k his p l a n e o n trips to Paris. H e filled his W i l t s h i r e h o u s e w i t h L o n d o n friends a n d rarely s a w 'the c o u n t y ' w h o m h e referred to as 'the m u g - w u m p s ' .
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M u c h m o r e t y p i c a l w e r e figures l i k e L a t h o m , the fifth earl w h o , as w e h a v e already seen, w a s virtually penniless w h e n h e d i e d in 1 9 3 0 . ' O n e c a n b e p o o r w h e n y o u n g , b u t n e v e r later o n in life,' C e c i l B e a t o n w a s later to n o t e . T h r o u g h o u t his life h e w a s almost p a t h o l o g i cally w o r r i e d a b o u t m o n e y : ' I a m in the hopeless c o n d i t i o n o f k n o w i n g n o t h i n g a b o u t m y o w n m o n e y affairs,' he w a s fretting as late as 1 9 6 8 . ' I rely o n E i l e e n [ H o s e , his secretary] to b e l e v e l h e a d e d e n o u g h to say w h e n I a m in a really serious j a m . A s it is, it is a battle to m a k e m o n e y e n o u g h to p a y the i n c o m e t a x . '
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E v e r y t h i n g w a s relative,

h o w e v e r - ' I n c o m p a r i s o n w i t h s o m e , I s u p p o s e I a m w e l l off' - a n d a l w a y s h a d b e e n . E v e n w h e n h e w a s y o u n g , a rapidly a c q u i r e d social

clat, bolstered b y the appearance o f Beaton's Book of Beauty, h a d kept


real p o v e r t y f r o m the d o o r . B e f o r e h e h a d t u r n e d thirty h e w a s , as w e h a v e seen, already c o n s i d e r i n g a s s u m i n g the r o l e o f m a n o f p r o p e r t y - a n d rivalling T e n n a n t in the p a t r o n i z i n g m a n n e r in w h i c h h e dealt w i t h the m u g - w u m p s o f W i l t s h i r e : I w r o t e to M r B o r l e y o f Shaftesbury asking h i m i f h e w o u l d b e w i l l i n g to sell, o r rent, the small h o u s e at A s h c o m b e . I n o r d e r that I s h o u l d n o t g i v e the effect o f affluence, I w r o t e o n a small sheet o f e x t r e m e l y thin tracing p a p e r . P e r h a p s this c r e a t e d an effect o f abject p o v e r t y : the n o t e r e c e i v e d n o r e s p o n s e . A f t e r a w h i l e I w r o t e again, this t i m e o n s o m e rather p r e t e n t i o u s stationery that I h a d ordered from Frank Smythson o f B o n d Street.
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B e a t o n w a s n o t a l o n e i n h a v i n g this access to w h a t w e m i g h t call ' n e w m o n e y ' , m o n e y w h i c h h e h a d e a r n e d rather than inherited. W h i l e B e v e r l e y N i c h o l s a n d G a s k i n the ' b u d e r ' w e r e settling into

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H a s k e r Street, N o l C o w a r d t o o w a s facing w h a t w a s almost literally an e m b a r r a s s m e n t o f riches. A s early as the m i d - i Q 3 0 s , l a r g e l y b e c a u s e o f the h u g e p o p u l a r i t y o f his j i n g o i s t i c epic Cavalcade, t h e n p l a y i n g at the T h e a t r e R o y a l , D r u r y L a n e , h e w a s certainly financially s e c u r e . H e h a d b e c o m e his o w n master (if n o t quite y e t T h e M a s t e r ) a n d , a c c o r d i n g to his secretary a n d c o m p a n i o n C o l e L e s l e y , w a s already a c c u s t o m e d to l i v i n g u n d e r the ' g e n e r o u s , t h o u g h u n t h i n k i n g , a s s u m p tion that e v e r y o n e a r o u n d h i m h a d e n o u g h m o n e y to d o as t h e y pleased'. flow
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I f h e w a s n o t as w e a l t h y as N e d L a t h o m h a d b e e n a d e c a d e

earlier n o r , b y all accounts, as g e n e r o u s w i t h his ' l o a n s ' a steady o f that n e w m o n e y a l l o w e d h i m , t o o , to m i x w i t h the best a n d b u y virtually a n y t h i n g (or a n y o n e ) h e w a n t e d . I n retrospect it w a s a d a n g e r o u s situation. S u b t l y , attitudes w e r e shifting, a n d for n o o t h e r reason than that the o n c e o b e d i e n t B o s i e s , the c r a v e n l y grateful ' b o y s ' , h a d g r o w n u p . ' T w e n t y - t w o , d a m n it! H e l l take it,' B e a t o n w r o t e o n his birthday in 1 9 2 7 . ' O r n o ! I d o b e l i e v e it is t w e n t y - t h r e e ! Y e s , I w a s b o r n in 1 9 0 4 . G o o d L o r d , I ' m twenty-three!' B u t he was not complaining. Socially, economically a n d n o t least s e x u a l l y , h e w a s w e l l o n his w a y to b e c o m i n g , i n a m o d e r n phrase, o n e o f the masters o f the u n i v e r s e . S o w a s C o w a r d . W r i t i n g to his m o t h e r , again in 1 9 2 7 , h e had boasted, ' I ' m n o t the E m p r e s s E u g n i e , I ' m N a p o l e o n ! ' A t the t i m e that m i g h t h a v e b e e n a slight e x a g g e r a t i o n ; w i t h i n five years, h o w e v e r , it w a s to all intents a n d purposes true. B y 1 9 3 2 Cavalcade h a d b e e n j o i n e d in the W e s t E n d b y his intimate r e v u e Words and Music. C o w a r d w a s e m p e r o r o f all h e s u r v e y e d and, it is possible to a r g u e , b e g i n n i n g to display a certain brash i m p e r i o u s n e s s . A l t h o u g h the 'notices w e r e terrible', Words and Music q u i c k l y s e t d e d i n t o w h a t w a s to b e c o m e a respectable e i g h t - m o n t h r u n l a r g e l y b e c a u s e o f the p o p u l a r i t y o f o n e s o n g . ' M a d D o g s a n d E n g l i s h m a n ' w a s to b e c o m e indelibly associated w i t h C o w a r d for the rest o f his life (he w a s still s i n g i n g it in cabaret thirty years later). B u t m o r e recently critics a n d b i o g r a p h e r s h a v e s h o w n greater interest in ' M a d A b o u t the B o y ' , a n o t h e r C o w a r d standard w h i c h w a s first h e a r d in the s h o w . O r i g i n a l l y w r i t t e n to b e s u n g b y a w o m a n , the s o n g certainly p r e sents c o n t e m p o r a r y a u d i e n c e s w i t h m u c h f o o d for t h o u g h t , n o t least b e c a u s e there does n o t a p p e a r to b e a d e f i n i t i v e v e r s i o n o f the lyrics. I n d e e d , a w h o l e ' n e w ' v e r s e full o f s u p p o s e d l y h o m o s e x u a l a n d a u t o -

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b i o g r a p h i c a l references o n l y e m e r g e d a d e c a d e o r so after C o w a r d ' s death. ( S o t o o d i d the story ' M a d A b o u t the B o y ' , that C o w a r d h a d w r i t t e n w h i l e infatuated b y J a m e s C a g n e y , w i t h w h o m h e h a d o n c e e n j o y e d a ' r o u g h a n d t u m b l e [. . .] w r e s t l i n g m a t c h o n the floor'.) T h e r e is n o e v i d e n c e that C o w a r d e v e r sang this v e r s e in p u b l i c , o r e v e n w r o t e it d o w n . It m a y w e l l h a v e b e e n n o m o r e than a party s q u i b , i n t e n d e d for p u r e l y p r i v a t e c o n s u m p t i o n ; b u t phrases such as ' P e o p l e I e m p l o y / H a v e the i m p e r t i n e n c e to call m e M y r n a L o y , / I rise a b o v e i t , / F r a n k l y l o v e i t , / B e c a u s e I ' m absolutely m a d a b o u t the boy' s e e m to h a v e b e e n d r a w n f r o m direct p e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e . I f changing t h e y w e r e , t h e y are u n i q u e a c o n t e m p o r a r y allusion to times a n d a hubristic c h a l l e n g e to the w o r l d to d o its w o r s t .

A l o n e w i t h his p a s t e l - c o l o u r e d d o v e s at F a r i n g d o n , the m i d d l e - a g e d L o r d B e r n e r s h a d o n c e b e e n t h o u g h t o f as the e p i t o m e o f the 'saucy f e l l o w ' . B u t n o w ? F o r o b v i o u s reasons, after a gap o f h a l f a c e n t u r y a n d m o r e it is difficult to recreate w i t h a n y a c c u r a c y the precise social a n d s e x u a l d y n a m i c s o f the relationships w h i c h existed b e t w e e n , say, Beverley Nichols and Gaskin or C o w a r d and his 'companions'. N i c h o l s ' s v o l u m i n o u s diaries h a v e litde to say o n the subject (and are e v e n less r e v e a l i n g a b o u t his C h e l s e a p i c k - u p s ) . A similar reticence i n f o r m s B e a t o n ' s a n d the a u t o b i o g r a p h i e s o f N o l C o w a r d ; the a p p a r e n d y franker diaries o f H u g h W a l p o l e regrettably r e m a i n u n p u b l i s h e d . H o w e v e r , it is possible to detect from o t h e r sources the b e g i n n i n g s at a r o u n d this t i m e o f a m o r e p r a g m a t i c attitude to sex; an encountered. ' P e o p l e I e m p l o y . . . I rise a b o v e i t . . .' C o n t e m p o r a r y o r not, C o w a r d ' s w o r d s suggest the e x i s t e n c e o f a h i e r a r c h y , a m i c r o - e c o n o m y o f w h i c h h e a n d his peers c o m p r i s e d o n l y o n e stratum. T o a large e x t e n t this w a s true. A s w e h a v e seen in earlier chapters, e v e n in the 1 9 2 0 s h o m o s e x u a l m e n d i d n o t exist o n l y in a n d a r o u n d Shaftesbury A v e n u e a n d P i c c a d i l l y , a n d n o t all o f t h e m w o r e dressing g o w n s . A w a y from the b r i g h t lights t h e r e w e r e p o c k e t B e r n e r s e s a n d L a t h o m s in e v e r y part o f B r i t a i n . T h e y m i g h t n o t h a v e b e e n tided, b u t n e i t h e r w e r e their p r o t g s necessarily o f the C o w a r d , N i c h o l s o r B e a t o n class. earthier, m o r e d e m o t i c v e r s i o n o f the d i n n e r - s u i t e d t u m b l i n g s w e h a v e so far

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R a t h e r , as ' S a m ' graphically recalls, t h e y w e r e there 'to b e h a d ' . I n the late 1 9 2 0 s he h a d o p e n e d a d a n c e studio in C a m b r i d g e : I used to s o m e t i m e s g i v e tea dances o n a S u n d a y a f t e r n o o n at the studio, o r perhaps a drag s h o w . A s a m a t t e r o f fact m y parties g o t quite w e l l k n o w n a n d t h e y u s e d to c o m e d o w n f r o m L o n d o n . T h e y used to call m e L a d y M a y C a m b r i d g e . T h e y said, L a d y M a y ' s p u t t i n g o n a n o t h e r d o , a n d they all used to c o m e d o w n . O f c o u r s e w e h a d a w o n d e r f u l t i m e . W e u s e d to p u t o n s h o w s for o u r s e l v e s a n d o n e o r t w o o f the pupils. A lot o f m y pupils knew, y o u k n o w ; a n d s o m e v e r y n i c e b o y s I h a d used to enter in the fun. I h a d [sex w i t h ] lots o f m y pupils; b o y pupils. I f I m a d e a p l a y f o r t h e m t h e y t h o u g h t it w a s w o n d e r f u l to b e l o v e d b y a P r i n c i p a l at the s c h o o l o f d a n c i n g . I a l w a y s u s e d to ' d o ' t h e m , o f c o u r s e .
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W o n d e r f u l it m i g h t h a v e b e e n ; but, as a l w a y s , t h e r e are t w o sides to the story j u s t as the phrase 'to b e h a d ' has t w o v e r y different m e a n i n g s . ' B e r n a r d ' l o o k s b a c k to v e r y m u c h the s a m e t i m e t h r o u g h w h o l l y different eyes. S o m e t h i n g o f a drifter, h e recollects a w o r l d in w h i c h it w a s fast b e c o m i n g difficult to establish w h o w a s h a v i n g w h o . H i s is a n e w , p r a g m a t i c h o m o s e x u a l i t y . H e is n o t the pathetic ' u n e m p l o y e d g e n t l e m a n ' s servant', the m e n d a c i o u s i n a d e q u a t e w h o a p p e a r e d in the witness b o x in the W i l d e trials; n o r is h e m e r e l y the p r e c u r s o r o f the callous, s c h e m i n g ' r e n t - b o y ' , for all that h e m i g h t h a v e a p p e a r e d as such to the ' S a m ' s h e encountered:

I w a s n o w a b o u t e i g h t e e n . O n e n i g h t at the P a l l a d i u m I m e t a q u e e r f e l l o w w h o m I k n e w , a n d w i t h h i m h e h a d this m a n , q u i t e an elderly m a n . W e l l , o b v i o u s l y , h e w a s so o l d to m e at the a g e o f e i g h t e e n , that I c o u l d n ' t possibly b e interested. [ B u t ] the f e l l o w h e w a s w i t h g a v e h i m m y address. H e c a m e to see m e the v e r y n e x t day. H e w a s an E n g l i s h m a n . H e ' s the o n l y o n e I feel g u i l t y a b o u t . H e l i v e d in D e v o n , w a s m a r r i e d a n d h a d t w o b o y s . H e ' d b e e n in the I n d i a n A r m y . H e said, W e l l , w h a t d o y o u w a n t to d o ? W e l l , to b e h o n e s t I d i d n ' t really w a n t to d o a n y t h i n g . S o h e said, W o u l d y o u l i k e to g o o n the stage? S o I said, Y e s , I ' d l i k e to g o o n the stage, b u t I can't d o a n y t h i n g . W e l l , h e said, I ' m g o i n g to teach you. H e g a v e m e e n o u g h m o n e y to l i v e o n , a n d m y fees [for d r a m a

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s c h o o l ] . F o r a b o u t t w o years I d i d n ' t g o ! T o this day I d o n ' t k n o w w h e r e the R o y a l A c a d e m y o f D r a m a t i c A r t is! I feel v e r y b a d a b o u t that n o w , a l t h o u g h I d i d n ' t at the t i m e [. . .] I n the e n d I m e t [an] A m e r i c a n . N o t o n l y w a s h e v e r y rich b u t h e w a s v e r y g e n e r o u s . T h i s great A m e r i c a n w a s t h i r t y - e i g h t . Y o u n g , v i r i l e , l o v e d the theatre, l o v e d g o i n g to restaurants. W h i c h I l o v e d t o o [. . .] I w a s b e i n g t a k e n to the S a v o y H o t e l a n d to a restaurant in C h e l s e a called T h e Q u e e n s . T h i s A m e r i c a n l i v e d in Pall M a l l . I t h o u g h t this w a s w o n d e r f u l . H e said, g o a n d take a h o u s e . S o I said, A l l right. I t o o k this studio in C h e l s e a . W h e n the T a u n t o n f e l l o w c a m e b a c k to L o n d o n I confessed to h i m that I w a s l e a v i n g h i m . H e w e p t a n d h e said, Y o u ' v e let m e d o w n . O f c o u r s e I d i d n ' t b e l i e v e h i m . I d i d n ' t w a n t to. A n d that w a s that. T h e A m e r i c a n w a s a bastard. H e w a s n o t e x c l u s i v e l y h o m o s e x u a l . H e u s e d to m e n t i o n the telephonist w h e r e h e w o r k e d . S h e w a s a m a r r i e d w o m a n . H e m e n t i o n e d h e r q u i t e often. B u t I u s e d to k e e p a w a y from discussing that sort o f thing. T h e r e w a s n ' t a n y t r o u b l e . I k e p t o u t o f p e o p l e ' s n o r m a l lives, those p e o p l e w h o h a d n o r m a l lives. H e s u p p o r t e d m e . W e h a d a h o u s e k e e p e r . I d i d n ' t l o o k after the h o u s e . H e used to g o o f f to w o r k , b u t I w e n t to the races, to the d o g s . W e w e r e t o g e t h e r a b o u t s e v e n y e a r s .
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T o w a r d s the e n d o f his life N o l C o w a r d n o t e d that ' P e o p l e w e r e g r e e d y a n d p r e d a t o r y , a n d i f y o u g a v e t h e m the c h a n c e t h e y w o u l d steal u n s c r u p u l o u s l y the heart and soul o u t o f y o u w i t h o u t really w a n t i n g to o r e v e n m e a n i n g t o . ' H e w a s w r i t i n g a b o u t the 1 9 2 0 s and 1 9 3 0 s but, as w e shall see, he c o u l d h a v e b e e n referring to a n y o f the s u b s e q u e n t decades.

'The Homintern'

A W A Y

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the 1 9 3 0 s w e r e , in W . H . A u d e n ' s

famous phrase, 'a l o w , dishonest d e c a d e ' . B u t l i k e m o s t decades t h e y h a d in fact b e g u n b e f o r e their t i m e . ( T h e sixties b e g a n in 1 9 5 6 a n d w e r e largely o v e r b y 1 9 6 7 . ) T h e thirties h a d their origins in the e c o n o m i c depression o f the late 1 9 2 0 s , the G e n e r a l S t r i k e o f M a y 1 9 2 6 a n d the A m e r i c a n W a l l Street C r a s h o f 1 9 2 9 , the ripples o f w h i c h rapidly crossed the A t l a n t i c . U n e m p l o y m e n t w a s at (then) r e c o r d levels a n d , perhaps e v e n m o r e i m p o r t a n t l y , there w a s a g e n e r a l f e e l i n g o f q u e a s i ness as political p o w e r s e e - s a w e d b e t w e e n Labour, under Prime Minister R a m s a y M a c D o n a l d , and Stanley B a l d w i n ' s Conservatives. ' B u d d y C a n Y o u S p a r e a D i m e ? ' w a s the p o p u l a r s o n g o f the d e c a d e , j u s t as a b o o k l i k e G e o r g e O r w e l l ' s The Road to Wigan Pier ( 1 9 3 7 ) n o w seems as r e d o l e n t o f the thirties as M i c h a e l A d e n ' s The Green Hat does o f the ' r o a r i n g t w e n t i e s ' certainly m o r e so than the i n c r e a s ingly s m u g a n d self-satisfied effusions a b o u t g a r d e n i n g w h i c h B e v e r l e y N i c h o l s h a d taken to p r o d u c i n g b y that t i m e . Politics rather than j a z z , a l o n g w i t h a certain d o o m - l a d e n historicism, w a s in the air, as w a s e x e m p l i f i e d b y the v o g u i s h p o p u l a r i t y o f a rather d a n g e r o u s proto-fascistic b o o k b y the G e r m a n w r i t e r O s w a l d S p e n g l e r . Untergang des Abendlandes ( 1 9 1 8 - 2 2 ) s e e m e d e x a c t l y to s u m u p the Zeitgeist w h e n it w a s p u b l i s h e d in E n g l i s h as The Decline of the West b e t w e e n 1 9 2 6 a n d 1 9 2 9 . T h a t Zeitgeist or, m o r e e x a c t l y , the m o o d o n the streets h a d shifted palpably since the b e g i n n i n g o f 1 9 2 4 w h e n , in a G e n e r a l E l e c t i o n , B r i t a i n e l e c t e d its first L a b o u r g o v e r n m e n t a n d s a w R a m s a y M a c D o n a l d installed as its first L a b o u r p r i m e minister. N e i t h e r g o v e r n m e n t n o r p r i m e minister lasted l o n g , h o w e v e r . A f t e r it lost a v o t e o f 99

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c o n f i d e n c e in the N o v e m b e r o f that y e a r the L a b o u r P a r t y w e n t o n to lose the s e c o n d G e n e r a l E l e c t i o n o f 1 9 2 4 , t o o . B a l d w i n a n d the C o n s e r v a t i v e s w e r e b a c k in office, b u t a c o r n e r h a d b e e n t u r n e d n o t least b e c a u s e the L i b e r a l Party, last in p o w e r in 1 9 1 8 , w a s virtually w i p e d o u t in P a r l i a m e n t , a n d the w h o l e c o u n t r y , a n d m o r e particularly the H o u s e o f C o m m o n s , d i v i d e d i n t o the b r o a d L e f t - R i g h t factions w h i c h h a v e e n d u r e d for s e v e n t y y e a n . O p i n i o n s o n l y b e c a m e m o r e p o l a r i z e d e i g h t e e n m o n t h s later w h e n the M i n e r s ' F e d e r a t i o n o b j e c t e d to a w a g e cut i m p o s e d b y the o w n e r s o f Britain's then privately managed coal mines and B a l d w i n declined to t o p u p their p a y - p a c k e t s from the national coffers. O n 4 M a y 1 9 2 6 the c o u n t r y c a m e to a stop w h e n the T r a d e s U n i o n C o n g r e s s called a G e n e r a l S t r i k e in s u p p o r t o f the m i n e r s . N o t o n l y w a s there n o c o a l - m i n i n g ; factories w e r e closed, t h e r e w e r e n o trains, n o trams, n o lorries to m a k e deliveries, n o n e w s p a p e r s (apart from the g o v e r n m e n t p u b l i s h e d British Gazette) o r postal c o l l e c t i o n s . Practically all p u b l i c services g r o u n d to a halt; e v e n p o l i c e m e n virtually disappeared from the streets. T h e strike lasted for j u s t n i n e days. O n 1 2 M a y the T U C was f o r c e d to c o n c e d e defeat and, resentfully, those w o r k e r s w h o still h a d j o b s to g o to m a d e their w a y b a c k to w o r k . T h e ramifications o f their a c t i o n , h o w e v e r , w e r e l o n g - l a s t i n g . F o r a w h i l e the political divisions b e t w e e n Left a n d R i g h t intensified i n t o social w a r f a r e , o r at least a p e r i o d o f d e e p m u t u a l mistrust b e t w e e n 'the toffs' a n d the rest. V i r g i n i a W o o l f , a l t h o u g h i n s t i n c t i v e l y a toff, w a s n o t a l o n e in sensing that those n i n e days h a d i r r e v o c a b l y c h a n g e d the nation, that the W e s t really w a s in d e c l i n e . O n 1 2 M a y she n o t e d in h e r diary: ' I s a w this m o r n i n g 5 o r 6 a r m o u r e d cars s l o w l y g o i n g a l o n g O x f o r d Street; o n e a c h t w o soldiers sat in tin h e l m e t s , a n d o n e s t o o d w i t h his h a n d at the g u n w h i c h w a s p o i n t e d straight a h e a d r e a d y to fire. B u t I also n o t i c e d o n o n e a p o l i c e m a n s m o k i n g a cigarette.' W i t h i n less than a fortnight B r i t a i n h a d b e c o m e a d i v i d e d nation; a n d , a l t h o u g h the superficial scars w e r e q u i c k to heal, it w o u l d r e m a i n so until C h u r c h i l l ' s c l a r i o n calls to u n i t e in 1 9 4 0 effected s o m e sort o f rapprochement.

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A l l this h a d a shattering i m p a c t o n the intellectual life o f the c o u n t r y . B e y o n d W o o l f 's B l o o m s b u r y , there w a s a radical c h a n g e o f m o o d at its universities a n d particularly at O x f o r d , w h e r e , e v e n w i t h i n collegiate c o m m u n i t y itself, things w e r e falling apart. A n e w g e n e r a t i o n o f students h a d a r r i v e d in the m i d - 1 9 2 0 s a n d m o s t o f the likes o f the B r i d e s h e a d 'aesthetes' h a d already g o n e d o w n . S o m e t h i n g o f their spirit l i v e d o n , h o w e v e r - ' T h e y e a r m u s t h a v e b e e n 1 9 2 5 w h e n still the tales o f H a r o l d A c t o n , B r i a n H o w a r d a n d C y r i l C o n n o l l y l i n g e r e d . . .' J o h n B e t j e m a n w a s later to sigh. T h e freshmen g a m e l y tried to l i v e u p to w h a t t h e y t h o u g h t w a s e x p e c t e d o f t h e m , b u t the essential b r i o h a d e v a p o r a t e d , a casualty o f m o r e c a r e - l a d e n times. T h i s is s o m e t i m e s difficult to b e l i e v e , for t h e r e is a false j a u n t i n e s s a b o u t the later m e m o r i e s o f m a n y o f those w h o w e r e there. ' W e w e r e the last g e n e r a t i o n o f w o m a n l e s s O x f o r d . M e n w h o l i k e d w o m e n w e r e apt to get sent d o w n , ' a characteristically elegiac C y r i l C o n n o l l y c l a i m e d nearly h a l f a c e n t u r y later. homosexuality and autoeroticism
1

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Almost primly, A n t h o n y P o w e l l approved'.


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d e s c r i b e d a similar s e x u a l climate: ' w o m e n [ w e r e ] s o m e w h a t d e r i d e d , Post Acton, post H o w a r d , h o w e v e r , e v e n w i t h i n their o w n set s u c h h o m o s e x u a l activity as still s u r v i v e d at O x f o r d seems to h a v e a m o u n t e d to little m o r e than a c o n t i n u a t i o n o f p u b l i c - s c h o o l larkiness. ( B e t j e m a n , w h o a r r i v e d at M a g d a l e n C o l l e g e f r o m M a r l b o r o u g h in 1 9 2 5 , w r o t e a l o n g , ' v e r y i n d e c e n t a n d v e r y v i v i d ' p o e m called ' B a g s in D o r m ' at this time.) C e r t a i n l y the frequently r e p o r t e d - a n d p r o b a b l y n o t entirely a p o c r y phal tales o f the p e r i o d w h i c h s u r v i v e tell o f little m o r e all the n a m e d participants w e r e fundamentally h e t e r o s e x u a l . T h e r e is the story o f h o w E v e l y n W a u g h ( L a n c i n g ) a n d another, deep u n n a m e d student w e r e f o u n d prostrate a n d in flagrante delicto o n a sofa in the p r e d o m i n a n t l y g a y H y p o c r i t e s ' C l u b , W a u g h ' s t o n g u e inside the latter's m o u t h . T h e r e ' s the o n e a b o u t h o w W . H . A u d e n ( G r e s h a m ' s ) w a s d i s c o v e r e d b y his c o l l e g e s c o u t ( b e d - m a k e r ) in b e d w i t h B e t j e m a n a n d h a d to p a y the s c o u t 5 to k e e p quiet: 'It w a s n ' t w o r t h it,' A u d e n later rather indelicately r e v e a l e d . T h e r e ' s the 'fact' that B e t j e m a n actually preferred the future L a b o u r leader, H u g h G a i t skell ( W i n c h e s t e r ) . ' H u g h , ' h e w a s o n c e h e a r d to ask h i m , ' m a y I stroke y o u r b o t t o m ? ' ' O h , I s u p p o s e s o , ' said G a i t s k e l l , ' i f y o u must.' than g r o w n - u p v e r s i o n s o f d o r m i t o r y f u m b l i n g n o t least b e c a u s e virtually

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A l l in all t h e y d o n o t a m o u n t to m u c h . S e e n in c o n t e x t , t h e y are n o m o r e than tales o f a w o u l d - b e coterie desperately t r y i n g to perpetuate a s u d d e n l y alien past a n d e n d i n g u p , l i k e G a i t s k e l l a n d Betjeman, d o i n g little m o r e than rather frigidly g o i n g t h r o u g h the m o t i o n s . O x f o r d h a d c h a n g e d . S o c i a l l y a n d aesthetically in the years b e t w e e n , say, 1 9 2 2 a n d 1 9 2 7 the heart o f the u n i v e r s i t y s k i p p e d a beat as it seems n o w , a g e n e r a t i o n . F o r the m a j o r i t y o f undergraduates the o n e - o f f s a n d true originals w h o define a g e n e r a t i o n , and, (and

dons) life w e n t o n as it a l w a y s had; b u t for the m o v e r s a n d shakers, something f u n d a m e n t a l h a d h a p p e n e d . In short, w i t h i n n o m o r e than five years ' B r i d e s h e a d ' h a d all b u t c e d e d B a l l i o l , U n i v e r s i t y C o l l e g e a n d C h r i s t C h u r c h ( ' T h e H o u s e ' ) to B o l s h e v i s m . In retrospect, there is a certain inevitability a b o u t this. F o r all their p u b l i c - s c h o o l u p b r i n g i n g s , the ' A c t o n i t e s ' o n l y became socialists d u r i n g their t i m e at O x f o r d ; c o n c o m i t a n t u p o n the national political t u r m o i l o f 1 9 2 4 - 6 , l i k e G a i t s k e l l a small b u t significant n u m b e r o f those a r r i v i n g at O x f o r d in the n e x t f e w years came up as h a r d e n e d socialists. T h e y w e r e u n i q u e l y p o l i t i c i z e d b y their e x p e r i e n c e s o f p u b l i c s c h o o l , S t r i k e w a s the catalyst, a n d battle-lines w e r e swiftly d r a w n t h e m a n d their f e l l o w - s t u d e n t s . When the call to arms c a m e in M a y 1 9 2 6 the vast majority of u n d e r g r a d u a t e s (or at least o f those undergraduates w h o d i d a n y t h i n g at all) naturally n a i l e d their c o l o u r s s o m e w h e r e b e l o w the U n i o n F l a g o n B a l d w i n ' s mast a n d m o r e o r less seriously s i g n e d u p as special constables, c o u r i e r s , v a n drivers a n d chauffeurs. F a c e d b y a G e n e r a l S t r i k e , t h e y w e r e u n e q u i v o c a l l y o n the g o v e r n m e n t side, fighting for e v e r y t h i n g their class h e l d dear: 'It w a s A u g u s t 1 9 1 4 all o v e r again. T h e [ g o v e r n m e n t ] v o l u n t e e r s s a w t h e m s e l v e s gallantly at w a r against the r e v o l u t i o n . O n e o f t h e m said to m e , " I w o n d e r i f I shall e v e r c o m e b a c k . " T h e e n r o l m e n t w a s T o m B r o w n ' s Last S t a n d . ' O n l y a small g r o u p o f students rallied to the s u p p o r t o f the T U C a n d the w o r k e r s . A l a n (later b e t t e r - k n o w n as A . J . P.) T a y l o r the a u t h o r o f the w o r d s q u o t e d a b o v e - w a s o n e s u c h , a n d a p r o m i n e n t m e m b e r o f the r e v o l u t i o n a r y band; others i n c l u d e d G a i t s k e l l , the s t u b b o r n l y M a r x i s t artist J o h n S t r a c h e y ( L y t t o n ' s n e p h e w ) a n d a m o r e disparate g r o u p o f f e l l o w - t r a v e l l e r s . B e t j e m a n w a s a m o n g s t these; s o , t o o , w e r e his f e l l o w poets W . H . A u d e n a n d C e c i l D a y - L e w i s . It is
4 3

a n d h a d already c a u g h t the w h i f f o f cordite. F o r t h e m , the G e n e r a l between

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103 to the cause.

difficult,

h o w e v e r , to assess their true c o m m i t m e n t

A l t h o u g h they w e r e members o f a uniquely politicized O x f o r d genera tion future L a b o u r cabinet m e m b e r s R i c h a r d C r o s s m a n , M i c h a e l Stewart, A n t h o n y G r e e n w o o d , Patrick G o r d o n W a l k e r and Barbara C a s t l e (ne Betts) w e r e a m o n g their a p p r o x i m a t e c o n t e m p o r a r i e s m a n y s e e m to h a v e m a n n e d the barricades p r i n c i p a l l y pour pater les parents. B e t j e m a n w a s certainly there b e c a u s e h e b e l i e v e d it w o u l d b e a 'lark'. Stuffing e n v e l o p e s , w r i t i n g t r a d e s - u n i o n bulletins a n d d r i v i n g cars for the T U C m a d e a g l a m o r o u s c h a n g e f r o m the m o r e mundane routines o f student life. A u d e n t o o w a s t h e r e p r i m a r i l y (and a l m o s t literally) for the ride. D r i v i n g a T U C car a r o u n d L o n d o n o n e d a y , h e f o u n d h i m s e l f near the B l o o m s b u r y h o m e o f a f e m a l e c o u s i n a n d h e r h u s b a n d . M u c h later h e recalled: '. . . so I p a i d a call. T h e t h r e e o f us w e r e j u s t sitting d o w n to l u n c h w h e n h e r h u s b a n d a s k e d m e i f I h a d c o m e u p to L o n d o n to b e a S p e c i a l C o n s t a b l e . " N o , " I said, " I a m d r i v i n g a car for the T U C . " W h e r e u p o n , to m y utter astonish m e n t , h e o r d e r e d m e to l e a v e the h o u s e . It h a d n e v e r o c c u r r e d to m e that a n y o n e t o o k the G e n e r a l S t r i k e s e r i o u s l y . '
5

A t the centre o f this disparate cell o f u n d e r g r a d u a t e r e v o l t w a s the n e w l y f o u n d e d U n i v e r s i t y L a b o u r C l u b ( U L C ) . B y the early 1 9 3 0 s this h a d a p a i d - u p m e m b e r s h i p (subscription 2/6d.) of around 500 despite the s o m e w h a t austere i m p r e s s i o n it m a d e o n outsiders. E v e n the y o u n g H a r o l d W i l s o n (Jesus C o l l e g e , 1 9 3 4 - 7 ) w a s m y s t i f i e d b y the first f e w m e e t i n g s h e attended, f i n d i n g t h e m p r e o c c u p i e d w i t h ' s q u a b b l i n g a b o u t tiffs w i t h o t h e r sections o f the L a b o u r P a r t y instead o f getting d o w n to s o m e t h i n g c o n c r e t e ' . H e w a s q u i c k l y i f t e m p o r arily - disillusioned: ' C o l e is s p e a k i n g at the L a b o u r C l u b t o n i g h t b u t I d o n ' t think I'll g o , ' h e w r o t e h o m e in 1 9 3 4 . ' I ' l l w a i t till n e x t t e r m for that sort o f thing.' It w a s almost i n e v i t a b l e that W i l s o n s h o u l d h a v e t h o u g h t l i k e this. E d u c a t e d at a n o r t h e r n g r a m m a r s c h o o l , h e h a d litde t i m e for ' M a r x i s t p u b l i c s c h o o l p r o d u c t s r a m b l i n g o n a b o u t the e x p l o i t e d w o r k e r s a n d the n e e d for a socialist r e v o l u t i o n ' : athletics w e r e m o r e to his taste ('If I c o u l d o n l y get m y c r o s s - c o u n t r y really w e l l u p , I m i g h t g e t m y half-blue n e x t y e a r ' ) . F o r o u r present purposes, h o w e v e r , W i l s o n ' s reservations h i g h l i g h t an i m p o r t a n t point. U n t i l the L a b o u r Club l u r c h e d d e c i s i v e l y to the Left a n d m e r g e d w i t h the Communist-

d o m i n a t e d O c t o b e r C l u b in 1 9 3 5 to establish a ' p o p u l a r front', O x f o r d

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socialism a n d the U L C itself w e r e the upstart successors o f ' B r i d e s head'. U n l i k e l y as it s e e m s , B e n P i m l o t t has s h o w n that, w e l l b e f o r e 1 9 3 4 , the L a b o u r C l u b h a d b e c o m e 'the c r u c i b l e o f fashion'. R e f l e c t i n g this, e v e n s u c h p r e v i o u s l y apolitical students as S t e p h e n S p e n d e r h a d ostentatiously b e g u n s p o r t i n g r e d ties, w h i l e the t h i r t y - o d d m e m b e r s o f the Socialist D o n s ' L u n c h e o n C l u b instituted a p r o g r a m m e o f w e e k l y m e e t i n g s . ' T h e student Left w a s as febrile, a n d as o u t o f t o u c h w i t h reality, as e v e r it b e c a m e in the c o u r s e o f a h e a d y d e c a d e , ' P i m l o t t o b s e r v e s - a d d i n g that 'it w a s fun to b e a C o m m u n i s t at O x f o r d in the 1 9 3 0 s , if y o u h a d the m o n e y a n d the leisure to sustain the l i f e s t y l e . '
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C o m p a r a t i v e l y f e w h a d W i l s o n ' s early letters h o m e are p e p p e r e d w i t h phrases s u c h as 'It m i g h t p a y to send b u t t e r (it is v e r y d e a r h e r e ) ' b u t those w h o d i d f o u n d that there w a s i n d e e d s o m e t h i n g e v e r y b o d y in the p e o p l e ' s party. S u r p r i s i n g l y , perhaps, in the late t w e n t i e s , in the era o f B e t j e m a n a n d A u d e n , this e v e n seems to h a v e i n c l u d e d a tacit a c c e p t a n c e o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y , o r at least the abstract n o t i o n o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y . T h e r e w a s , o f c o u r s e , n o t h i n g doctrinal a b o u t this. R a t h e r , it w a s a m a t t e r o f historical a c c i d e n t , a relic o f the days w h e n U L C m e e t i n g s h a d b e e n little m o r e than s m o k e r s o r conversaziones, i n f o r m a l gatherings h e l d a w a y f r o m the u n i v e r s i t y at the h o m e in H o l y w e l l o f G . D . H . C o l e , a y o u n g r e a d e r in E c o n o m i c s (and the a u t h o r o f n u m e r o u s d e t e c t i v e stories) w h o w a s b o t h o p e n l y socialist a n d at the v e r y least h o m o s e x u a l l y i n c l i n e d . N o r e c o r d o f these early gatherings o f w h a t w a s t h e n k n o w n m e r e l y as the ' C o l e g r o u p ' n o w exists, b u t it is possible to i m a g i n e discussion straying far b e y o n d the m i n u t e d s q u a b b l i n g a n d r a m b l i n g to w h i c h H a r o l d W i l s o n w a s f o r c e d to listen w h e n ULC the w a s f o r m a l l y established. It is possible, t o o , to see h o w C o l e , a influenced for

t h r o w - b a c k to the days o f E d w a r d C a r p e n t e r a n d E . M . F o r s t e r a n d t e m p e r a m e n t a l l y a F a b i a n rather than a f r e e d o m - f i g h t e r , graduates. H a r o l d W i l s o n w a s , as w e h a v e seen, attracted b y his socialism (and, w e m u s t a s s u m e , o n l y b y his socialism); so t o o w a s H u g h G a i t s k e l l , w h o rapidly b e c a m e C o l e ' s unofficial l i e u t e n a n t in that d e p a r t m e n t . B u t in the l i g h t o f C o l e ' s h o m o s e x u a l s y m p a t h i e s , the appeal w h i c h h e a n d the L a b o u r C l u b h e l d for a social a n d s e x u a l dilettante s u c h as the lives o f a w h o l e g e n e r a t i o n o f s e x u a l l y a n d politically labile u n d e r

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B e t j e m a n , to say n o t h i n g o f the h o m o s e x u a l b u t innately u n c l u b b a b l e A u d e n , also m a k e s sense. ' F a s h i o n ' a l o n e w o u l d h a v e b r o u g h t the f o r m e r - w h o , b y his o w n admission, h a d a r r i v e d at O x f o r d d e t e r m i n e d to b e c o m e a c q u a i n t e d w i t h 'the g r a n d set' i n t o C o l e ' s a m b i t s o o n e n o u g h . A u d e n ' s case is, h o w e v e r , m o r e c o m p l i c a t e d . T h e revolutionary fervour: F i n a n c i e r , l e a v i n g y o u r litde r o o m W h e r e the m o n e y is m a d e b u t n o t spent, Y o u ' l l n e e d y o u r typist a n d y o u r b o y n o m o r e ; T h e g a m e is u p for y o u a n d the others . . .
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h e w a s to publish o n l y a f e w y e a n later s h o w s an almost hysterical

W e h a v e seen, t o o , that h e w a s , w i t h w h a t e v e r d e g r e e o f sincerity, at least p r e p a r e d to t h r o w in his lot w i t h the U L C activists d u r i n g the G e n e r a l S t r i k e . A n d y e t , for all that his close (heterosexual) friend D a v i d A y e r s t w a s also the U L C ' s student c h a i r m a n , A u d e n n e v e r g o t r o u n d to f o r k i n g o u t his 2/bd. Cole's w h e r e forbidden a n d actually j o i n i n g the party. It w a s as i f the m e r e k n o w l e d g e o f the e x i s t e n c e o f a 'safe h o u s e ' s u c h as subjects c o u l d b e o p e n l y discussed h a d a reassuring appeal for the p o e t w h o s e w o r k w a s i n c r e a s i n g l y full o f references to spies, m y s t e r i o u s outsiders a n d l o n e l y agents; as if, t o o , the L a b o u r C l u b satisfied a m o r e basic n e e d a n d b r o u g h t h i m i n t o contact, albeit v i c a r i o u s contact, w i t h the t y p e o f proletarian rough w i t h w h o m h e w o u l d later b e c o m e b e t t e r a c q u a i n t e d in B e r l i n . . . U l t i m a t e l y , o f c o u r s e , it is futile to speculate. In a n y case, a n o t h e r ULC n o n - j o i n e r has left a further tantalizing h i n t o f the sympathy felt b y s o m e elements o f the Left t o w a r d s the u n i v e r s i t y ' s h o m o s e x u a l fraternity. In an a t t e m p t to e x p l a i n w h y h e h a d n o t j o i n e d the L a b o u r C l u b , T o m D r i b e r g i m p l i c i t l y confessed that h e m i g h t h a v e m a d e a mistake: ' M a y b e I w o u l d h a v e b e e n m o r e interested i f I h a d k n o w n that C o l e , besides b e i n g o n e o f the m o s t brilliant a n d attractive o f the y o u n g e r dons, h a d h o m o s e x u a l t e n d e n c i e s . '
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T h o m a s E d w a r d N e i l D r i b e r g a r r i v e d at C h r i s t C h u r c h , O x f o r d , in O c t o b e r 1 9 2 4 , already trading the clouds o f n o t o r i e t y w h i c h w e r e to d o g his heels for the rest o f his life. A f e w m o n t h s earlier h e had n a r r o w l y e s c a p e d e x p u l s i o n from his p u b l i c s c h o o l ( L a n c i n g ) w h e n

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t w o b o y s ' b e t r a y e d ' h i m to the headmaster after h e h a d tried to s e d u c e t h e m in a d o r m i t o r y . H e w a s a r o u , a B y r o n i c e v e n Satanic b u c k e r o f trends. ' W i t h his dark hair a n d l o n g n o s e ' , a friend w a s to n o t e a f e w years later, ' h e l o o k e d as t h o u g h h e h a d I n d i a n b l o o d the s o n o f a M a h a r a j a h . ' M o r e p e r t i n e n d y , h e c a m e u p to ' T h e H o u s e ' n o t as a m e r e socialist b u t as a f u l l - b l o o d e d , c a r d - c a r r y i n g m e m b e r o f t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f G r e a t B r i t a i n , albeit o n e w i t h an apostate passion for the r e d b r i c k a n d H i g h M a s s o f W e s t m i n s t e r C a t h e d r a l . H i s life w a s a l w a y s a mass o f contradictions; a morass o f inconsist e n c i e s . H e w a s the C o m m u n i s t w h o w a s also a d e v o u t H i g h A n g l i c a n ; the L a b o u r M P modern w h o h a d to all intents a n d purposes i n v e n t e d (he w a s the Daily Express's the gossip c o l u m n first W i l l i a m

H i c k e y ) ; the i n v e t e r a t e ' c o t t a g e r ' w h o l i v e d in a G e o r g i a n c o u n t r y m a n s i o n ; the o n e - t i m e restaurant plongeur w h o e n d e d his life as a m e m b e r o f the H o u s e o f L o r d s . D u r i n g his s c h o o l days, w h e n h e h a d spent a s u m m e r h o l i d a y t r y i n g to sell copies o f the Daily Worker for the B r i g h t o n b r a n c h o f the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y , it h a d b e e n difficult e n o u g h to k e e p the disparate sides o f his life apart: ' I w a s l e a d i n g a triple life i n d e e d . I h a d to c o n c e a l f r o m m y n e w c o m r a d e s b o t h the fact that I w a s b e i n g e d u c a t e d at a b o u r g e o i s p u b l i c s c h o o l and, still m o r e , m y ecclesiastical a n d s e x u a l tastes. I n its turn, the s c h o o l m u s t k n o w n o t h i n g o f the s e x o r the P a r t y . '
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A t O x f o r d , w h e r e the n e e d for c o n c e a l m e n t a n d d u p l i c i t y w a s c o n s i d e r a b l y less pressing than it h a d b e e n at L a n c i n g , h e s i m p l y t h r e w c a u t i o n to the w i n d s . U n s u r p r i s i n g l y , a c a d e m i c w o r k c a m e v e r y l o w o n his list o f priorities as h e g a v e full v e n t to e v e r y aspect o f his character. L i k e m a n y an u n d e r g r a d u a t e b e f o r e h i m , h e w a s d e t e r m i n e d to g e t h i m s e l f n o t i c e d . ' T h i s w a s the p e r i o d w h e n " O x f o r d b a g s " w e r e w o r n , ' h e w r o t e in his a u t o b i o g r a p h y Ruling Passions, 'trousers v e r y w i d e a n d flapping at the ankles, far w i d e r than the N a v y ' s b e l l b o t t o m s . I n m y first y e a r at O x f o r d I g o t the w i d e s t pair I c o u l d find, at H a l l B r o t h e r s in the H i g h , a n d in an unusual c o l o u r - b r i g h t g r e e n . '
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( H e does n o t r e c o r d w h e t h e r h e w o r e these o n the frequent trips h e m a d e to L o n d o n to see, a m o n g o t h e r things, p e r f o r m a n c e s b y the D i a g h i l e v B a l l e t . ) H e b e g a n w r i t i n g for the u n d e r g r a d u a t e magazine Cherwell - ' p r o b a b l y the nearest I c a m e to d o i n g a n y sort o f r e g u l a r w o r k w h i l e I w a s at O x f o r d ' - a n d i n d u l g e d his innate s n o b b e r y b y c u l t i v a t i n g e v e r y bit as assiduously as B e t j e m a n the u n i v e r s i t y ' s f e w

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r e m a i n i n g A c t o n i t e s a n d a n y o n e else w h o m i g h t c o n c e i v a b l y h a v e b e e n a m e m b e r o f 'the g r a n d set'. S e e m i n g l y u n a w a r e o f a n y possible conflict o f interest, h e also r e m a i n e d politically a c t i v e . I m p a t i e n t w i t h the L a b o u r C l u b b e c a u s e o f w h a t h e called the ' m o d e r a t i o n ' o f its stance, h e set a b o u t establishing a university b r a n c h o f the Communist Party. D e s p i t e h e l p from national party organizers a n d his o w n c o n s i d e r a b l e efforts, h o w e v e r , this n e v e r h a d a n y t h i n g like the p o p u l a r appeal o f the U L C . F o r m u c h o f the t i m e h e w a s associated w i t h it, i n d e e d , there w e r e j u s t t w o p a i d - u p m e m b e r s D r i b e r g h i m s e l f (president) a n d , w h e n finally e x t r i c a t e d h i m s e l f f r o m the L a b o u r C l u b , A l a n T a y l o r . Parallel w i t h all this w a s i n e v i t a b l y the i n d u l g e n c e o f his ' s e x u a l tastes'. T h e s e w e r e litde short o f gargantuan, a n d the t y p i c a l l y forthright m a n n e r in w h i c h D r i b e r g s o u g h t to assuage t h e m is v i v i d l y illustrative o f the difference b e t w e e n the attitudes o f the d e c o r o u s o l d g u a r d a n d the n e w y o u n g turks. E v e l y n W a u g h m i g h t h a v e b e e n satisfied w i t h passionate F r e n c h - k i s s i n g , B e t j e m a n w i t h s t r o k i n g H u g h G a i t s k e l l ' s b o t t o m , H a r o l d A c t o n h i m s e l f w i t h ' k i n d l i n g flames in E l g i n m a r b l e breasts'; but, as w e h a v e seen, t h e y w e r e o n l y dabblers. D r i b e r g s a w h i m s e l f as a professional. F o r h i m s e x w a s a passion; a ' r u l i n g p a s s i o n ' i n d e e d . A n d it w a s s i m p l y sex; n e i t h e r l o v e n o r r o m a n c e h a d a n y part in it. A q u i c k f u m b l e , an a n o n y m o u s e n c o u n t e r in a p u b l i c l a v a t o r y o r , at the v e r y most, a o n e - n i g h t stand in a c h e a p h o t e l w i t h a bit o f r o u g h w h o m he h a d n e v e r m e t before a n d w o u l d n e v e r m e e t a g a i n these w e r e all that interested h i m . T h e r e are c o p i o u s e x a m p l e s o f t h e m all. O f h o w , at A l a n T a y l o r ' s t w e n t y - f i r s t b i r t h d a y party, D r i b e r g b e g a n p e s t e r i n g o n e o f the w a i t e r s , causing the latter to c o m p l a i n to T a y l o r , ' I a m a respectable m a r r i e d m a n a n d i f that g e n t l e m a n c o m e s o u t to m e again I shall g o h o m e . " encountered ' l o o k e d far a university from don, with inevitable consequences
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O f h o w , w h i l e ' c o t t a g i n g ' in o n e o f O x f o r d ' s p u b l i c lavatories, D r i b e r g (he time, donnish', Driberg explained). O f h o w any

a n y w h e r e , almost a n y w o r k i n g - c l a s s y o u t h c o u l d take his fancy . . . I n this last case, b e c a u s e o f all that it says a b o u t D r i b e r g a n d his attitudes at the t i m e , it is w o r t h q u o t i n g at s o m e l e n g t h - a n d in full graphic detail the a c c o u n t h e g a v e in Ruling Passions o f o n e s u c h p i c k - u p . It t o o k place d u r i n g o n e o f his l o n g v a c a t i o n s f r o m O x f o r d , w h e n he w a s in L o n d o n . A f t e r h a v i n g tried his h a n d at prostitution

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('harmless e n o u g h ' ) , h e w a s , bizarrely, a t t e m p t i n g to earn m o n e y as a p a v e m e n t artist w i t h a ' p i t c h ' o n the T h a m e s E m b a n k m e n t . B u t , in ' g r e y flannel trousers, a " s p o r t s " shirt a n d j a c k e t ' , h e w a s hardly dressed for the part. T h e n his e y e lit u p o n o n e o f the m a n y shabbily dressed d o w n - a n d - o u t s w h o t h e n (as n o w ) c o n g r e g a t e d in that area, 'a y o u n g m a n - perhaps t w e n t y years o l d - w i t h a face that w a s pale a n d thin a n d wistfully a p p e a l i n g ' . T h e s o l u t i o n s e e m e d o b v i o u s : ' I p r o p o s i t i o n e d h i m : w o u l d h e c o m e a n d sleep the n i g h t w i t h m e at a c h e a p h o t e l a n d then, v e r y early in the m o r n i n g , c h a n g e clothes w i t h m e ? ' T h i s m i g h t n o w s o u n d distincdy d i s i n g e n u o u s ; b u t the y o u n g m a n n e v e r t h e l e s s ' a c c e p t e d w i t h alacrity' a n d D r i b e r g l e d h i m o f f to a h o t e l he knew: It w a s a w a r m night: w e a g r e e d to sleep n a k e d , w i t h o n l y a sheet o v e r us. H e w a s r e a s o n a b l y clean (he h a d b e e n to the p u b l i c baths that day) and, to m y relief, free o f 'crabs' - the Pediculi pubis w h i c h w e r e , a n d are, so often transmitted in s u c h c i r c u m s t a n c e s . B e f o r e g e t t i n g i n t o b e d , w e s m o k e d a f e w cigarettes to d r o w n the smell o f his socks. N o d o u b t as a result o f p r o l o n g e d u n d e r - f e e d i n g , his ribs w e r e t o o p r o m i n e n t , b u t his b o d y w a s w e l l - p r o p o r t i o n e d , his skin delicate a n d fair. W e s p o k e litde; h e s m i l e d - again that wistful l o o k w h i c h h a d first m o v e d m e . W e t u r n e d to e a c h other, a n d kissed: the alternate thrust a n d w i t h d r a w a l o f his t o n g u e - soft b u t firm, w a r m , a n d s l i g h d y flavoured w i t h p e p p e r m i n t c h e w i n g - g u m - s u g g e s t e d e x p e r i e n c e . I n v i e w o f his g e n e r a l c o n d i t i o n , I h a d n o t e x p e c t e d a strong s e x u a l response; b u t n o w , b e a t i n g a n d t h r o b b i n g against m e , w a s a surprisingly thick, h a r d o r g a n . T h e n , still w i t h o u t s p e a k i n g , h e s h o w e d w h a t h e really w a n t e d , o r t h o u g h t that I did; for, after a n o t h e r kiss, h e r o l l e d o v e r w i t h his b a c k t o w a r d s m e , his b o t t o m pressing against m y genitals. S o d o m y does n o t h a p p e n to be my f a v o u r i t e s e x u a l pastime; b u t I c o u l d hardly refuse so u n a s s u m i n g a c h a r m e r [. . .] T h e actual entry w a s , I fear I m u s t say, suspiciously easy: this m e a n t either that the o r i f i c e h a d b e e n c o a t e d w i t h V a s e l i n e (or the rather better-class ' K . Y . ' ) to facilitate p r e v i o u s entries, o r that m y bed-mate w a s suffering f r o m diarrhoea, a c o m m o n b y - p r o d u c t o f dietary i m p o v e r i s h m e n t . T h e latter, alas, p r o v e d to b e the case, as a saffron s m e a r o n the c h e a p cotton sheet testified. B u t b e f o r e m y w i t h d r a w a l h a d b r o u g h t a b o u t this

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regrettable result, h e h a d already, s u d d e n l y , u n c o n t r o l l a b l y 'shot his load' o f semen a n d a pitiably thin, w e a k , l i q u i d l o a d it w a s ( p o v e r t y , again), n o t sufficient in quantity to f o r m o n the sheet that o t h e r stain w h i c h c h a m b e r m a i d s call a ' m a p o f I r e l a n d ' [. . .] W e w e r e u p b e t i m e s a n d I ( h a v i n g g i v e n the b o y a l m o s t all the m o n e y I h a d left) hastened to a pitch that I h a d t h o u g h t p r o m i s i n g in Russell S q u a r e .
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O n e can easily i m a g i n e D r i b e r g e x c i t e d l y r e p o r t i n g all this to W . H . A u d e n w h e n h e g o t b a c k to O x f o r d for the start o f M i c h a e l m a s T e r m . The frank a c c o u n t o f the s e x u a l act, baldly stated a n d h i t c h e d to s o c i o l o g i c a l detail ('diarrhoea, a c o m m o n b y - p r o d u c t o f dietary i m p o v e r i s h m e n t ' ) , c o u l d almost h a v e b e e n d e v i s e d to appeal to the ' c l i n i c a l ' m i n d o f the m a n w h o , e v e n b e f o r e h e attained the a g e o f m a j o r i t y , had, a c c o r d i n g to S t e p h e n S p e n d e r , 'an e x t e n s i v e k n o w l e d g e o f the theories o f m o d e r n p s y c h o l o g y ' the m a n w h o m c o n t e m p o r a r i e s h a d e v e n t h e n taken to calling ' U n c l e W i z ' . W y s t a n A u d e n h a d a r r i v e d at O x f o r d - a n d b y c o i n c i d e n c e at C h r i s t C h u r c h a y e a r b e h i n d D r i b e r g , in O c t o b e r 1925. The two men s o o n m e t , a n d w h a t D r i b e r g d e s c r i b e d as a 'chaste' friendship certainly existed b y the f o l l o w i n g s u m m e r , for it w a s at this t i m e that D r i b e r g i n t r o d u c e d A u d e n to the w o r k o f T . S. E l i o t . H e s h o w e d h i m the first p r i n t e d v e r s i o n o f The Waste Land ( w h i c h h a d a p p e a r e d in the Criterion m a g a z i n e s o m e three years p r e v i o u s l y ) . ' R e a d it, at first, w i t h i n c r e d u l o u s hilarity (the M r s P o r t e r bit, for i n s t a n c e ) , ' h e told the unprepossessing fresher w h o w o u l d b e c o m e the greatest E n g l i s h - b o r n p o e t o f his g e n e r a t i o n . ' R e a d it, again a n d again, w i t h g r o w i n g a w e . ' ( T y p i c a l l y , D r i b e r g d i n e d o u t o n this story for years afterwards, c l a i m i n g it w a s h e w h o h a d set the t o n e for the w h o l e ' A u d e n e s q u e ' s c h o o l o f poetry.) B u t the t w o m e n h a d a lot besides p o e t r y in c o m m o n . W e h a v e already seen that, l i k e D r i b e r g , at this p e r i o d in his life A u d e n w a s s e e m i n g l y c o m i n g to terms b o t h w i t h s o c i a l i s m a n d his o w n homo sexuality. ' S e e m i n g l y ' b e c a u s e , b y refusing to w r i t e an a u t o b i o g r a p h y a n d expressly (but ineffectively) f o r b i d d i n g a n y b i o g r a p h y - h e e v e n asked his friends to b u r n all those o f his letters w h i c h t h e y after his d e a t h
13

retained

- A u d e n left rather f e w e r clues to the true n a t u r e o f

n o

H E R O E S

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his social a n d e m o t i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t than m a n y o f his c o n t e m p o r a r i e s . E n o u g h r e m a i n s , h o w e v e r , for us to see h i m as s o m e t h i n g o f a m i n o r k e y D r i b e r g o r , in his o w n c o d - p s y c h o l o g i c a l terms, an i n t r o v e r t e d extrovert. S p e n d e r ' s d e s c r i p t i o n o f the m a n h e first m e t at O x f o r d a c o u p l e o f y e a r s later p r o v i d e s a c o n v e n i e n t starting-point: H e s a w h i m s e l f - as I t h e n e n v i s a g e d h i m - w i t h certain potentialities a n d talents, certain desires, certain attitudes o f m i n d , l i v i n g w i t h i n a c o m m u n i t y g o v e r n e d b y certain rules a n d traditions, a n d consisting also o f p e o p l e w i t h different potentialities, desires a n d attitudes. H i s aims w e r e to fulfil his potentialities, o b t a i n satisfaction for his desires, a n d m a i n t a i n his attitudes w i t h o u t p r e j u d i c e a n d w i t h o u t a c c e p t i n g a n y a u t h o r i t y outside his o w n j u d g e m e n t .
1 4

S p e n d e r w a s w r i t i n g i n 1 9 5 1 . N e a r l y half a c e n t u r y o n , it is n o t difficult to d e c o n s t r u c t w h a t h e w a s t r y i n g to say. A u d e n h a d 'certain desires' b u t w a s ' l i v i n g w i t h i n a c o m m u n i t y g o v e r n e d b y certain rules a n d [. . .] p e o p l e w i t h different [. . .] desires'. H e w a n t e d to ' o b t a i n satisfac t i o n for his desires' . . . E v e n in 1 9 5 1 this m u s t h a v e b e e n clear e n o u g h . M o r e r e c e n t l y , h o w e v e r , b o t h the i n e v i t a b l e nature o f A u d e n ' s 'desires' a n d the e x t e n t to w h i c h h e m a n a g e d to satisfy t h e m h a v e b e e n e x p l i c i t l y d e l i n e a t e d b y H u m p h r e y C a r p e n t e r in his b i o g r a p h y o f the p o e t .
1 5

H e paints a p i c t u r e o f A u d e n e x p l a i n i n g i n F r e u d i a n

terms that his s e x u a l p r o m i s c u i t y h a d its roots in a ' c o m p l e x ' h e h a d d e v e l o p e d a b o u t the smallness o f his penis. H e has D a v i d A y e r s t s a y i n g h o w A u d e n w a s a l w a y s falling for unsuitable (i.e. h e t e r o s e x u a l ) u n d e r graduates. H e describes A u d e n f i n d i n g s o m e sort o f solace in l a t e - n i g h t w a l k s a r o u n d the b a c k streets o f O x f o r d (on a r o u t e w h i c h C e c i l D a y - L e w i s r e m e m b e r e d as t a k i n g in the canal t o w - p a t h a n d the city g a s - w o r k s ) , a n d b y p i c k i n g u p m e n o n rail trips: ' W y s t a n c o u l d always, o n the b r i e f train j o u r n e y to L o n d o n , m a k e a c o n t a c t , ' A . L . R o w s e noticed. T e l l i n g l y , C a r p e n t e r also describes h o w , e v e n w i t h a c o m p l i a n t fellow-student, Auden's ' w o o i n g ' was minimal. Completely un a b a s h e d , h e w o u l d s i m p l y w a l k i n t o the u n d e r s t a n d a b l y startled m a n ' s r o o m s and announce: ' Y o u k n o w w h a t I ' v e c o m e for.' L i k e Driberg, at this p e r i o d A u d e n s a w s e x (his p r e f e r e n c e , C a r p e n t e r reveals, w a s for fellatio) as j u s t s e x . L o v e d i d n o t c o m e i n t o it - was not allowed to

T H E

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III

come into it. A c c o r d i n g to S t a n l e y Fisher, h e b e l i e v e d that 'lust w a s an appetite a n d n e e d e d to b e satisfied, b u t l o v e w a s to b e a v o i d e d as a snare.' S p e n d e r t o o seems to h a v e b e e n a w a r e o f this side o f w h a t h e called A u d e n ' s ' a m o r a l ' nature. ' S e l f - k n o w l e d g e , ' h e w r o t e , ' c o m p l e t e lack o f i n h i b i t i o n a n d sense o f guilt, a n d k n o w l e d g e o f others w e r e essential to the fulfilment o f his a i m s . ' his friends'
16

' K n o w l e d g e o f others', the intimate k n o w l e d g e o f e v e r y aspect o f personal a n d s e x u a l lives, w a s especially i m p o r t a n t to A u d e n . B u t i f there w a s a streak o f p r u r i e n c e b e h i n d his attempts at o m n i s c i e n c e it is i m p o r t a n t to r e m e m b e r that those friends m o s t notably S p e n d e r , C h r i s t o p h e r I s h e r w o o d a n d I s h e r w o o d ' s 'closest h e t e r o s e x u a l m a l e friend', the novelist E d w a r d U p w a r d - a l m o s t literally beat a path to his d o o r , so a n x i o u s w e r e t h e y to take the a d v i c e o f U n c l e W i z . I s h e r w o o d has v i v i d l y d e s c r i b e d the e x p e r i e n c e . In his 1 9 3 8 n o v e l Lions and Shadows his y o u n g narrator visits an o l d s c h o o l friend, ' H u g h W e s t o n ' ( A u d e n ' s g i v e n n a m e s w e r e W y s t a n H u g h ) : T o several o f us, i n c l u d i n g myself, h e c o n f i d e d the first naughty

s t u p e n d o u s b r e a t h - t a k i n g hints a b o u t the facts o f s e x . I r e m e m b e r h i m chiefly for his naughtiness, his i n s o l e n c e , his s m i r k i n g tantalizing air o f k n o w i n g disreputable a n d e x c i t i n g secrets. W i t h his h i n t e d f o r b i d d e n k n o w l e d g e a n d stock o f m i s p r o n o u n c e d scientific w o r d s , p o r t e n t o u s l y uttered, h e e n j o y e d a m o n g us, his s e m i - s a v a g e c r e d u lous s c h o o l f e l l o w s , the status o f a k i n d o f w i t c h - d o c t o r [. . .] W e s t o n ' s o w n attitude to s e x , in its s i m p l i c i t y a n d utter l a c k o f i n h i b i t i o n , fairly t o o k m y breath a w a y . H e w a s n o D o n J u a n : h e d i d n ' t r u n a r o u n d h u n t i n g for his pleasures. B u t h e t o o k w h a t c a m e to h i m w i t h a matter-of-factness a n d an appetite as hearty as that w h i c h h e s h o w e d w h e n sitting d o w n to d i n n e r . I d o n ' t t h i n k that, e v e n in those days, h e e x a g g e r a t e d m u c h : certainly, his m a n n e r o f d e s c r i b i n g these adventures b o r e all the hallmarks o f truth. I f o u n d his shameless prosaic anecdotes o n l y t o o hard to f o r g e t . . . '
7

S p e n d e r , t o o , has g i v e n a fictionalized b u t v i v i d l y realistic a c c o u n t o f A u d e n ' s s e x u a l socialism. The Temple, r e - w o r k e d in 1988 from infatuation material h e first w r o t e nearly sixty years p r e v i o u s l y , is the transparently a u t o b i o g r a p h i c a l story o f a y o u n g O x f o r d s t u d e n t - p o e t ' s w i t h an u n c a r i n g h e t e r o s e x u a l friend n a m e d M a r s t o n . I n e v i t a b l y , P a u l

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S c h o n e r ( S p e n d e r ) consults his friend S i m o n W i l m o t ( A u d e n ) the matter. S i m o n does n o t m i n c e his w o r d s : S i m o n asked: ' B y the w a y , are y o u a V e r g e r ? ' ' A what?' ' A virgin?' P a u l b l u s h e d furiously: ' I s u p p o s e s o . ' ' W e l l , y o u m u s t k n o w w h e t h e r y o u are o r y o u a r e n ' t . ' 'I a m then. A r e y o u ? "
8

about

V i r g i n a l o r not, this n e w O x f o r d sexuality, i n f o r m e d Cambridge-educated Hirschfeld's m e d i c a l student C h r i s t o p h e r

as it w a s b y the were Sexual

F r e u d i a n a n d o t h e r p s y c h o l o g i c a l influences - b o t h A u d e n a n d Isherwood

attracted b y the w o r k o f J o h n L a y a r d a n d the r e p u t a t i o n o f D r M a g n u s Institut Fur Sexual- Wissenschaft o r Institute for S c i e n c e in G e r m a n y w a s s y m p t o m a t i c o f the c l i m a t e o f the times. H o m o s e x u a l i t y w a s n o l o n g e r the solitary ' i n v e r s i o n ' o r ' p e r v e r s i o n ' it h a d b e e n , e v e n in Forster's (or M a u r i c e ' s ) day. R a t h e r , it h a d b e c o m e politicized. \ T h i s is n o t the place for detailed literary exegisis, b u t it w o u l d b e p e r v e r s e n o t to pause to c o n s i d e r w h a t the t w o k e y 'thirties poets' w e r e w r i t i n g at this p e r i o d . P e r v e r s e b e c a u s e , in m u c h o f the early p u b l i s h e d w o r k o f b o t h A u d e n a n d S p e n d e r , the v e r y lexis fuses the political w i t h the i m p l i c i t l y h o m o - e r o t i c . I r o n i c a l l y , i n d i v i d u a l p o e m s take o n s o m e t h i n g o f the nature o f L e n i Riefenstahl's films o f the
1 9

B e r l i n O l y m p i c G a m e s . S p e n d e r thinks, wistfully, o f 'the truly great' a n d 'great m e n ' s u c h as his friend ' T r i g o r i n ' ( ' T h i s k n o w n great o n e ' ) ; e v e r y t h i n g is a struggle, a battle for p e r f e c t i o n in b o t h the physical a n d the social sense. ' O h y o u n g m e n o h y o u n g c o m r a d e s ' , h e i m p l o r e s , p u n c t u a t i o n the first casualty o f his struggle, 'it is t o o late n o w to stay in those h o u s e s . . .' C o u n t rather those fabulous possessions w h i c h b e g i n w i t h y o u r b o d y a n d y o u r b u r n i n g soul the hairs o n y o u r skin the m u s c l e s e x t e n d i n g in ranges w i t h lakes across y o u r limbs C o u n t y o u r eyes as j e w e l s a n d y o u r g o l d e n s e x . . .

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C o u n t h i m , t o o ; c o u n t S p e n d e r in; o n e o f the c o m r a d e s , o n e o f t h e chosen, o n e o f the f e w , w h o expects ' T h u n d e r , struggles w i t h m e n / A n d c l i m b i n g ' .


20

fighting,/

Long

M o r e assured, m o r e certain o f his p l a c e in the s c h e m e o f things, A u d e n t o o w a s s e e m i n g l y m e l d i n g his s e x u a l feelings i n t o a greater Weltpolitik at this time a n d t h r o u g h the industry o f his literary e x e c u tor E d w a r d M e n d e l s o n w e can precisely chart t h e progress o f his s o c i o - s e x u a l d e v e l o p m e n t . T h u s w e c a n date to the A p r i l o f 1 9 2 9 his p o e m b e g i n n i n g 'It w a s Easter . . .' (Easter S u n d a y fell o n 3 1 M a r c h that year) w i t h its e c h o o f K e a t s : ' S e a s o n w h e n l o v e r s a n d writers f i n d / A n altering s p e e c h for altering t i m e s ' .
21

W e c a n see t o o h o w at

precisely that time those lovers a n d writers w e r e b e i n g i m p l i c i t l y allied to his m o r e characteristic dramatis p e r s o n a e o f spies, agents, a i r m e n , strangers a n d o t h e r loners a n d outsiders. E v e n t h e n , e a c h h a d . . . taught h i m s e l f this b a l a n c i n g subterfuge O f the a c c o s t i n g profile, t h e erect carriage. T h e song, the v a r i e d action o f the b l o o d W o u l d d r o w n the w a r n i n g f r o m the i r o n w o o d W o u l d cancel the inertia o f the b u r i e d : T r a v e l l i n g b y daylight o n f r o m h o u s e to h o u s e T h e longest w a y to the intrinsic p e a c e , W i t h l o v e ' s fidelity a n d w i t h l o v e ' s w e a k n e s s .
22

In retrospect it is t e m p t i n g t o take t h e conflation o f t h e o u t s i d e r / s p y / s o c i a l i s t / h o m o s e x u a l t o o far; t e m p t i n g t o m e r g e all t h e thirties archetypes into a single f i g u r e . T o a greater e x t e n t than it d i d s o c i e t y as a w h o l e , the process m a y h a v e p r e o c c u p i e d the O x f o r d o f the late 1 9 2 0 s a n d early 1 9 3 0 s but, as w e h a v e seen, f o r m a n y reasons O x f o r d was a special case. R a t h e r m o r e typical in its reactions t o c h a n g i n g times w a s C a m b r i d g e . T r a d i t i o n a l l y m o r e e a r t h - b o u n d than M a t t h e w A r n o l d ' s ' h o m e o f lost causes', typically a n d illuminatingly as early as 1 9 2 2 C a m b r i d g e had, for instance, h a d litde t i m e f o r the angst-ndden w h e n h e a r r i v e d as an u n d e r g r a d u a t e . Cecil Beaton terrible ' I ' m really a terrible,

h o m o s e x u a l i s t a n d try so hard n o t to b e , ' h e h a d a d m i t t e d t o h i m s e l f

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at a r o u n d this t i m e . ' I try so terribly hard to b e g o o d a n d n o t c h e a p a n d horrid.'


23

T h e u n i v e r s i t y h a d f o u n d this difficult to b e l i e v e . ' W e a r i n g an i n t o the street from his r o o m s in he

e v e n i n g j a c k e t , r e d shoes, b l a c k - a n d - w h i t e trousers, a n d a h u g e b l u e cravat' w h e n e v e r h e v e n t u r e d St J o h n ' s C o l l e g e , the p r e c i o u s O l d H a r r o v i a n l o o k e d as t h o u g h

w a s t i t t u p p i n g u p O x f o r d ' s H i g h to m e e t H a r o l d A c t o n o r B r i a n H o w a r d . ( M o r e p r o b a b l y , h e w a s o n his w a y to the university's A m a t e u r D r a m a t i c S o c i e t y w h e r e , b y accident o r design, h e h a d b e e n put in c h a r g e o f 'dresses a n d s c e n e r y ' . ) It w a s a b a d miscalculation, but it t o o k B e a t o n s o m e t i m e to realize the fact: ' A s the w e a t h e r g o t chillier, he brightened
24

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fur gauntlet g l o v e s , a c l o t h - o f - g o l d tie, a scarlet j e r s e y a n d bags.'

B y their o w n a c c o u n t s at least, it w a s k i n d r e d spirits at C a m b r i d g e a n d the b r a c i n g , matter-of-fact ethos o f the u n i v e r s i t y itself w h i c h s a v e d B e a t o n o r at least l i m i t e d the d a m a g e h e c o u l d d o to himself. G e o r g e ' D a d i e ' Rylands noted: ' O x f o r d w o u l d have been very bad for C e c i l . H e w o u l d h a v e g o n e straight d o w n the E v e l y n h o p e d , w o u l d it e v e r b e . ' T h e y [ W a u g h ' s O x f o r d set] drank Waugh cham drain.' C a m b r i d g e w a s n o t l i k e that, R y l a n d s w a s i m p l y i n g - n o r , h e p a g n e at e l e v e n in the m o r n i n g , w h i l e w e d r a n k b e e r at n i g h t o r o c c a s i o n a l l y B u r g u n d y . W e l i v e d in a rather p o v e r t y - s t r i c k e n , priggish
>25

way. ' P r i g g i s h ' is perhaps a m i s l e a d i n g w a y o f p u t t i n g it; ' c o n c e i t e d o r d i d a c t i c ' (as the OED defines the w o r d ) hardly describes the C a m the m u s e , m i n d w a s b r i d g e m i l i e u a n d its h o m o s e x u a l demi-monde. ' P r a g m a t i c ' m i g h t better express the ethos in w h i c h scientia r e m a i n e d paramount a n d things w e r e m o r e controlled than e v e r they w e r e at

O x f o r d . J u s t as t h e r e w e r e n o d r e a m i n g spires, so there w e r e f e w d r a w l i n g poets at C a m b r i d g e . R a t h e r , its c o n t e m p o r a r i e s o f O x f o r d ' s n e o - A e s t h e t e s w e r e , c o m p a r a t i v e l y speaking, m e n o f action. B y the early 1 9 3 0 s G u y B u r g e s s , D o n a l d M a c l e a n a n d A n t h o n y B l u n t at least already h a d o n e e y e o n the real w o r l d , the w o r l d b e y o n d e v e n the w i d e h o r i z o n s o f the C a m b r i d g e s h i r e F e n s . Patricia P a r r y (later L a d y L l e w e l y n - D a v i e s ) has recalled that ' T h e S p a n i s h w a r w a s v e r y real a n d m a n y p e o p l e [at C a m b r i d g e ] t h o u g h t that it w a s a rehearsal for a b i g g e r w a r that w a s c o m i n g . I f y o u h a v e a lot o f m e n w h o k n o w there's a w a r c o m i n g t h e n o f course they w i l l b e interested in politics because

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they k n o w t h e y w i l l b e the s o l d i e r s . '

26

T h o u g h hardly t h e m o s t c h a r i s members

matic o f the h o m o s e x u a l - or, in M a c l e a n ' s case, b i s e x u a l -

o f the n o w n o t o r i o u s C a m b r i d g e C o m m u n i s t c o t e r i e , this w a s e s p e c i ally true o f B l u n t . B e f o r e h e h a d e v e n left p u b l i c s c h o o l , b o t h p o l i t i c a l l y a n d sexually the b r o a d c o u r s e o f his life h a d b e e n set.

E v e n physically, B l u n t w a s o u t o f the o r d i n a r y . H e s t o o d 'a g a n g l i n g six feet t w o inches tall'; w i t h his h a n g - d o g , t o o t h y f a c e ,


27

i n d e e d , in

student snapshots h e resembles n o t h i n g so m u c h as a spectre at the feast. B u t , v a r i o u s l y d e s c r i b e d as ' c l e v e r , erudite a n d a m u s i n g ' , ' v e r y w e l l read a n d c u l t u r e d ' , 'patronising', ' a l w a y s v e r y s u p e r c i l i o u s ' o r j u s t c o l d l y 'intellectual', h e w a s v i e w e d w i t h s o m e t h i n g l i k e a w e b y m a n y o f his c o n t e m p o r a r i e s , the m a j o r i t y o f w h o m o f c o u r s e k n e w n o t h i n g o f his d e e p e r p r e o c c u p a t i o n s . U n d e r n e a t h e v e r y t h i n g , h e w a s ' r e m o t e a n d d e e p l y serious', Patricia P a r r y c o n c l u d e s a single-minded apparent. N o r w a s it o n l y in this respect that the y o u n g M a r x i s t s e e m e d to e x e m p l i f y the C a m b r i d g e v e r s i o n o f the A u d e n e s q u e o u t s i d e r . Cru of he cially, a l t h o u g h he h a d p i t c h e d u p in the w e a l t h y e n v i r o n m e n t T r i n i t y C o l l e g e ( h a v i n g matriculated f r o m M a r l b o r o u g h , w h e r e ruthlessness which would hinting perhaps at o n l y later m a k e itself

h a d b e e n a c o n t e m p o r a r y o f j o h n B e t j e m a n ) , as the s o n o f a c l e r g y m a n he d i d n o t h a v e a traditional T r i n i t y b a c k g r o u n d . T h e r e w a s n o f a m i l y w e a l t h . H e w a s quite literally an outsider; essentially n o m o r e t h a n 'a scholarship b o y l i v i n g o n a l i m i t e d i n c o m e ' . It r a n k l e d , a n d o n l y s e r v e d to strengthen B l u n t ' s s i n g l e - m i n d e d pursuit o f a c a d e m i c success. I f h e w a s innately d e b a r r e d f r o m p e r s o n i f y i n g the aesthetic ideal o r , i n d e e d , f r o m cutting a n y sort o f dash as a sportsman, that w a s a field i n w h i c h h e c o u l d - a n d d i d - dazzle spectacularly. H e m a n a g e d t o w i n e l e c t i o n to the e x c l u s i v e A p o s d e s and, in 1 9 3 0 , h a v i n g g r a d u a t e d w i t h a First in m o d e r n l a n g u a g e s , h e b e g a n w o r k i n g for a T r i n i t y f e l l o w s h i p in E u r o p e a n art history. B u t there w a s a c o l d s i n g l e - m i n d e d n e s s a b o u t e v e n this, as t h e r e w a s a b o u t so m a n y o t h e r aspects o f B l u n t ' s life a b e l i e f that ' o n l y the best w o u l d d o ' w h i c h w a s to i n f o r m his taste in fine art, i n f o o d , in the cigarettes h e s m o k e d , in the c o m p a n y h e k e p t a n d , b y n o m e a n s least, in the lovers h e t o o k . T h e r e , o n c e again, o n l y the best w o u l d

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d o : i f h e w a s n o t c o n v e n t i o n a l l y g o o d - l o o k i n g , they m o s t certainly h a d to b e . A t C a m b r i d g e the first o f these, the s o n n o t o f a m e r e c l e r g y m a n b u t o f a full m a j o r - g e n e r a l , w a s d e s c r i b e d b y a m u t u a l friend as b e i n g possessed o f 'fair rather w a v y hair a n d a b r o a d f o r e h e a d . H e h a d quite a sensual m o u t h , a cleft c h i n a n d b l u e e y e s '
2 8

- in o t h e r w o r d s he w a s

the e m b o d i m e n t o f the traditional aesthetic Ideal. A little later there was V i r g i n i a W o o l f 's n e p h e w J u l i a n B e l l w h o , c o n t e m p o r a r y p h o t o g r a p h s suggest, fell i n t o v e r y m u c h the s a m e c a t e g o r y a n d w h o w a s , pleasingly, ' c o m p l e t e l y a n d hopelessly infatuated' w i t h B l u n t . A t s o m e t i m e , t o o , t h e r e w a s G u y Francis d e M o n e y B u r g e s s . B l u n t s e e m i n g l y first m e t B u r g e s s in 1 9 3 2 , s h o r d y after h e h a d taken u p his T r i n i t y f e l l o w s h i p . I n e v i t a b l y h e w a s d r a w n to the brilliant, p r i z e - w i n n i n g O l d E t o n i a n : n o t o n l y w a s h e o p e n l y , flagrantly, r e c k lessly h o m o s e x u a l , h e w a s l i k e a reincarnation o f his first l o v e . C y r i l C o n n o l l y has recalled B u r g e s s at that t i m e as b e i n g ' t a l l - m e d i u m in h e i g h t , w i t h b l u e e y e s , an i n q u i s i t i v e n o s e , sensual m o u t h , c u r l y hair a n d alert f o x - t e r r i e r e x p r e s s i o n [. . .] D e s p i t e his i n t e l l i g e n c e [he] w a s a r o u n d - f a c e d , g o l d e n - p a t e d S a n c h o P a n z a , e x t r o v e r t , exhibitionist, manic, cynical and argumentative, avidly curious, yet sometimes v a g u e and incompetent.'
29

T h e t w o w e r e for a t i m e inseparable; despite B l u n t ' s denials, it s e e m s i n c o n c e i v a b l e that t h e r e w a s n o t a s e x u a l e l e m e n t in their relationship. B u t t h e r e w a s a n o t h e r b o n d , t o o . A l t h o u g h c o m i n g f r o m v e r y different angles, B l u n t a n d B u r g e s s w e r e at this t i m e ( 1 9 3 2 5 ) s i m u l t a n e o u s l y m o v i n g closer a n d closer t o w a r d s the Communist P a r t y . F o r w h a t it is w o r t h h e w a s an a r c h - d i s s e m b l e r , a n d n e v e r m o r e so than after his ' n a m i n g ' in 1 9 7 9 - B l u n t has left a detailed a c c o u n t o f his o w n c o n v e r s i o n : I b e c a m e a C o m m u n i s t a n d m o r e particularly a M a r x i s t in 1 9 3 5 3 6 . T h e history o f it is this: I h a d a sabbatical y e a r f r o m C a m b r i d g e in 1 9 3 3 - 4 a n d w h e n I c a m e b a c k in O c t o b e r 1 9 3 4 I f o u n d that all m y friends, an e n o r m o u s n u m b e r o f m y friends a n d almost all the intelligent a n d b r i g h t u n d e r g r a d u a t e s w h o h a d c o m e u p to C a m b r i d g e h a d s u d d e n l y b e c o m e M a r x i s t u n d e r the i m p a c t o f H i d e r c o m i n g to p o w e r , a n d t h e r e w a s this v e r y p o w e r f u l g r o u p , v e r y r e m a r k a b l e g r o u p o f C o m m u n i s t intellectuals in C a m b r i d g e G u y

' T H E

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117

Burgess was one, J a m e s K l u g m a n was another, J o h n C o r n f o r d was a n o t h e r [. . .] G u y p u t it to m e that the best w a y to h e l p anti-fascism, w h i c h w a s o b v i o u s l y the issue o f the m o m e n t a n d w h i c h b e c a m e m u c h m o r e acute w i t h the Spanish C i v i l W a r in ' 3 6 , w a s to h e l p h i m in his w o r k w i t h the R u s s i a n s .
30

A c c o r d i n g t o friend a n d f e l l o w - t r a v e l l e r G o r o n w y R e e s , h o w e v e r , Burgess had a typically m o r e down-to-earth explanation for his f r i e n d ' s / l o v e r ' s c o n v e r s i o n . T h a t they d i d n o t g o to b e d t o g e t h e r , R e e s insisted, w a s j u s t a ' c o n v e n i e n t f a l s e h o o d ' o f B l u n t ' s . R e e s , w h o k n e w B u r g e s s w e l l at this p e r i o d , r e m e m b e r e d h i m constantly b o a s t i n g o f his ' c o n q u e s t s ' B l u n t a m o n g t h e m . Q u i t e s i m p l y , R e e s i m p l i e d , B l u n t h a d c a u g h t his M a r x i s m in b e d . T h i s is plausible e n o u g h ; h o w B u r g e s s a c q u i r e d his, h o w e v e r , is a m o r e difficult q u e s t i o n . H e left n o a u t o b i o g r a p h y o r first-hand a c c o u n t a n d the w r i t i n g s a b o u t h i m d i v i d e i n t o pre- a n d ante-bellum c a m p s . T h o s e w r i t t e n b y his friends a p p e a r e d l o n g b e f o r e B l u n t ' s e x p o s u r e and, i n d e e d , the 1 9 6 7 d e c r i m i n a l i z a t i o n o f m a l e h o m o s e x u a l i t y (The Missing Diplomats b y C y r i l C o n n o l l y w a s r u s h e d o u t in 1 9 5 2 , b a r e l y a y e a r after B u r g e s s ' s d e f e c t i o n to M o s c o w w i t h D o n a l d M a c l e a n ; T o m

D r i b e r g ' s fuller, i f hagiographical, Guy Burgess: A Portrait with Back


ground was p u b l i s h e d in 1 9 5 6 ) - a n d are thus discreet, e v e n s o m e t i m e s d o w n r i g h t m i s l e a d i n g . B y contrast, b o o k s s u c h as A n d r e w B o y l e ' s The Climate of Treason ( 1 9 7 9 ) a n d B a r r i e P e n r o s e a n d S i m o n F r e e m a n ' s Conspiracy of Silence ( 1 9 8 7 ) try to tell the 'full' political story b u t rather marginalize B u r g e s s ' s f o r m a t i v e y e a n . F r o m admittedly rather fragmentary e v i d e n c e it is still possible to l i n k B u r g e s s ' s h o m o s e x u a l i t y w i t h his espousal o f C o m m u n i s m i n d e e d , in its essentials it is a story w i t h w h i c h w e are already familiar. A t E t o n h e h a d b e e n a c a d e m i c a l l y f o r m i d a b l e , w i n n i n g b o t h the R o s e b e r y a n d G l a d s t o n e history prizes in 1 9 2 9 as w e l l as a T r i n i t y scholarship. E v e n w h i l e h e w a s there, h o w e v e r , h e w a s a l w a y s s e e n as s o m e t h i n g o f an outsider, s o m e h o w ' o d d ' . ( N o t the least part o f this oddness w a s that, after the s u d d e n death o f his father, h e h a d b e e n abruptly r e m o v e d f r o m the c o l l e g e a n d sent as a c a d e t to the D a r t m o u t h R o y a l N a v a l C o l l e g e . B u t there his e y e s i g h t w a s f o u n d to b e d e f e c t i v e , a n d almost u n i q u e l y h e w a s s o o n a c c e p t e d b a c k as an o p p i d a n at E t o n . ) T h e c o l l e g e k n e w w h e n it w a s , o r t h o u g h t it w a s , o n to a g o o d

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m a n , h o w e v e r : ' T h e great t h i n g is that h e really thinks for h i m s e l f the h e a d m a s t e r n o t e d at this t i m e . A l l the s a m e , that p e r c e i v e d oddness a n d i n d e p e n d e n t thinking, e v e n t h e n m a n i f e s t i n g itself in an interest in socialism, in all p r o b a b i l i t y c o m b i n e d to m a k e h i m u n p o p u l a r w i t h the p o w e r f u l E t o n C o l l e g e r s . H e w a s ' q u i t e a c a r d ' ( w e can o n l y guess w h e t h e r delicate e u p h e m i s m lay b e h i n d those w o r d s ) , a n d basically ' t o o c l e v e r b y h a l f . T h u s w h e n elections w e r e h e l d for m e m b e r s h i p o f the e x c l u s i v e E t o n S o c i e t y (familiarly k n o w n as ' P o p ' ) , B u r g e s s , w h o h a d e x p e c t e d to w i n easy e n t r y i n t o a p o s i t i o n o f p r i v i l e g e w h i c h w o u l d h a v e a l l o w e d h i m his o w n fag, n o t to m e n t i o n the r o u n d l y defeated. It w a s a shattering b l o w to his s e l f - c o n f i d e n c e , v e r y possibly the single m o s t w o u n d i n g setback o f his l i f e .
31

right

to w e a r g a u d y waistcoats, w a s

Certainly he n e v e r forgot

it. O r E t o n . E v e n d u r i n g the l o n g years o f his l o n e l y e x i l e in M o s c o w h e c o n t i n u e d t o w e a r an O l d E t o n i a n b o w - t i e . P s y c h o l o g y has t a u g h t us that such s e e m i n g l y trivial slights can h a v e d r a m a t i c , e v e n catastrophic, c o n s e q u e n c e s in later life. A l o n g w i t h his already apparent h o m o s e x u a l i t y , it seems to h a v e h a r d e n e d a streak o f r e b e l l i o n in B u r g e s s : h e w a s different; h e w a s n ' t g o o d e n o u g h for

t h e m ; he'd show them!


V i e w e d in this light, his b e h a v i o u r w h e n h e w e n t u p to C a m b r i d g e it w a s o n e o f the dark ironies o f fate w h i c h t o o k h i m to T r i n i t y a n d B l u n t - m a k e s a k i n d o f sense. H e m a d e n o particular secret o f his h o m o s e x u a l i t y ; i n d e e d , h e flaunted it. T h e b o o k s h e l v e s in his r o o m s in N e w C o u r t c o n t a i n e d 'an e x t r a o r d i n a r y array o f e x p l i c i t a n d e x t r e m e l y unpleasant p o r n o g r a p h i c literature', a n d h e p o s i t i v e l y e n j o y e d the thrill o f c h a s i n g a n y m a l e u n d e r g r a d u a t e , n o m a t t e r h o w d e m o n s t r a b l y h e t e r o s e x u a l , w h o t o o k his fancy: '. . . w e d r a n k w h i s k y t o g e t h e r for a l o n g t i m e . A t first [Burgess] m a d e tentative amorous a d v a n c e s b u t q u i c k l y a n d cheerfully desisted w h e n h e d i s c o v e r e d that I w a s as h e t e r o s e x u a l as h e w a s the o p p o s i t e ; h e w o u l d h a v e d o n e the s a m e to a n y y o u n g m a n , b e c a u s e s e x to h i m w a s b o t h a c o m p u l s i o n a n d a g a m e w h i c h it w a s almost a d u t y t o p r a c t i s e . '
32

B u t at a d e e p e r l e v e l e v e n t h e n t h e r e w e r e essentially t w o G u y B u r g e s s e s . T h e r e w a s the g o o d - l o o k i n g , affable, e x t r e m e l y able O l d E t o n i a n - the s o o n - t o - b e A p o s t l e , the m a n u n i v e r s a l l y t i p p e d for a h i s t o r y f e l l o w s h i p - w h o w a s a natural a n d a c t i v e m e m b e r o f w h a t

' T H E

H O M I N T E R N '

119 Pitt C l u b , a n d

A n d r e w B o y l e has called the ' v u l g a r l y ostentatious'

w h o s o o n palled u p w i t h the y o u n g V i c t o r R o t h s c h i l d . B u t s i m u l taneously, t h e r e w a s also the B u r g e s s w h o w a s p l o u g h i n g his w a y t h r o u g h L e n i n ' s The State and Revolution a n d o t h e r b o o k s w i t h tides

such as The X VIIIth

Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte a n d Class Struggles in


('as "king-and-country"

France; the B u r g e s s w h o h a d j o i n e d the A n t i - W a r M o v e m e n t significant at C a m b r i d g e as the m u c h - p u b l i c i z e d debate at the O x f o r d U n i o n ' ) ;


3 3

a n d the B u r g e s s w h o , in a m o s t

u n - O l d E t o n i a n m a n n e r , w a s c o l l e c t i n g w o r k i n g - c l a s s friends. Superficially, o n e c o u l d describe the m o s t influential o f these, a n e x - c o a l m i n e r called J i m (or J i m m y ) L e e s , as a 'bit o f r o u g h ' . B u t , h o w e v e r c o n v e n i e n t this m i g h t b e - a n d t h e r e is n o e v i d e n c e that, e v e n at C a m b r i d g e , B u r g e s s a n d L e e s w e r e e v e r m o r e than friends the story is m o r e c o m p l i c a t e d than that. ' B a l d i s h a n d spectacled', a c c o r d i n g to T o m D r i b e r g , a n d a m e m b e r o f the I n d e p e n d e n t L a b o u r P a r t y , L e e s ( w h o w e n t o n to b e c o m e a l e c t u r e r at N o t t i n g h a m U n i v e r sity) w a s u n l i k e a n y o n e G u y h a d e v e r k n o w n b e f o r e , [he] t a u g h t h i m a lot, a n d t r o u b l e d his c o n s c i e n c e . ' Y o u ' , h e w o u l d tell h i m , searingly, ' w i l l get a First b e c a u s e y o u r energies are n o t e x h a u s t e d b y life, b e c a u s e o f the class-prejudices o f the e x a m i n e r s , a n d b e c a u s e y o u g o t h e r e easily a n d a r e n ' t frightened b y it all. I d o n ' t h a v e a n d get a g o o d S e c o n d .
4

the

brilliance o f i g n o r a n c e . I shall d o ten times as m u c h w o r k as y o u

' H e k n e w a great deal m o r e than I d i d , ' B u r g e s s t o l d D r i b e r g ( a l t h o u g h h e o m i t t e d to m e n t i o n that, far from g e t t i n g the First w h i c h L e e s h a d p r e d i c t e d , h e u n e x p e c t e d l y 'collapsed in tears d u r i n g his finals' a n d , equally u n e x p e c t e d l y , left C a m b r i d g e w i t h o n l y an aegrotat d e g r e e ) . ' H e w a s interested in truth, I in brilliance. I m a d e e p i g r a m s : h e g o t the right a n s w e r s . ' S o m e h o w L e e s , w i t h his first-hand stories o f w o r k i n g - c l a s s p r i v a t i o n , seems to h a v e b e e n able to p r i c k B u r g e s s ' s c o n s c i e n c e . M o n t h b y m o n t h u n d e r his tutelage, the o n e - t i m e Pitt C l u b s w e l l w h o in his first y e a r ' d r a n k a bottle o f L i e b f r a u m i l c h ' 2 1 (at 3 5 . 6 d . l ) e v e r y d a y at l u n c h e o n ' a c q u i r e d a n e w seriousness. Politics b e c a m e m o r e than 'a lark', e v e n i f his grass-roots l e f t - w i n g a c t i v i s m t o d a y seems c h a r a c t e r istically w h i m s i c a l . H e e x p e n d e d a great deal o f e n e r g y in an (ultimately

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successful) c a m p a i g n to i m p r o v e the w o r k i n g c o n d i t i o n s o f the hall w a i t e r s at T r i n i t y . W i t h o t h e r C a m b r i d g e students h e t u r n e d o u t in s u p p o r t o f the J a r r o w H u n g e r M a r c h e r s in 1 9 3 4 , b u t w a l k e d w i t h t h e m o n l y f o r the fifteen o r so miles b e t w e e n H u n t i n g d o n a n d C a m b r i d g e ; h e c a u g h t a train to L o n d o n in o r d e r to b e present at their final rally in H y d e P a r k . T w o paths w e r e c o n v e r g i n g , h o w e v e r . O n o n e side there w a s the intellectual dialectic o f L e e s ('If y o u t h i n k l i k e that, y o u r place is in t h e P a r t y . . . ' ) , o n the o t h e r the infinitely m o r e s e d u c t i v e pleasures o f t h e flesh w h i c h , l i k e S t A u g u s t i n e , for the present h e h a d n o plans to forsake. H a p p i l y , t h e y w e r e to c o i n c i d e o n e e v e n i n g in the m i d - 1 9 3 0 s w h e n B u r g e s s first e n c o u n t e r e d J a c k H e w i t . S e v e n t e e n y e a n o l d at the t i m e a n d the s o n o f a G a t e s h e a d shipyard riveter, this ' h a l f c h i l d a n d h a l f w a r l o c k , / w i t h a truly f e m i n i n e s o u l ' (as W . H . A u d e n w a s later to describe h i m ) t h e n h a d a j o b in the c h o r u s o f a t o u r i n g p r o d u c t i o n o f No, No, Nanette. T h a t e v e n i n g h e w a s a p p e a r i n g at the s o u t h L o n d o n P a l a c e T h e a t r e : ' V i r t u a l l y the w h o l e o f the m e n ' s c h o r u s w a s g a y . G u y w a s w a i t i n g b y the stage d o o r f o r o n e o f t h e b o y s . I s a w h i m a n d asked m y friend D o u g l a s afterwards " W h o w a s that, t h e n ? " a n d h e said " A friend o f m i n e w h o w o r k s in the B B C , a n d k e e p y e r 'ands o f f it, d e a r . " '
3 5

B u t the attraction w a s r e c i p r o c a l a n d that c h a n c e m e e t i n g m e a n t as m u c h to B u r g e s s as it h a d to H e w i t . B e s i d e s the luckless D o u g l a s they h a d o t h e r friends in c o m m o n a n d m a n a g e d t o k e e p in t o u c h . B u r g e s s finally s e d u c e d t h e y o u n g b u t n o t i n e x p e r i e n c e d H e w i t in 1 9 3 7 and, a l t h o u g h t h e r e w e r e to b e m a n y separations a n d infidelities o n b o t h sides - ' I t h i n k h e i n v e n t e d p r o m i s c u i t y , ' H e w i t has recalled. ' H e used to say, " O h , a n y t h i n g f r o m s e v e n t e e n to s e v e n t y - f i v e ! " ' - the t w o w e r e to r e m a i n n o t i o n a l l y t o g e t h e r until B u r g e s s ' s a b r u p t R u s s i a in 1 9 5 1 . flight to

B u r g e s s a n d H e w i t . . . T h e fastidious B l u n t a n d his A e s t h e t i c t o y - b o y s . . . D r i b e r g a n d his ' c o t t a g e ' p i c k - u p s . . . A u d e n a n d his l a t e - n i g h t w a l k s . . . the pattern is the s a m e . It g o e s b a c k to M a u r i c e a n d S c u d d e r ; it g o e s b a c k , i n d e e d , a great deal farther than that. B u t there is an important difference. Essentially, F o r s t e r described how Maurice m e r e l y w a n t e d e x p e r i e n c e o f a 'bit o f r o u g h ' a n d w e h a v e already

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seen h o w that sort o f nostalgie de la boue has a l w a y s b e e n central t o t h e h o m o s e x u a l e x p e r i e n c e . E v e n t o d a y o n e has o n l y to l o o k at t h e m o d e l s p o r t r a y e d in g a y m a g a z i n e s a n d the tides o f g a y t e l e p h o n e s e x - l i n e s to appreciate its c o n t i n u i n g appeal. P h o t o - s p r e a d s o f ' B o b b y , 1 8 , F a r m h a n d ' o r ' C h r i s t o p h e r , 2 0 , C o n s t r u c t i o n W o r k e r ' a n d a l l e g e d l y real-life confessional stories w i t h titles l i k e ' B u i l d e r W o r k s H i s E r e c t i o n ' , ' F a i r g r o u n d L a d R i d e s ' a n d t h e blatant ' R o u g h a n d R e a d y ' c o n t i n u e t o p a n d e r to the fantasy. I n the 1 9 3 0 s , h o w e v e r , the emphasis w a s different. T h r e a t e n e d b y the p r o s p e c t o f w a r i n S p a i n a n d t h e n o n a w i d e r E u r o p e a n front (although n o t perhaps particularly w o r r i e d b y Patricia P a r r y ' s n o t i o n that they t h e m s e l v e s m i g h t actually h a v e to fight i n it), A u d e n , B l u n t , B u r g e s s a n d the rest o f their g e n e r a t i o n f o u n d t h e m s e l v e s f o r c e d t o c o n f r o n t a w o r l d s u d d e n l y bereft o f the c o m f o r t a b l e certainties t o w h i c h t h e y h a d b e e n b r o u g h t u p . Tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis the times h a d c h a n g e d , a n d they h a d n o o p t i o n b u t t o c h a n g e w i t h t h e m . ' O n l y c o n n e c t ' , F o r s t e r h a d c o u n s e l l e d . N o w that w a s n o longer enough. Freshly d o w n f r o m O x f o r d o r C a m b r i d g e - a fact w h i c h is often forgotten: in 1 9 3 5 , say, B u r g e s s w a s j u s t t w e n t y - f i v e , A u d e n , l i k e B l u n t , t w e n t y - e i g h t , a n d e v e n B r i a n H o w a r d o n l y thirty - t h e y w e r e t h r o w n o n to their o w n d e v i c e s . S o m e h a d starry Firsts, others d i k e A u d e n ) h e r o i c T h i r d s ; m o r e than o n e ( S p e n d e r a n d I s h e r w o o d a m o n g t h e m ) n o d e g r e e s at all. A l l w e r e faced w i t h t h e p r o b l e m o f establishing themselves b o t h professionally a n d p e r s o n a l l y . ( ' N o w it o c c u r r e d t o m e that, at the a g e o f t w e n t y - n i n e , I m i g h t still b e c o m e a p o e t a n d painter, as others h a d d o n e . ' ) T h e i r l e f t - w i n g beliefs w o u l d n o t a l l o w anything which smacked o f the e x p l o i t a t i v e , master-and-servant relationships w h i c h h a d characterized the p r e v i o u s g e n e r a t i o n . I n their place, a n d particularly o n a personal l e v e l , a l m o s t s p o n t a n e o u s l y t h e r e d e v e l o p e d an inclusiveness, w h a t J a c k H e w i t called a ' f r e e m a s o n r y ' , largely p r e d i c a t e d o n h o m o s e x u a l i t y . O u t s i d e r s all, t h e y t u r n e d t o o n e a n o t h e r for s u c c o u r a n d support. T h u s , at a N e w Y e a r ' s E v e party i n 1 9 3 8 A u d e n c o u l d address H e w i t in a specially c o m p o s e d p i e c e o f d o g g e r e l w i t h t h e lines: I f I c o u l d b u t p e n e t r a t e t i m e ' s vista A n d tell y o u y o u r future, I w o u l d ,
36

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B u t I o n l y k n o w y o u ' r e m y sister, I o n l y k n o w that y o u ' r e g o o d .


3 7

N i n e m o n t h s later, infected b y the p r e v a i l i n g m o o d o f Weltschmerz, h e w a s to elaborate o n this t h e m e a n d g i v e it a w i d e r p u b l i c significance (and a r e s o n a n c e he was much later to repudiate) in his poem 'September i, 1939': T h e r e is n o such t h i n g as the State A n d n o o n e exists alone; H u n g e r allows no choice T o the citizen o r the p o l i c e ; W e must l o v e one another or d i e .
3 8

F e e l i n g s o m e w h a t e x c l u d e d , b o t h sexually a n d politically, C y r i l C o n n o l l y d u b b e d this c l o s e - k n i t l e f t - w i n g c o t e r i e 'the H o m i n t e r n ' the t h e n p a n - E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i s t International (the after Comintern).

A l t h o u g h friendly w i t h m o s t o f its ' m e m b e r s ' as individuals, he w a s t e m p e r a m e n t a l l y averse to the m o r e lurid aspects o f their lives, scandal ous a c c o u n t s o f w h i c h w e r e already b e g i n n i n g to circulate: 'the party d i d n ' t b r e a k u p , in fact it g o t noisier, also m o r e male-female amorous, with quite a n d also m a l e - m a l e a n d f e m a l e - f e m a l e c o u p l e s

o p e n l y e m b r a c i n g o n cushions in corners'; ' t h e r e w e r e t w o v e r y t o u g h w o r k i n g - c l a s s y o u n g m e n w h o h a d v e r y o b v i o u s l y b e e n p i c k e d up o f f the streets' . . ,


3 9

I n a strikingly effective simile, H e w i t o n c e d e s c r i b e d the H o m i n t e r n as b e i n g ' l i k e the f i v e c o n c e n t r i c circles in the O l y m p i c e m b l e m ' . H e w e n t o n : ' O n e p e r s o n in o n e circle k n e w o n e in a n o t h e r a n d that's h o w p e o p l e m e t . A n d p e o p l e like m e w e r e passed a r o u n d . I w a s n ' t a t r o l l o p . A m o r a l perhaps, b u t n o t a t r o D o p . '
40

T h i s has the ring o f truth,

a n d H e w i t ' s frankness suggests that, for all the o b l o q u y w h i c h has b e e n h e a p e d o n B u r g e s s and, m o r e latterly, B l u n t , the C o m m u n i s t side o f things w a s n e v e r really o f a n y great i m p o r t a n c e . Pace B u r g e s s a n d B l u n t , n o o n e e v e r really i n t e n d e d to b r i n g a b o u t the 'radicalisation o f the masses' for w h i c h the C o m m u n i s t International C o n g r e s s h a d called as far b a c k as 1 9 2 8 . N o r w e r e t h e y o u t to create a n e o Carpenterian M i l l t h o r p e , an i n t r o v e r t e d g a y society, c l o s e d to all strangers. R a t h e r , w i t h o u t e v e r c o n s c i o u s l y t r y i n g to, this rather h e t e r o g e n e o u s g r o u p o f O x b r i d g e alumni, their friends and, to b e honest,

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m o r e than a f e w o f the ' v e r y t o u g h w o r k i n g - c l a s s y o u n g m e n ' b e t w e e n them showed what could be achieved w h e n homosexuality was r e g a r d e d as n o t h i n g m o r e b u t n o t h i n g less than a fact o f life. W . H . A u d e n again p r o v i d e s the m o s t s u c c i n c t statement o f this. H i s N e w Y e a r ' s E v e 1 9 3 8 p o e m includes a stanza d e d i c a t e d to C h r i s t o p h e r I s h e r w o o d , w i t h w h o m less than three w e e k s later h e w a s to l e a v e for the U n i t e d States. It c o n c l u d e s : M a y y o u r life in the States b e c o m e better M a y y o u find lots o f happiness there B u t m y G o d if y o u ever turn heter I won't wish you a Happy N e w Year!

PART TWO

'I Had the Time of My Life'

FOR

A N Y O N E

B O R N

S I N C E ,

say, the mid-fifties, p r e - w a r L o n d o n

p r e - w a r Britain i n d e e d is a fantasy land, t w o stages r e m o v e d f r o m reality. Y o u n g L o n d o n e r s n o w see o n l y the a c c r e t i o n s o f the fifties a n d sixties. T h e y c a n n o t r e m e m b e r the b o m b - s i t e s ; still less c a n t h e y recall w h a t o n c e o c c u p i e d t h e m : the g r a n d O d e o n and Gaumont cinemas; the terraces o f b a c k - t o - b a c k h o u s e s a r o u n d the n o w v a n i s h e d d o c k s ; the d e c a y i n g P o o t e r i s h semis; the g r a n d l y s w a g g e r i n g ' d e p a r t m e n t a l stores' - G a m a g e s , A r d i n g a n d H o b b s , t h e old J o h n L e w i s ' s in O x f o r d Street, B o n M a r c h in B r i x t o n w i t h their u n i f o r m e d d o o r m e n a n d p i n g i n g m e c h a n i c a l o r p n e u m a t i c c a s h - d e l i v e r y systems; the c o r n e r shops; the L y o n s C o r n e r H o u s e s ; the trams; t h e p u b s w h i c h w e r e also ' c o m m e r c i a l hotels' and, i f t h e y h a p p e n e d to b e situated o n 'arterial r o a d s ' l i k e the A i , A 4 , A 2 1 a n d A 4 0 (the r o a d to O x f o r d ) , r e c k o n e d t h e m s e l v e s ' r o a d - h o u s e s ' ; the p u b s in w h i c h social d i s t i n c tions still h e l d s w a y : T h o s e e n t e r i n g the S a l o o n B a r o f ' T h e M i d n i g h t B e l l ' f r o m the

street c a m e t h r o u g h a large d o o r w i t h a fancifully frosted glass p a n e , a h a n d l e l i k e a d u m b - b e l l , a brass inscription 'Saloon Bar and Lounge', a n d a brass adjuration to P u s h . A n y o n e t e m p e r a m e n t a l l y s o w i l f u l , careless, o r i n c r e d u l o u s as to i g n o r e this friendly a d m o n i t i o n w a s instandy s n u b b e d , for this d o o r w o u l d o n l y s u c c u m b to P u s h i n g . Nevertheless hundreds o f temperamental people nighdy argued w i t h this d o o r a n d g o t the w o r s t o f it. G i v e n p r o p e r treatment, h o w e v e r , it s w u n g b a c k in the most a c c o m p l i s h e d w a y , a n d a n n o u n c e d y o u to the S a l o o n B a r w i t h a w e l c o m i n g c r e a k . T h e S a l o o n B a r w a s n a r r o w a n d a b o u t thirty feet 127

128

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P E O P L E

i n l e n g t h . O n y o u r right w a s the bar itself, in all its bottly glitter, a n d o n y o u r left w a s a r o w o f tables set against a c o m f o r t a b l e a n d c o n t i n u o u s l e a t h e r seat w h i c h w e n t the w h o l e l e n g t h o f the bar. A t t h e far e n d the S a l o o n B a r o p e n e d o u t i n t o the S a l o o n L o u n g e . T h i s w a s a l a r g e , square r o o m , filled w i t h a d o z e n o r so small, r o u n d , c o p p e r - c o v e r e d tables. A r o u n d e a c h table w e r e three o r f o u r w h i t e w i c k e r armchairs, a n d o n e a c h table t h e r e lay a large stone ash-tray s u p p l i e d b y a W h i s k y firm [. . .] T h i s w a s n o scene for the b r a w l e r , b u t rather f o r the p r i n c i p l e d a n d restrained d r i n k e r , w i t h his w i f e . I n h e r e a n d in the S a l o o n B a r ' T h e M i d n i g h t B e l l ' did m o s t o f its business - the t w o o t h e r bars (the P u b l i c a n d the Private) b e i n g d r e a r y , seatless, b a r e b o a r d e d structures wherein drunken ness w a s d i s p e n s e d in coarser tumblers a n d at a c h e a p e r rate to a m o s d y collarless a n d frankly d o w n t r o d d e n stratum o f society. T h e P u b l i c B a r c o u l d nevertheless b e g l i m p s e d b y a c u s t o m e r in the Saloon B a r . . . T h i s w a s the w o r l d Chronicle-vending, P a t r i c k H a m i l t o n ' s , J . B . Priestley's News 'gin-and-it'-drinko f L o n d o n and

'chessboard oil-cloth'-floored,

ing, Austin-, M o r r i s - and Hillman-driving w o r l d -

B r i t a i n ' s o t h e r m a j o r cities in the i m m e d i a t e p r e - w a r years. Class ruled; b u t , e n s c o n c e d in o n e o f the w h i t e w i c k e r armchairs, o r o n the l e a t h e r - c o v e r e d b a n q u e t t e s in the s h a m - g e n t i l i t y o f the S a l o o n B a r , the ' p r i n c i p l e d a n d restrained d r i n k e r ' c o u l d still catch a g l i m p s e o f the 'collarless a n d frankly downtrodden' drinker in the Public. Tantalizing . . . T h e j o u r n a l i s t M i c h a e l D a v i d s o n w a s far f r o m a l o n e in m a k i n g the m o s t o f it. H e h a d first a r r i v e d in L o n d o n in the m i d - 1 9 2 0 s ; h e w a s a n o l d h a n d a n d k n e w the scene: W h e n I c a m e t o L o n d o n I f o u n d a r o o m at the t o p o f G o w e r Street. It cost 1 a w e e k , o n e - t h i r d o f m y i n c o m e , b u t the h o u s e h a d o n e great a d v a n t a g e - the p r i m a r y o n e s o u g h t , b u t so uneasily f o u n d , b y e v e r y h o m o s e x u a l : it w a s w h a t the G e r m a n s call sturmfrei it w a s free o f s n o o p e r s . It w a s the first a b o d e o f m y own in the b o t t o m l e s s w e l l o f w i c k e d n e s s w h i c h I e x p e c t e d L o n d o n to b e [. . .] T h e h i g h - f l y i n g 'spiritual' e m o t i o n a l i s m o f the [previous] y e a r o r t w o w a s r e p l a c e d almost o v e r n i g h t b y an insatiable h u n g e r for d o w n r i g h t carnal e x p e r i e n c e a c r a v i n g to know the p h y s i c a l secrets

'i

H A D

T H E

T I M E

OF

M Y

L I F E '

129

o f as m a n y b o y s as possible (this w a s the i m p o r t a n t d e l i g h t , as it a l w a y s h a d b e e n : m y o w n sensual e n j o y m e n t b e i n g o f m u c h s m a l l e r m o m e n t ) . I n that d e c a d e after [the G r e a t W a r ] ' p i c k i n g u p ' w a s easy: the E m b a n k m e n t a n d the furtive arches o f C h a r i n g C r o s s w e r e p e o p l e d w i t h w a n d e r e r s o f e v e r y a g e , a n d u n d e r the c o l o n n a d e s o f C o v e n t G a r d e n r o w s o f h o m e l e s s b o y s slept. I n m y resdess search the eternal search, I s u p p o s e , for C o r v o ' s ' d i v i n e friend, much desired' - I e v e n d i s c o v e r e d a k i n d o f h u t m e n t , p u t t o g e t h e r w i t h c o r r u g a t e d sheets in an alley b y S a v o y H i l l , w h e r e b o y s s h e l t e r e d at night; a n d s o m e t i m e s I ' d c r e e p in there, to s p e n d f e v e r e d , c o m m o n l o d g i n g - h o u s e across the river in t h e B o r o u g h .
2

flea-bitten

hours. O n c e , for the e x c i t e m e n t , I p a i d a shilling for a b e d in a

P i c k i n g u p w a s easy in the 1 9 2 0 s , says D a v i d s o n . A n d , y o u n g as h e w a s at the t i m e , J a c k H e w i t r e m e m b e r s w h a t c o u l d easily h a v e b e e n taken for a g o l d e n a g e as lasting w e l l i n t o the 1 9 3 0 s . Still a t e e n a g e r (but for an a c c i d e n t o f fate, the barely e d u c a t e d y o u n g G e o r d i e m i g h t w e l l h a v e f o u n d h i m s e l f l i v i n g in D a v i d s o n ' s S a v o y H i l l 'hutment'), h e s o o n b e c a m e familiar w i t h a n e t w o r k o f relatively 'sturmfrei' cafs a n d bars in the W e s t E n d o f L o n d o n . M o s t h a v e l o n g d i s a p p e a r e d : there w a s W a r d ' s Irish H o u s e in P i c c a d i l l y C i r c u s , the P l o u g h , the Swiss a n d the F i t z r o y T a v e r n ; the C a v o u r w a s in L e i c e s t e r S q u a r e , the Standard B a r at the t o p o f C o v e n t r y Street, o n l y a f e w d o o r s a w a y f r o m a particularly p o p u l a r L y o n s C o r n e r H o u s e . ' E v e r y b o d y i n the gay set m e t u p there o n S u n d a y afternoons, q u e u e i n g to g e t i n , ' H e w i t recalls. ' T h e first floor w a s k n o w n as the L i l y P o n d . Y o u w e n t i n , o r d e r e d y o u r tea a n d toast, t h e n t a b l e - h o p p e d . ' N o r w a s there a n y l a c k o f ' p r i v a t e ' after-hours d r i n k i n g clubs w h e r e half a c r o w n w o u l d b u y o n e annual a n d n o t i n f r e q u e n d y life by m e m b e r s h i p . A m o n g m a n y others there w e r e the S p h i n x , r u n

M u r i e l B e l c h e r a n d D o l l y M a y e r s , the C a r a v a n , w h i c h p r o v i d e d drag e n t e r t a i n m e n t b o t h o n a n d o f f the stage, the Festival a n d the C a r e l e s s Stork, . . . b u t the best w a s L e B o e u f sur le T o i t ; beautifully furnished,

L e o n a r d B l a c k e t t at the p i a n o . T e d d y A s h t o n o w n e d it. H e h a d an antiques shop u n d e r n e a t h J a c k s o n ' s , the g r o c e r s in P i c c a d i l l y . D o l l y a n d M u r i e l o p e n e d a n o t h e r c l u b t o g e t h e r called the M u s i c B o x in L e i c e s t e r Street w h i c h w a s a howling success d u r i n g the w a r . T h e n

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after the w a r , M u r i e l o p e n e d the C o l o n y a n d D o l l y b o u g h t

the

B o e u f a n d c h a n g e d its n a m e to the R o m i l l y C l u b w h i c h is w h e r e G u y [ B u r g e s s ] fell d o w n the stairs a n d h a d to g o to hospital. S o m e b o d y pushed him, actually.


3

T a k e n at face v a l u e , r e m i n i s c e n c e s s u c h as these can easily g i v e the i m p r e s s i o n that the W i l d e trials a n d all the e n s u i n g m o r a l o u t r a g e o f o n l y thirty years p r e v i o u s l y h a d n e v e r o c c u r r e d that the l i v i n g w a s easy. T h e r e is h a r d e v i d e n c e , h o w e v e r , that it w a s not; facts a n d figures w h i c h p r o v e that for the m a j o r i t y o f h o m o s e x u a l m e n the g o l d e n age w a s y e t t o arrive a n d , for those l i v i n g in p r o v i n c i a l t o w n s in particular, still a distant p r o s p e c t . C h i e f a m o n g s t these are official r e c o r d s o f the y e a r - o n - y e a r p e r c e n t a g e rise in the n u m b e r o f c o n v i c t i o n s f o r i n d i c t able s e x u a l offences. T h e s e s h o w that, in contrast w i t h the period 1 9 0 1 5 ( w h e n s u c h figures w e r e first r e c o r d e d ) , h o m o s e x u a l offences h a d risen b y 1 7 8 p e r cent in the years u p to 1 9 2 1 , a n d b y n o less than 5 7 2 p e r c e n t at the o u t b r e a k o f w a r in 1 9 3 9 . ( B y contrast, the increases for h e t e r o s e x u a l offences o v e r the s a m e p e r i o d w e r e 1 5 5 p e r cent a n d 2 8 2 p e r cent r e s p e c t i v e l y . )
4

It is difficult to g i v e a n y accurate interpretation the majority o f the convictions recorded would

o f these statistics have been for -

since specific details are n o l o n g e r available. In all l i k e l i h o o d , h o w e v e r , ' c o t t a g i n g ' o r f o r cases o f gross i n d e c e n c y b r o u g h t after p o l i c e raids o n the t y p e o f clubs so enthusiastically f r e q u e n t e d b y J a c k H e w i t a n d Q u e n t i n C r i s p : ' T h e p o l i c e t h o u g h t o f h o m o s e x u a l s as N o r t h A m e r i c a n Indians t h o u g h t o f b i s o n . T h e y cast a b o u t for a w a y o f e x t e r m i n a t i n g t h e m in herds [. . .] In a raid a h u n d r e d o r m o r e s c r e a m ing, shrieking, fighting, k i c k i n g b o y s in feathered head-dresses
5

and

d i a m a n t e trains c o u l d b e s c o o p e d , p u s h e d o r flung i n t o v a n s b y a relatively small s q u a d o f p o l i c e m e n . '

R e l a t i v e l y u n r e v e a l i n g as t h e y are, s u c h statistics are as q u o t e d a b o v e are n o t i r r e l e v a n t to the present a r g u m e n t . Ironically, t h e y the m o r e a n e c d o t a l e v i d e n c e o f the likes o f D a v i d s o n a n d confirm Hewit

c o n c e r n i n g the e x t e n t o f h o m o s e x u a l activity. A t the s a m e t i m e , they also suggest s o m e t h i n g o f the d e t e r m i n a t i o n w i t h w h i c h s o c i e t y w a s still a c c o r d i n g to Q u e n t i n C r i s p again ' s t u m b l i n g a b o u t in search o f a w e a p o n w i t h w h i c h to e x t e r m i n a t e this m o n s t e r [ h o m o s e x u a l i t y ] w h o s e shape a n d size w e r e n o t y e t k n o w n o r e v e n g u e s s e d a t ' .
6

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In less i n f l a m m a t o r y l a n g u a g e w e m i g h t say that ' c o n c e r n ' w a s b e i n g s h o w n . A l t h o u g h the L o v e T h a t D a r e N o t S p e a k Its N a m e itself m i g h t still h a v e b e e n t o n g u e - t i e d e x c e p t in the s p e a k - e a s y a t m o s p h e r e o f its own clubs a n d bars, that n a m e w a s m o r e a n d m o r e f r e q u e n t l y on o t h e r t o n g u e s . T h r o u g h o u t the 1 9 3 0 s the existence - i f n o t the t o l e r a n c e o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y w a s increasingly a c k n o w l e d g e d , at least a m o n g w h a t w e w o u l d n o w call the chattering classes. F o r ' t r e e - t h i n k e r s ' , i f n o t y e t perhaps for ' o p i n i o n - f o r m e r s ' , it h a d b e c o m e a l e g i t i m a t e subject for discussion (and it is n o t t o o fanciful to suggest that its a p p e a r a n c e o n the a g e n d a at this t i m e b e g a n the process w h i c h w o u l d l e a d to an a c c e p t a n c e o f the idea o f its d e c r i m i n a l i z a t i o n thirty o r m o r e years later). I n e v i t a b l y perhaps, this n e w a n d i n c r e a s i n g l y i n f o r m e d c u r i o s i t y is e x e m p l i f i e d b y the attitudes displayed b y the s u r v i v i n g m e m b e r s o f the B l o o m s b u r y G r o u p , m o s t n o t a b l y V i r g i n i a W o o l f . D e s p i t e h a v i n g c o m e to m a t u r i t y in the c o m p a n y o f such n o t a b l e h o m o s e x u a l m e n as L y t t o n S t r a c h e y , E . M . F o r s t e r a n d J o h n M a y n a r d K e y n e s in the early years o f the c e n t u r y , a n d in an a t m o s p h e r e w h e r e intellectual h o n e s t y w a s p r i z e d a b o v e e v e r y t h i n g else, o n l y ten years p r e v i o u s l y , in 1 9 2 5 , she h a d talked o f h o m o s e x u a l s in terms w h i c h m u s t h a v e s e e m e d as caricatured in the mid-thirties as t h e y d o t o d a y : H a v e y o u a n y v i e w s o n l o v i n g o n e s o w n sex? [she w r o t e in a letter to J a c q u e s R a v e r a t ] . A l l the y o u n g m e n are so i n c l i n e d , a n d I c a n ' t h e l p f i n d i n g it m i l d l y foolish; t h o u g h I h a v e n o particular r e a s o n . F o r o n e thing, all the y o u n g m e n t e n d to b e pretty a n d l a d y l i k e , for s o m e reason, at the m o m e n t . T h e y paint a n d p o w d e r , w h i c h w a s n ' t the style in o u r day at C a m b r i d g e [. . .] M y c o o k said, ' W h o w a s the l a d y in the d r a w i n g r o o m ? H e has a v o i c e l i k e a girls, a n d a face l i k e a persian cats, all w h i t e a n d serious, w i t h l a r g e v i o l e t eyes a n d fluffy c h e e k s . ' W e l l , y o u c a n ' t respect the a m o u r s o f a creature l i k e that.
1

W i t h i n a v e r y f e w years, h o w e v e r , W o o l f ' s v i e w s m o r e c l o s e l y e c h o e d w h a t passed for ' e n l i g h t e n e d o p i n i o n ' . A m o n g those f o r w h o m the phrase ' s o m e o f m y best friends are q u e e r s ' w a s b e c o m i n g a b a d g e o f liberalism this h a d shifted significantly, a n d as early as 1 9 3 0 h o m o s e x u a l i t y w a s b e i n g a c c o r d e d a n e w seriousness. W h i l e t h e r e w a s still r o o m for the p u b l i c a t i o n that y e a r o f an alarmist b o o k entided

132 Degenerate Oxford?


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( h o m o s e x u a l s , it a v e r r e d , c o u l d b e spotted b y their

' g a y s u e d e s h o e s ' ) , m o r e c o n s i d e r e d attention w a s b e i n g paid to w o r k b y m o r e significant writers, a n d A n d r G i d e in particular. S o m e t h i n g o f Parisian ' B l o o m s b e r r y ' in his o w n right (and a l o n g - s t a n d i n g friend o f Lytton Strachey), G i d e had published first a p p e a r e d in E n g l i s h translation in 1 9 3 0 . It w a s at this t i m e , t o o , that the p u b l i c a t i o n a n d p r o s e c u t i o n o f R a d c l y f f e - H a l l ' s discreetly lesbian n o v e l The Well of Loneliness w a s attracting interest a n d c o n t r o v e r s y in e q u a l m e a s u r e a n d n o w h e r e m o r e so than a r o u n d the d i n n e r tables o f B l o o m s b u r y , as W o o l f n o t e d in h e r diary: Cory don, a neo-Socratic d e f e n c e o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y in 1 9 2 4 , w h i l e his 1 9 0 2 n o v e l LTmmoraliste

M o r g a n [Forster] w a s h e r e for the w e e k e n d ; t i m i d t o u c h y , infinitely c h a r m i n g . O n e n i g h t w e g o t d r u n k a n d talked o f s o d o m y and s a p p h i s m , w i t h e m o t i o n - so m u c h so that n e x t day h e said h e h a d b e e n d r u n k . T h i s w a s started b y R a d c l y f f e H a l l a n d h e r m e r i t o r i o u s dull b o o k . T h e y w r o t e articles [defending it] all day a n d g o t u p petitions [. . .] M o r g a n said that D r H e a d [ W o o l f ' s d o c t o r ]
9

can

c o n v e r t the s o d o m i t e s . ' W o u l d y o u like to b e c o n v e r t e d ? ' L e o n a r d [ W o o l f ] asked. ' N o ' , said M o r g a n , quite d e f i n i t e l y .

Frustratingly, n e i t h e r h e r e n o r e l s e w h e r e in h e r diaries does W o o l f g i v e specific details o f e x a c d y w h a t late B l o o m s b u r y t h o u g h t o f ' s o d o m y a n d s a p p h i s m ' . T h a t she herself r e m a i n e d i n t r i g u e d b y the status o f ' s o d s ' , ' q u e e r s ' a n d ' B u g g e r B o y s ' (like m a n y o f h e r a g e a n d class, she r o u t i n e l y a n d n o n - p e j o r a t i v e l y e m p l o y e d such terms) is clear, h o w e v e r , f r o m the references to t h e m w h i c h , as w e shall see, o c c u r in h e r diaries f r o m this t i m e until shortly b e f o r e her death in 1 9 4 1 . T h u s , barely m o r e than five years after the Well of Loneliness trial in w h i c h , despite h e r reservations a b o u t the b o o k , she h a d offered to appear as a d e f e n c e w i t n e s s - w e find the f i f t y - o n e - y e a r - o l d n o v e l i s t w r i t i n g to h e r n e p h e w Q u e n t i n B e l l in a r e f l e c t i v e , almost G i d e a n m o o d . S h e w a s , she i m p l i e d , i m p a t i e n t w i t h the c o n s e r v a t i s m , b o t h literary a n d social, she s a w a r o u n d her: ' H o w far can o n e say o p e n l y w h a t is the relation o f a w o m a n a n d a sod? I n F r e n c h , y e s ; b u t in M r [ J o h n ] G a l s w o r t h y ' s English, n o . '
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133

I n e v i t a b l y , a y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n o f W o o l f 's ' B u g g e r B o y s ' h a d l o n g shared this i m p a t i e n c e . In c o m p a r i s o n w i t h ' a b r o a d ' a n d the f o r b i d d e n fruit everyone k n e w to b e available there, to t h e m B r i t a i n still s e e m e d c o l d , p r o v i n c i a l a n d puritanical. F o r all the furtive pleasures w h i c h L o n d o n offered, to their e y e s s o m e w h e r e l i k e G e r m a n y w a s w h e r e the future lay. A l o n g s i d e its A r y a n culture o f health, fitness a n d h i k i n g , the p o s t - w a r W e i m a r R e p u b l i c h a d a c q u i r e d a r e p u t a t i o n for s e x u a l t o l e r a n c e , a reputation w h i c h c o n t i n u e d e v e n after A d o l f H i t l e r c a m e to p o w e r in 1 9 3 3 . R e p o r t s o f the l o u c h e n e s s a n d ' d i v i n e d e c a d e n c e ' o f bars in H a m b u r g a n d B e r l i n w e r e a r r i v i n g a l m o s t daily. T h e r e w e r e e v e n r u m o u r s o f a g r o w i n g climate o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y w i t h i n elite corps o f the G e r m a n a r m y . C e r t a i n l y , E r n s t R o e h m , a close associate o f H i d e r a n d c o m m a n d e r o f the S A (Sturmabteilung), a n d m a n y other officers in the s o - c a l l e d ' B r o w n s h i r t s ' w e r e a c t i v e l y h o m o s e x u a l . It all s e e m e d t o o g o o d to b e true; a n d ultimately, o f c o u r s e , it w a s . H i t l e r h a d n o t i m e for h o m o s e x u a l i t y o r a n y o t h e r manifestation o f m o r a l w e a k n e s s . T h e B r o w n s h i r t s w e r e d i s b a n d e d in 1 9 3 4 and, Fiihrer, that a n y S S b y h i m for i n d e c e n t executed'.
11

on in and

1 5 N o v e m b e r 1 9 4 1 , H e i n r i c h H i m m l e r d e c r e e d , in the n a m e o f the (Schutzstaffel) o r p o l i c e officer purposes will be condemned 'engaging to death i n d e c e n t b e h a v i o u r w i t h a n o t h e r m a n o r a l l o w i n g h i m s e l f to b e a b u s e d O u t s i d e the military, t o o , H i t l e r c l a m p e d d o w n o n h o m o

sexuals almost as ruthlessly as h e d i d o n gypsies a n d the J e w s . I n c o n c e n tration camps t h e y w e r e identified b y the p i n k triangle s y m b o l w h i c h , a quarter o f a c e n t u r y later, w a s a d o p t e d as an international s y m b o l o f g a y p r i d e . It has b e e n estimated that s o m e 6 0 , 0 0 0 w e r e killed. H a d they o n l y b e e n able to read it, h o w e v e r , the likes o f C h r i s t o p h e r I s h e r w o o d a n d W . H . A u d e n , w h o h a d m o v e d o r (in A u d e n ' s case) seasonally m i g r a t e d to G e r m a n y d u r i n g the p r e v i o u s d e c a d e , w o u l d h a v e b e e n c o n f i r m e d in the radicalism o f their beliefs b y an internal H i t l e r Y o u t h r e p o r t o n a ' s w i n g ' festival w h i c h w a s h e l d in H a m b u r g as late as F e b r u a r y 1 9 4 0 : T h e d a n c e m u s i c w a s all E n g l i s h a n d A m e r i c a n [. . .] T h e p a r t i c i pants a c c o m p a n i e d the dances a n d songs, w i t h o u t e x c e p t i o n , b y s i n g i n g the E n g l i s h w o r d s . I n d e e d , t h r o u g h o u t the e v e n i n g t h e y a t t e m p t e d o n l y to speak E n g l i s h ; at s o m e tables e v e n F r e n c h . T h e dancers w e r e an appalling sight. N o n e o f the c o u p l e s d a n c e d

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n o r m a l l y [. . .] t h e y all ' j i t t e r b u g g e d ' o n the stage l i k e w i l d creatures. Several boys could be observed dancing together, always with t w o cigarettes in the m o u t h , o n e in each c o r n e r .
12

I s h e r w o o d w a s later to l e a v e n o o n e in a n y d o u b t a b o u t his m o t i v e s for m o v i n g to G e r m a n y : in his t h i r d - p e r s o n a u t o b i o g r a p h y Christopher and His Kind Boys'. found
1 3

h e states e x p l i c i t l y that ' T o C h r i s t o p h e r , B e r l i n m e a n t

J o h n L e h m a n n , t o o , w a s d r a w n there at this p e r i o d a n d rapidly


14

h i m s e l f 'in a daze, m y h e a d s w i m m i n g w i t h pretty b o y s ' i n v i t i n g E v e n S t e p h e n S p e n d e r t o o k the p l u n g e

smiles a n d i n v i t i n g t h i g h s ' .

a n d b e g a n e x p l o r i n g the h i t h e r t o u n i m a g i n a b l e s e x u a l f r e e d o m a v a i l able in B e r l i n a n d o n R i i g e n Island. B u t S p e n d e r ' s is a c o m p l e x story - a n d brings us b a c k to L o n d o n . A w a r e o f b u t t e m p e r a m e n t a l l y quite u n s u i t e d to the w h o l l y u n - E n g l i s h m o r e s o f the K i t K a t C l u b , h e w a s n e v e r really a part o f the p r o m i s c u ous w o r l d o f A u d e n a n d I s h e r w o o d . R a t h e r , the S p e n d e r o f this p e r i o d ( r o u g h l y f r o m 1 9 3 1 until his precipitate first m a r r i a g e at the e n d o f 1 9 3 6 ) w a s in m a n y respects the e p i t o m e o f a n e w , p o s t - W i l d e a n a n d specifically E n g l i s h h o m o s e x u a l i t y . H e w a s tall, fresh-faced a n d articulate in a diffident k i n d o f w a y . H e s e e m e d as at h o m e , o r equally ill-at-ease, in a B e r l i n Lokal as h e w a s in a n y B l o o m s b u r y d r a w i n g r o o m a n d i n e v i t a b l y , as an a m b i t i o u s y o u n g w r i t e r , h e s o o n c a m e to k n o w a g o o d n u m b e r o f these. L a d y C o l e f a x a n d L a d y O t t o l i n e M o r r e l l , as w e l l as the indefatigable V i r g i n i a W o o l f a n d the o t h e r s o c i e t y hostesses o f the day, enthusiastically ' t o o k h i m u p ' . F o r t h e m , h e r e p r e s e n t e d a ' g o o d c a t c h ' , a d e c o r a t i v e addition to the guest-lists o f their w e e k l y 'at h o m e s ' a n d a n o v e l alternative to the likes of, say, H u g h W a l p o l e o r B e v e r l e y N i c h o l s . F o r W o o l f , h o w e v e r , S p e n d e r w a s rather m o r e than that. In h e r c a n d i d a n d o c c a s i o n a l l y caustic c o m m e n t s intrigued. Like another a b o u t h i m there is the goods u g g e s t i o n that she f o u n d h i m n o t quite ' o n e o f us'; b u t she w a s o f h e r p r o t g s , the preternaturally looking J o h n L e h m a n n , he was a generation y o u n g e r and fundamen tally different in attitude to the likes o f F o r s t e r a n d S t r a c h e y . H e w a s a ' s o d ' u n l i k e a n y she h a d p r e v i o u s l y e n c o u n t e r e d and, at least to b e g i n w i t h , she o b s e r v e d h i m w i t h forensic detachment.

H e w a s 'a rattle h e a d e d b o l t e y e d y o u n g m a n , r a w b o n e s , l o o s e j o i n t e d ' , she n o t e d . H e t h o u g h t h i m s e l f the greatest p o e t o f all t i m e

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('I daresay h e is it's n o t a subject that interests m e e n o r m o u s l y at the m o m e n t ' )


1 5

- b u t she a n d h e r h u s b a n d L e o n a r d still t h o u g h t it

w o r t h i n v i t i n g h i m to a succession o f l u n c h e s a n d dinners, t h e b e t t e r to get to k n o w h i m . I n f o r m a l b y their standards - ' D o n ' t c h a n g e o f c o u r s e ; I e x p e c t w e shall b e a l o n e , ' she w a s w o n t to w r i t e in h e r terse notes o f i n v i t a t i o n these w e r e nevertheless a terrifying o r d e a l f o r a s t a m m e r i n g , b l u s h i n g p o e t t h e n still o n l y in his m i d - t w e n t i e s h a l f the age o f his host a n d hostess. W e s h o u l d b e grateful that t h e y h a p p e n e d at all, h o w e v e r , s i n c e W o o l f 's r e c o l l e c t i o n s p r o v i d e a u n i q u e outsider's e y e v i e w o f the faste v o l v i n g h o m o s e x u a l c o m m u n i t y . H e r e , for instance, she is w r i t i n g the day after S p e n d e r h a d b e e n to d i n n e r o n e n i g h t in D e c e m b e r 1 9 3 3 . It w a s n o B e r l i n she w a s describing, b u t for the n o r m a l l y farf r o m - n a r r o w - m i n d e d W o o l f s it m i g h t j u s t as w e l l h a v e b e e n : I see b e i n g y o u n g as hellish. O n e w a n t s to cut a f i g u r e . [ S p e n d e r ] is w r i t i n g a b o u t H e n r y J a m e s a n d has tea a l o n e w i t h O t t o l i n e a n d is m a r r i e d to a S e r g e a n t in the G u a r d s . T h e y [the n e w g e n e r a t i o n o f h o m o s e x u a l writers] h a v e set u p a n e w quarter in M a i d a V a l e ; I p r o p o s e to call t h e m the Lilies o f the V a l l e y . T h e r e s W i l l i a m P l o m e r , w i t h his p o l i c e m e n ; t h e n S t e p h e n [ S p e n d e r ] , t h e n A u d e n a n d J o e A c k e r l y [sic] all l o d g e d in M a i d a V a l e , a n d w e a r i n g different c o l o u r e d Lilies. T h e i r great s o r r o w at the m o m e n t Sassoon's d e f e c t i o n ; he's g o n e a n d m a r r i e d a w o m a n .
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is S i e g f r i e d

W r i t i n g a b o u t the s a m e p e r i o d , S p e n d e r h i m s e l f is characteristically m o r e restrained n o w h e r e m o r e so than in his 1 9 5 1 a u t o b i o g r a p h y World Within World, in w h i c h his relationship w i t h that ' S e r g e a n t in the G u a r d s ' is discreetly d o w n - p l a y e d . H e w a s n ' t , f o r a start, a sergeant, o r e v e n in the G u a r d s ; that seems to h a v e b e e n a flight o f W o o l f s i m a g i n a t i o n . R a t h e r , the m a n S p e n d e r calls J i m m y Y o u n g e r in World Within World (a p s e u d o n y m m a i n t a i n e d b y I s h e r w o o d in Christopher and His Kind) w a s n o m o r e than an o r d i n a r y e x - s e r v i c e m a n . T o n y H y n d m a n h a d b e e n b o r n in a w o r k i n g - c l a s s district o f C a r d i f f a n d s e e m i n g l y r e c e i v e d n o t h i n g m o r e than an e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l e d u c a t i o n . H e w a s , in short, a p i c k - u p , a bit o f r o u g h , the sort o f m a n w h o m an O x f o r d - e d u c a t e d w o u l d - b e p o e t , already t h e w o u l d ostensibly h a v e h a d n o t h i n g in c o m m o n . with supper-time

pet o f hostesses s u c h as V i r g i n i a W o o l f a n d L a d y O t t o l i n e M o r r e l l ,

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B u t , as m u s t h a v e b e c o m e clear b y n o w , things w e r e n o t as simple as that, for S p e n d e r o r a n y o n e else. Politics a n d the e c o n o m i c situation h a d c h a n g e d the essential d y n a m i c o f the h o m o s e x u a l w o r l d as f u n d a m e n t a l l y as t h e y h a d c h a n g e d e v e r y t h i n g else. T h e o l d , almost s e i g n eurial relationship between the Wildean buck and the cowed, c o m p l i a n t s e r v a n t - b o y w a s e v o l v i n g i n t o s o m e t h i n g m o r e formal, m o r e c o m m e r c i a l b u t i r o n i c a l l y rather less e x p l o i t a t i v e . A s ' J o h n ' , a T y n e sider b o r n in 1 9 1 7 , tries to e x p l a i n , life for y o u n g m e n l i k e h i m a n d the s l i g h d y o l d e r T o n y H y n d m a n - h a d b e c o m e a business: D u r i n g the thirties the w h o l e o f the q u e e r w o r l d w a s d i v i d e d into castes, right. T h e r e w e r e the b o y s o n the g a m e , there w e r e the b o y s w h o w e r e n ' t o n the g a m e b u t w h o w e r e a m e n a b l e (pick s o m e o n e u p , a n d g o a n d h a v e d i n n e r w i t h t h e m , g o to b e d w i t h t h e m ) , a n d there w e r e the ' k e p t ' b o y s . A n d then, o f c o u r s e , there w e r e the 'steamers' o r p u n t e r s t h e m s e l v e s . T h a t ' s the o l d - f a s h i o n e d t e r m f o r t h e m . I first h e a r d it w h e n I w a s a b o u t thirteen and s o m e b o d y said, ' O h , h e ' s a steamer, h e ' l l g i v e y o u h a l f a c r o w n , y o u s e e . ' T h e y t e n d e d to b e o l d e r a n d b e t t e r o f f and, o f c o u r s e , in high society. Y o u w e r e n ' t j u s t t a k e n o u t b e c a u s e y o u w e r e pretty; y o u w e r e t a k e n o u t b e c a u s e y o u w e r e a pretty face in the first p l a c e , b u t y o u w e r e n ' t t a k e n o u t the s e c o n d t i m e b e c a u s e y o u w e r e j u s t a pretty face. W h a t a l o t o f p e o p l e d o is, t h e y find a b o y t h e y l i k e a n d t h e n t h e y try to r e m o d e l h i m . W h i c h is s t u p i d .
17

S p e n d e r s e e m i n g l y m e t T o n y w h i l e o u t ' c r u i s i n g ' in the W e s t E n d o f L o n d o n . H e w a s o n the crest o f a w a v e . H e w a s a p u b l i s h e d p o e t , h e h a d r e c e i v e d an a d v a n c e for his b o o k o n H e n r y J a m e s (published as The Destructive Element in 1 9 3 5 ) a n d w a s g e n e r a l l y e n j o y i n g life in mdias res. ' I s p e n d m o s t o f m y e v e n i n g s in the A m u s e m e n t P a r k n e a r M a r b l e A r c h o r the H a y m a r k e t , ' h e t o l d I s h e r w o o d at a r o u n d this t i m e , k n o w i n g that I s h e r w o o d w o u l d k n o w w h a t h e m e a n t . H e went on: L o n d o n seems m u c h i m p r o v e d . T h e o t h e r day a cissy friend o f [his b r o t h e r ] H u m p h r e y ' s g o t o f f a bus, a n d as h e a l i g h t e d the c o n d u c t o r s m i r k e d & said, ' W h a t a short ride y o u ' v e b e e n , ' so E d d y said, ' N e v e r m i n d , I'll c o m e a l o n g e r o n e n e x t t i m e . ' T w o days a g o I

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w e n t t o Sadler's W e l l s w i t h m y sister. I d i d n o t k n o w w h e t h e r w e w e r e in the right t u b e f o r A n g e l [station], so I h e l d o u t o u r tickets to the c o l l e c t o r a n d said, ' A n g e l ? ' i n a q u e r y i n g v o i c e . ' I a m , ' h e r e p l i e d w i t h an e n t i c i n g s m i l e .
19 18

S o m e t h i n g o f a 'steamer' , then, Spender found the apparently g o o d - l o o k i n g , g o o d - n a t u r e d i f rather a r g u m e n t a t i v e J i m m y Y o u n g e r / T o n y H y n d m a n rather m o r e than a o n e - n i g h t stand: ' I d i d n o t w a n t to l i v e a l o n e a n d I d i d n o t c o n s i d e r m a r r y i n g . I w a s in t h e m o o d w h e n p e o p l e advertise f o r a c o m p a n i o n i n the n e w s p a p e r s . I u s e d t o e n q u i r e o f m y friends o f their friends in case t h e y k n e w a n y o n e suitable. S o w h e n b y c h a n c e I m e t a y o u n g m a n w h o w a s u n e m p l o y e d , called J i m m y Y o u n g e r , I asked h i m to l i v e i n m y flat a n d w o r k f o r m e . '
2 0

T h e r e is s o m e t h i n g b r e a t h t a k i n g l y a u d a c i o u s e v e n i n this e u p h e m istic a c c o u n t . H o w e v e r , ' J o h n ' 's m e m o r i e s suggest that t h e almost casual ' a s k e d h i m to l i v e in m y flat' w a s m e r e l y comme il faut for s o m e o n e o f S p e n d e r ' s class a n d p e r s u a s i o n a n d V i r g i n i a W o o l f s i r o n i c , possibly e v e n sarcastic, description o f S p e n d e r as ' m a r r i e d ' t o T o n y o n l y serves to e m p h a s i z e the ' n o r m a l i t y ' o f t h e situation. It w a s u n d o u b t e d l y o n l y o n e a m o n g m a n y t h e r e w a s ' P l o m e r , w i t h his p o l i c e m e n ' , o f c o u r s e and, as these things w e n t , o n e o f t h e m o r e pedestrian. ( ' T h e r e w e r e g a y marriages g o i n g o n , t o o . O n e w o u l d get i n t o drag as a b r i d e a n d s o m e b o d y w o u l d m a r r y t h e m a n d [they w o u l d ] h a v e a p a r t y . ' ) B u t the w e a l t h o f detail available sanitized a n d selective t h o u g h it u n d o u b t e d l y is - m a k e s t h e S p e n d e r - T o n y relationship a useful a r c h e t y p e . W e h a v e already seen that it w a s b a s e d o n a c h a n c e encounter; S p e n d e r h i m s e l f has a d m i t t e d that a s k i n g T o n y to ' w o r k f o r m e ' m a d e n o e c o n o m i c sense at all. B y his o w n a c c o u n t h e w a s e a r n i n g a bare 3 a w e e k f r o m h a c k j o u r n a l i s m at this t i m e . H e w a s hardly i n t h e B e v e r l e y N i c h o l s league, and he had neither the means n o r the n e e d for a 'secretary', t h e g r a c e - a n d - f a v o u r r o l e w h i c h T o n y w a s assigned. Nevertheless, although the periphrasis f o o l e d n o o n e , least o f all V i r g i n i a W o o l f , f o r s o m e t i m e the relationship s e e m e d t o w o r k : ' W e p a i n t e d o u r M a i d a V a l e flat, J i m m y c o o k e d , I w o r k e d , w e e n t e r t a i n e d a n d w e r e entertained. O c c a s i o n a l l y w e quarrelled, l a r g e l y b e c a u s e I w a s furious w i t h h i m f o r h a v i n g so litde t o d o - t h e n I r e p e n t e d b e c a u s e I realized that t h e r e really w a s v e r y litde h e c o u l d d o . ' S o o n ,
21

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h o w e v e r , the strains in this inter-class ' m a r r i a g e ' b e g a n to F o r it w a s h e w h o w a s l i v i n g m y life, n o t I his.'

show.

S p e n d e r realized that 'the pressure w a s greater o n h i m than o n m e . S o , h a d n ' t it all b e e n a b i g , liberal, l e f t - w i n g mistake? ' I s o m e t i m e s asked m y s e l f w h e t h e r I shouldn't be doing h i m m o r e g o o d b y turning h i m o u t , than b y k e e p i n g h i m w i t h m e . I n o r d i n a r y c i r c u m s t a n c e s it w o u l d certainly h a v e b e e n better to force h i m to stand o n his o w n feet. B u t the q u e s t i o n w a s m a d e rather theoretical b y the fact that i f h e h a d left m e h e w o u l d s i m p l y h a v e b e e n t h r o w n a m o n g s t the millions o f the u n e m p l o y e d . '
2 2

S p e n d e r a n d T o n y stayed t o g e t h e r S p e n d e r a d o p t i n g increasingly desperate strategies to k e e p t h e m so for a r o u n d three years. T h e i r e m o t i o n a l f a n d a n g o , h o w e v e r , w a s s y m p t o m a t i c o f the a g e . T h a t w e k n o w so m u c h a b o u t it is also significant since it is from a b o u t this p e r i o d - the years l e a d i n g u p to the o u t b r e a k o f w a r in 1 9 3 9 - that w e c a n b e g i n to t u r n to the w r i t t e n a n d oral records o f other, m o r e o r d i n a r y , m e n w h o w e r e there. F r e e d from the fear o f p r o s e c u t i o n b y the d e c r i m i n a l i z a t i o n o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y in 1 9 6 7 , b o o k s w e r e p u b l i s h e d a n d a l r e a d y - o l d m e n faced m i c r o p h o n e s to l e a v e us a v i v i d , first-hand p i c t u r e o f the h o m o s e x u a l w o r l d as it e x i s t e d in the late 1 9 3 0 s . T h e f o l l o w i n g a m a l g a m o f their i n d i v i d u a l e x p e r i e n c e s tells a story w h i c h is g r e a t e r than the s u m o f its parts: A s I w a n d e r e d a l o n g P i c c a d i l l y o r Shaftesbury A v e n u e , I passed y o u n g m e n standing at the street corners w h o said, 'Isn't it terrible t o n i g h t , dear? N o m e n a b o u t . T h e D i l l y ' s n o t w h a t it u s e d to b e . ' T h o u g h the I n d i a n b o y at s c h o o l h a d o n c e a m a z e d us all w i t h the i n f o r m a t i o n that in B i r m i n g h a m there w e r e m a l e prostitutes, I h a d n e v e r b e l i e v e d that I w o u l d actually see o n e . H e r e they w e r e for all the w o r l d to r e c o g n i z e o r almost all the w o r l d . A p a s s e r - b y w o u l d h a v e to b e v e r y i n n o c e n t i n d e e d n o t to catch the m e a n i n g o f the m a n n e q u i n w a l k a n d the stance in w h i c h the h i p w a s o n l y p r e v e n t e d f r o m total dislocation b y the h a n d p l a c e d u p o n i t .
23

. . . w e sat h u d d l e d t o g e t h e r in a caf called the B l a c k C a t . ( W e w e r e n o t p u t t i n g u p w i t h a n y such n o n s e n s e as ' A u C h a t N o i r ' w h i c h w a s w r i t t e n o v e r the w i n d o w . ) T h i s w a s in O l d C o m p t o n

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Street. It l o o k e d l i k e a d o z e n o t h e r cafs in S o h o . It h a d a h o r s e s h o e bar o f occasionally s c r u b b e d w o o d , b l a c k a n d w h i t e c h e c k l i n o l e u m o n the floor a n d mirrors e v e r y w h e r e . T h e d e a f e n i n g glass b o x e s in w h i c h n o w a d a y s customers sit a n d eat w i t h their ankles o n v i e w to the p u b l i c h a d n o t t h e n b e e n built. In that h a p p i e r t i m e all w a s squalor a n d a silence spangled o n l y w i t h the s w i s h o f k n i v e s a n d the tinkle o f glass as the w i n d o w s o f the B l a c k C a t g o t p u s h e d i n .
2 4

I used to b e l o n g to all the clubs, it w a s h a l f a c r o w n a y e a r t o b e a m e m b e r . T h e y w e r e mostly around S o h o , there w e r e a couple in M a y f a i r , b u t it w a s m o s d y a r o u n d S o h o - D e a n Street, R o m i l l y Street. M o s d y o n l y a r o o m u p a staircase. U s u a l l y r u n b y a w o m a n for h o m o s e x u a l customers. T h a t ' s h o w o n e u s e d to m e e t p e o p l e . Y o u h a d to s h o w a card, a n d she g o t to k n o w y o u e v e n t u a l l y . Y o u got a membership through another m e m b e r or y o u w e r e taken and m a d e a m e m b e r . T h e f a m o u s o n e , o f c o u r s e , w a s a c l u b in P a n t o n Street, a n d also the M u s i c B o x .
2 5

D a y after u n e v e n t f u l day, n i g h t after loveless n i g h t , w e sat in this caf b u y i n g e a c h o t h e r cups o f tea, c o m b i n g e a c h o t h e r ' s hair a n d t r y i n g o n each o t h e r ' s lipsticks. W e w e r e w a i t e d o n w i t h i n d u l g e n t c o n t e m p t b y an elderly g e n t l e m a n , w h o later a c h i e v e d a f a m e that w e w o u l d h a v e then t h o u g h t quite b e y o n d h i m , b y b e i n g i n v o l v e d in a m u r d e r case. H a d the denizens o f the B l a c k C a t k n o w n w a s such a desperate character, t h e y w o u l d doubtless h a v e he done

m u c h m o r e to p r o v o k e h i m . A s it w a s w e o n l y b o r e d h i m b y m a k i n g , w i t h l a d y l i k e sips, e a c h c u p o f tea last as l o n g as a f o u r course m e a l . F r o m t i m e to t i m e h e t h r e w love or m o n e y or both.


2 6

us o u t . W h e n

this

h a p p e n e d w e w a l t z e d r o u n d the n e i g h b o u r i n g streets in search o f

In the caf there w a s a lot o f stylized cattiness, b u t this w a s n e v e r u n k i n d l y m e a n t . N o t h i n g at all w a s m e a n t b y it. It w a s a f o r m a l g a m e o f i n n u e n d o e s a b o u t o t h e r p e o p l e b e i n g o l d e r than t h e y said, a b o u t their teeth b e i n g false a n d their hair b e i n g a w i g . S u c h c o n v e r sation w a s t h o u g h t to b e smart a n d so v e r y f e m i n i n e .
27

. . . o n e day I ' d b e e n s t o p p e d in the street b y a g o o d - l o o k i n g m a n w h o m I d i d n ' t k n o w , w h o said, ' W h a t a l o v e l y d a y . ' A n d I a g r e e d , it w a s a beautiful spring day. A n d h e said, ' I l i k e the l o o k o f y o u . '

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' M u t u a l , I l i k e the l o o k o f y o u , t o o . ' H e said, ' W o u l d y o u like to c o m e to m y b i r t h d a y party o n S a t u r d a y , ' a n d I hesitated, t h e n said, ' Y e s , I ' d l o v e t o . ' A n d w e n t , a n d it p r o v e d to b e - to m y surprise, I m u s t say a party entirely o f m e n in a private h o u s e . R o u g h l y a b o u t fifteen m e n o f all sorts, tall a n d short, a n d dark a n d fair, and s o m e shy a n d s o m e quite o u t g o i n g . A n d I realised this w a s w h a t p r o b a b l y w e n t o n in small g r o u p s o f p e o p l e m e e t i n g ostensibly for b i r t h d a y parties, v e r y secret. It w a s all m a l e .
2 8

I used to g i v e parties l i k e m a d . W h e n w e w e r e l i v i n g in r o o m s w e u s e d to h a v e p a y parties. O r p e o p l e w o u l d b r i n g cut s a n d w i c h e s so t h i c k n o b o d y w o u l d eat t h e m , a n d w o u l d b r i n g a bottle. bottle parties. T h e r e w a s a l w a y s a party s o m e w h e r e .


2 9

Have

. . . D u n c a n p l i e d m e w i t h m o r e d r i n k it w a s a v e r y strong c u p w i t h w h i t e w i n e a n d gin in it - a n d then, d e c i d i n g that I w a s not l i k e l y to resist a n y m o r e , w h i s p e r e d : ' I ' m g o i n g to take y o u b a c k to m y studio n o w . ' T h a t n i g h t w a s the first h a p p y s e x u a l e x p e r i e n c e I h a d in m y life. D u n c a n w a s a g o o d , i f rather lazy l o v e r [. . .] W h i l e w e l o o k e d i n t o o n e another's eyes, s m i l i n g happily, as I lay o n t o p o f h i m after w e h a d c o m e , a n d h e ruffled m y hair, h e said s u d d e n l y : ' Y o u take m e j u s t as i f I w e r e a w o m a n , y o u k n o w . ' I w a s startled, a n d in s o m e c u r i o u s w a y pleased. A U I c o u l d find to say w a s : ' L e t ' s d o it a g a i n . ' ' I n the m o r n i n g , ' w h i s p e r e d D u n c a n , a n d g a v e m e a l o n g kiss. W e w o k e u p late. M y e y e o p e n e d o n a l a r g e u n t i d y studio w i t h a n o r t h light in the r o o f w h i c h h a d n ' t b e e n c l e a n e d for a l o n g t i m e , a large table c o v e r e d w i t h paints a n d brushes, a f e w b o o k s , a c o p y o f the New Statesman, a n d a h a l f e m p t y b o t d e of wine. "
3

T h e clubs d i d n ' t close a n d the p a r t y i n g d i d n ' t o b e d i e n t l y e n d w h e n , on 3 September 1 9 3 9 , Neville Chamberlain, the P r i m e Minister, a n n o u n c e d that 'this c o u n t r y is at w a r w i t h G e r m a n y ' . B u t n o r did w a r c o m e i m m e d i a t e l y o n that bright S u n d a y m o r n i n g . In fact, for m o n t h after m o n t h , v e r y litde did c o m e . In L o n d o n a n d o t h e r m a j o r cities t h e r e w a s a m a n d a t o r y n i g h t - t i m e b l a c k o u t ; b u t for m o s t adult males, h o m o s e x u a l and heterosexual, the greatest imposition was already a fact o f life. In A p r i l 1 9 3 9 - in the p o s t - M u n i c h lull w h i c h

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141

n o m i n a l l y passed for p e a c e the g o v e r n m e n t h a d i n t r o d u c e d a l i m i t e d form o f c o n s c r i p t i o n . A p p r o v e d b y P a r l i a m e n t a n d g i v e n r o y a l assent the f o l l o w i n g m o n t h , the M i l i t a r y T r a i n i n g A c t c o m p e l l e d all m e n a g e d t w e n t y a n d t w e n t y - o n e to u n d e r g o six m o n t h s o f basic s q u a r e - b a s h i n g . W i t h i n thirty-six hours o f C h a m b e r l a i n ' s declaration o f w a r , h o w e v e r , this h a d b e e n s u p e r s e d e d b y the e m e r g e n c y N a t i o n a l S e r v i c e ( A r m e d Forces) A c t . T h e n c e f o r t h - at least for w h a t w a s e v e n t h e n b e c o m i n g k n o w n as 'the d u r a t i o n ' all m e n a g e d b e t w e e n e i g h t e e n a n d f o r t y o n e , s a v i n g o n l y those d e e m e d e x e m p t b y a 1 9 3 8 S c h e d u l e o f R e s e r v e d O c c u p a t i o n s , w e r e m a d e liable to c o n s c r i p t i o n . S o o n , official e n v e l o p e s w e r e d r o p p i n g t h r o u g h tens o f thousands o f letter b o x e s s u m m o n i n g m e n , regardless o f their class o r s e x u a l orientation, to hastily o p e n e d r e c r u i t m e n t offices.

I w e n t a n d v o l u n t e e r e d [recalled ' T r e v o r ' ] , a n d that's a f u n n y little story, t o o . I w e n t to this office a n d g a v e m y n a m e a n d address. A n d [the r e c r u i t i n g officer] said, ' W e l l , h a v e y o u a n y particular p r e f e r e n c e for w h i c h s e r v i c e y o u w a n t to g o i n t o ? ' A n d I said, ' Y e s , I ' d l i k e to g o i n t o the N a v y . ' B e c a u s e I ' d h e a r d things a b o u t the N a v y ! A n d h e said, ' H a v e y o u a n y special r e a s o n ? ' A n d I w a s j o k i n g - I said, v e r y A m e r i c a n , ' S u r e , I t h i n k N a v y b l u e a n d m y b l u e eyes w o u l d l o o k fine t o g e t h e r . ' H e w a s furious. H e said, ' L i s t e n mister, there's a w a r o n , n o b l o o d y n o n s e n s e . ' ' G a y o r straight, n o t e v e r y p r o s p e c t i v e c o n s c r i p t d i s p l a y e d s u c h s a n g froid w h e n faced b y the call-up b o a r d . A p e r i o d o f e n f o r c e d military service t h r e a t e n e d to destroy the w h o l e t e n o r o f their lives. B a s i c training w a s u n d e r s c o r e d b y a sense o f dull f o r e b o d i n g a n d u n d e r t a k e n w i t h the n u m b e d q u i e t u d e w h i c h S t e p h e n S p e n d e r f o u n d a m o n g the m e n w h o , l i k e h i m , w e r e d i r e c t e d to the A u x i l i a r y F i r e S e r v i c e : ' T h e y w o r e d u n g a r e e s l i k e r o m p e r s , w e r e m a d e to o b e y h u m i l i a t i n g and often ridiculous orders g i v e n to t h e m b y officers w h o m t h e y s o m e t i m e s c o n s i d e r e d to b e their inferiors, a n d w e r e r o b b e d o f the little d i g n i t y w h i c h they h a d attained in c i v i l i a n l i f e . '
32 3

F o r g a y m e n in particular rigours o f basic training

the h u g g e r - m u g g e r that w a s s e r v i c e life, the

a n d e v e n their a p p e a r a n c e b e f o r e a m e d i c a l b o a r d p o s e d particular p r o b l e m s . T o h a v e a d m i t t e d their h o m o s e x u a l i t y t h e n a n d t h e r e w o u l d h a v e resulted in the threat o f later p r o s e c u t i o n , a n d v e r y f e w f o u n d themselves t u r n e d d o w n for a c t i v e s e r v i c e p u r e l y b e c a u s e o f their

142

O R D I N A R Y

P E O P L E

s e x u a l p r o c l i v i t i e s . O n l y e x t r e m e cases l i k e Q u e n t i n C r i s p w h o at the t i m e o f his m e d i c a l e x a m i n a t i o n h a d d y e d c r i m s o n hair at 'hooligan length' were granted a complete and exemption: I w a s fully p r e p a r e d to m a r c h at the h e a d o f m y m e n , an o c c u p a t i o n in w h i c h I h a d h a d considerable practice, b u t the authorities w e r e n o t h a v i n g a n y o f that [. . .] ' Y o u ' l l n e v e r b e w a n t e d , ' [the d o c t o r ] said a n d thrust at m e a smaller p i e c e o f paper. T h i s d e s c r i b e d m e as b e i n g i n c a p a b l e o f b e i n g in grades A , B , etc. b e c a u s e I suffered from sexual perversion.
33

worn

immediate

T h e m a j o r i t y o f h o m o s e x u a l m e n h a d n o o p t i o n b u t to m a k e the best o f things. ' N e i l ' , u n t y p i c a l l y perhaps, d e t e r m i n e d sense o f a d v e n t u r e ' : I k n e w I w a s o n e h u n d r e d p e r cent h o m o s e x u a l , a n d I k n e w that h o m o s e x u a l i t y w a s absolutely f o r b i d d e n in the a r m e d forces a n d that t h e r e w e r e h o r r e n d o u s sanctions against it b u t I fully i n t e n d e d to c o n t i n u e l e a d i n g an a c t i v e h o m o s e x u a l life. I realised it w a s g o i n g to b e d a n g e r o u s , b u t I w e n t i n t o it quite deliberately, w i t h m y eyes wide open. A s part o f m y m e d i c a l e x a m i n a t i o n I w a s s e e n b y a psychiatrist w h o asked m e w h e t h e r I was homosexual. S o I just l o o k e d shocked a n d said, ' N o ! '
3 4

to play the

s y s t e m at its o w n g a m e a n d l o o k e d f o r w a r d to service life w i t h 'a

' N e i l ' h a d a ' g o o d w a r ' a n d r e m a i n e d in the services after 1 9 4 5 . O t h e r s , t o o , f o u n d s e r v i c e life u n e x p e c t e d l y c o n g e n i a l , o r at least n o t nearly as b a d as t h e y h a d i m a g i n e d it w o u l d b e . S p e n d e r f o u n d that life in his fire station billet ' b r o u g h t o u t the w a r m t h , g o o d nature a n d h u m o u r o f the m e n [. . .] character, w h i c h m i g h t h a v e b e e n u n s y m p a t h e t i c in other other'. circumstances,
35

w a s m a d e sociable b y o u r t o l e r a n c e

o f each

S e c o n d e d to I n t e l l i g e n c e , B e v e r l e y N i c h o l s , t o o , f o u n d his

days in u n i f o r m u n e x p e c t e d l y c o n g e n i a l . ' I h a d the t i m e o f m y life,' h e recalled.

I n s p i r e d b y the qualified success o f a similar c a m p a i g n in the U n i t e d States, in the m i d - 1 9 9 0 s B r i t i s h g a y a n d lesbian pressure g r o u p s l e d b y

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S t o n e w a l l a n d R a n k O u t s i d e r s intensified their l o n g - r u n n i n g c a m p a i g n to o v e r t u r n a b a n o n lesbian a n d g a y m e n s e r v i n g in the B r i t i s h a r m e d forces. W h i l e legal battles r a g e d at the H i g h C o u r t in L o n d o n and questions w e r e r e p e a t e d l y raised in P a r l i a m e n t , the issue briefly b e c a m e the subject o f national debate. C u r r e n t affairs p r o g r a m m e s o n radio a n d t e l e v i s i o n preferred to rehearse the c o n t e m p o r a r y side o f the a r g u m e n t , newspapers. o f the b a n e m e r g e d in the c o r r e s p o n d e n c e Unexpectedly perhaps, letters c i v i l liberties b u t a different, parallel case for the reversal columns o f broadsheet from heterosexual ex-

s e r v i c e m e n h i g h l i g h t e d b o t h the role w h i c h h o m o s e x u a l f i g h t i n g m e n p l a y e d in the services from the S e c o n d W o r l d W a r until the present day and - despite M i n i s t r y o f D e f e n c e statistics p u r p o r t i n g to s h o w d e e p - s e a t e d resistance to their p r e s e n c e - the b r o a d - m i n d e d with w h i c h they w e r e generally accepted: In 1 9 4 3 I h a d a D i v i s i o n a l O f f i c e r , a captain o f M a r i n e s , w h o w a s o v e r t l y g a y . H e w a s also a h e a v i l y d e c o r a t e d h e r o . H e w a s the first o f m a n y g a y s e r v i c e m e n a n d w o m e n I m e t d u r i n g f o u r years i n the n a v y a n d later the R . A . F . I did n o t see o r h e a r o f a n y t r o u b l e [or] loss o f discipline . . . D e a r Sir, I s e r v e d in the a r m y as a b a n d b o y in the late F o r t i e s [rising] to S e r g e a n t in 1 9 5 9 . D u r i n g this p e r i o d I w a s a w a r e that I w a s s e r v i n g w i t h s o m e h o m o s e x u a l s a n d can c o n f i r m that it w a s n o t a p r o b l e m . A simple rule w a s o b s e r v e d b y b o t h h e t e r o s e x u a l s a n d h o m o s e x u a l s n o s e x u a l activity w i t h i n the confines o f the barracks o r e l s e w h e r e on duty.
36

toleration

Fascinatingly, impartial a n d u n s o l i c i t e d r e c o l l e c t i o n s s u c h as these c o r r o b o r a t e a tantalizingly small a r c h i v e o f first-hand r e m i n i s c e n c e s b y the h o m o s e x u a l m e n w h o s e r v e d in a n y o f the t h r e e services d u r i n g the S e c o n d W o r l d W a r . Fearful as m a n y w e r e that m i l i t a r y life w o u l d b e ' l i k e s c h o o l o r e v e n O x f o r d ' all o v e r again, t h e m a j o r i t y o f those w h o h a v e recalled the e x p e r i e n c e l o o k b a c k w i t h a m i x t u r e o f relief, nostalgia a n d affection. A s e n t e n c e l i k e ' I w a s six years a n d a h u n d r e d a n d - t w e l v e days in the a r m y , a n d r a v i s h i n g it w a s t o o ! ' e c h o e s a c o m m o n l y h e l d feeling. O v e r a l l - a l t h o u g h ' h o m o p h o b i a , j o k e s a b o u t n a n c y - b o y s a n d aggression w e r e still part o f the a t m o s p h e r e ' a n d ' y o u

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h a d to b e so b l o o d y careful!' the m e m o r i e s o f soldiers, sailors, a i r m e n a n d prisoners o f w a r e v o k e an a t m o s p h e r e o f w h a t almost that in e x t e n u a t i n g circumstances n o r m a l rules d i d n o t amounted necessarily t o official a n d p r i v a t e f o r b e a r a n c e . T h e r e is also m o r e than a s u g g e s t i o n apply; that n o o n e w a s g o i n g to b l a m e e v e n ostensibly h e t e r o s e x u a l a n d n o t i n f r e q u e n t l y m a r r i e d - m e n for f i n d i n g w h a t s e x u a l relief t h e y c o u l d in a stressful, a l l - m a l e e n v i r o n m e n t : W h e n p e o p l e are g e t t i n g b l o w n u p all a r o u n d y o u b y a b o m b o r s o m e t h i n g o r o t h e r y o u o n l y care a b o u t the m o m e n t . Y o u k n o w , e v e r y m a n d u r i n g the w a r t h o u g h t e v e r y n i g h t c o u l d b e his last, so o f c o u r s e h e w a s d e t e r m i n e d to g o o u t w i t h a b a n g - a n d v e r y often I w a s that b a n g .
3 7

' C l a r a ' [a transvestite internee] w a s quite l i k e d a n d a p p r o v e d of. S h e u s e d to g o d o w n to the m a n g r o v e s w a m p a n d w a s available for a q u i c k b l o w - j o b i f a n y b o d y w a s interested. T h e a r m y t u r n e d a b l i n d e y e t o p e o p l e ' s little e c c e n t r i c i t i e s .
38

often

T h e attitude to h o m o s e x u a l i t y in the a r m y w a s p r o t e c t i v e . T h e y u s e d to s e n d m e u p l i k e m a d ; b u t i f a n y stranger d i d it h e u s e d to b e k i c k e d to death, y o u k n o w ? I w a s r e g a r d e d as rather strange. I h a v e n e v e r b e e n particularly ' f e m m e ' , b u t m y turn o f phrase a n d attitude w a s r e g a r d e d as rather strange. I w a s a sort o f E v e l y n H o m e to the b o y s y o u k n o w , c o m f o r t for the t r o o p s !
39

I n the early years o f m y captivity [in S i n g a p o r e ] I ' d b e e n g i v e n a sarong. I w a s w e a r i n g this o n e day w h e n I w e n t o u t to the latrines, a n d o n m y w a y b a c k I h e a r d t h r o u g h the straw sides o f o u r hut s o m e b o d y s a y i n g t h e y r e c k o n e d that [I] w a s a n a n c y - b o y . T h e n i m m e d i a t e l y a b u t c h C o c k n e y b o y said, O h n o h e w a s n ' t ; he w a s terribly b r a v e in a c t i o n . T h i s a m u s e d m e the idea that y o u c o u l d n ' t be brave and g a y . Permanent and
4 0

semi-permanent

sexual

relationships

inevitably

d e v e l o p e d , b o t h b e t w e e n m e n in barracks at h o m e a n d those o n a c t i v e s e r v i c e a b r o a d . M a n y m e n recalling that 'it w a s v e r y easy to p i c k u p o t h e r s e r v i c e m e n ' a n d that ' t h e r e used to b e a lot [ o f sex] to b e h a d ' allude to relationships w h i c h w e r e v e r y m u c h m o r e m e a n i n g f u l than a desperate, anonymous 'bang' or a quick b l o w - j o b from 'Clara'.

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LIFE'

H5

S e v e r a l , t o o , m e n t i o n the etiquette w h i c h s u r r o u n d e d these, the d i s cretion w i t h w h i c h t h e y w e r e e m b a r k e d u p o n a n d the series o f a d h o c rules a n d c o n v e n t i o n s w h i c h g o v e r n e d their progress. ' D a v i d ' , f o r instance, attempts to d r a w a line b e t w e e n a fully s e x u a l relationship a n d an intense b u t chaste ' c o m r a d e s h i p ' w h i c h f l o u r i s h e d in the G u a r d s : S t r a n g e to say, a l t h o u g h I d i d h a v e s e x relations w i t h t h r e e separate g u a r d s m e n , the c h a p that I really l i k e d y o u c o u l d say l o v e d i n a w a y , b e c a u s e I h a d quite an e m o t i o n a l f e e l i n g [for h i m ] - w o u l d n ' t have sex with m e . H e was a heterosexual type. H e reciprocated on the l e v e l o f c o m r a d e s h i p . T h i s is v e r y i m p o r t a n t . C o m r a d e s h i p w a s p e r m i t t e d , a n d in the r e g i m e n t there w e r e pairs. I m e a n it w a s u n d e r s t o o d b y e v e r y o n e that s o - a n d - s o w a s the p e r s o n a l friend o f so-and-so. Comradeship was allowed on the understanding, o f c o u r s e , that there w a s n o s e x u a l relationship; n o s e x . Y o u c o u l d h a v e s e x w i t h a f e l l o w g u a r d s m a n j u s t l i k e that, v e r y easily, g i v e n the a p p r o p r i a t e circumstances. Y o u ' d g o t to b e a l o n e in the g u a r d r o o m . Y o u ' d g o t to b e g a y y o u r s e l f a n d the other c h a p ' d g o t to b e g a y . G i v e n that situation it h a p p e n e d j u s t l i k e that. T h e s e w e r e n o t e x t e n s i v e o r d e e p o r e v e n v e r y close relationships, really. W i t h o n e m a n , I think I h a d s e x t w i c e . O n a n o t h e r o c c a s i o n perhaps three times. I n the third case there w a s s o m e t h i n g l i k e a relationship. I m e a n w e used to g o o u t to the c i n e m a t o g e t h e r , so that there w a s a relationship apart f r o m j u s t s e x . ' I n e v i t a b l y , these relationships reflected the social d y n a m i c s o f the w i d e r society f r o m w h i c h the a r m e d forces w e r e d r a w n . R a n k b r o a d l y paralleled but n e v e r c o m p l e t e l y o v e r r o d e class distinction. T h u s ' N e i l ' , s o o n c o m m i s s i o n e d in the R A F , ' m a d e it a p o i n t o f p r i n c i p l e n e v e r , n e v e r , n e v e r to h a v e s e x w i t h an N . C . O . o r an O t h e r R a n k ' a n d is quite c a n d i d in e x p l a i n i n g w h y : I f I h a d s e x w i t h a n o t h e r officer, that w a s n o b i g deal; b u t i f I h a d s e x w i t h a sergeant o r a c o r p o r a l , h e m i g h t feel that h e w o u l d l i k e to b r a g to his c o l l e a g u e s a b o u t it. A n d , a l t h o u g h i f [the authorities] w e r e r u n n i n g an investigation, / c o u l d n o t b e i n t i m i d a t e d b y rank, he w o u l d v e r y likely be intimidated and m a k e a confession. T h u s , N . C . O . s a n d O t h e r R a n k s w e r e h i g h l y d a n g e r o u s as partners; m o r e v u l n e r a b l e a n d less r e l i a b l e .
42 4

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S i g n i f i c a n t l y , h o w e v e r , a l t h o u g h h e c a m e from the s a m e starting-point (and i m p l i c i d y shared the s a m e class values) as ' N e i l ' , ' C e c i l ' , a naval c o m m a n d e r , f o u n d that the v e r y constraints w h i c h rank i m p o s e d a c t u ally v a l i d a t e d p r e c i s e l y the sort o f m o d e r n , guilt-free relationship h e s e e m s to h a v e d e s p a i r e d o f finding in the c i v i l i a n w o r l d : U p until [I j o i n e d the n a v y ] I h a d t h o u g h t that h o m o s e x u a l i t y , o r the i n d u l g e n c e in h o m o s e x u a l s e x , w a s s o m e t h i n g b e t w e e n y o u a n d w e l l , I hate to say s o , b u t I s u p p o s e w h a t I m e a n is inferior p e o p l e . N o t necessarily socially inferior, b e c a u s e d u r i n g the w a r I w a s h a v i n g affairs w i t h sergeants o f the a r m y o r air m e c h a n i c s from the n a v y , a n d there w a s n o social i m p l i c a t i o n there. S o that e x p e r i e n c e w a s an e x t r e m e l y v a l u a b l e o n e . It o p e n e d u p to m y eyes

the idea that there could be homosexual relationships with your equals
w h i c h c o u l d h a v e , w h a t s e e m e d to m e then, a really e l e v a t e d nature.
43

B a c k at h o m e m a n n e r s a n d morals w e r e , i f a n y t h i n g , in an e v e n greater state o f flux. I n L o n d o n , ' N e i l ' r e m e m b e r s , the streets a n d parks ' w e r e h u m m i n g w i t h all kinds o f s e x , w i t h every k i n d o f s e x ' . ' T h i s w a s the season o f farewells to the y o u n g w h o w e r e b e i n g p r e p a r e d for their r o l e in the a r m e d m i g h t that w a s steadily b e i n g built u p , ' J o h n L e h m a n n w a s later to w r i t e . ' A n a t m o s p h e r e o f h e i g h t e n e d e m o t i o n d o m i n a t e d ; kisses w e r e e x c h a n g e d w i t h those o n e w o u l d n e v e r in n o r m a l times h a v e r e a c h e d the p o i n t o f k i s s i n g . '
44

A n d t h e n there w a s officially

at least the b l a c k o u t : ' I w o u l d n ' t say there w e r e b l a c k o u t s , b e c a u s e y o u h a d b l u e lights e v e r y w h e r e a n d e v e r y b o d y c a r r i e d a t o r c h w i t h a bit o f tissue p a p e r o n it. I d o n ' t k n o w h o w m u c h w e n t o n in d o o r ways';
4 5

' T h e b l a c k o u t m a y h a v e b e e n a curse, b u t to p e o p l e like us


46

it w a s a b o o n . T h e 'trade' w a s there for the asking a n d I t o o k full advantage o f it.'

U n e x p e c t e d l y , the b l a c k o u t w a s to d o m o r e for the h o m o s e x u a l m e n w h o , for o n e r e a s o n o r a n o t h e r , f o u n d t h e m s e l v e s in L o n d o n o r o n e o f B r i t a i n ' s o t h e r m a j o r cities than a n y o t h e r e v e n t until decriminalization o f homosexuality more the than t w e n t y years later.

C h a o s r e i g n e d , as the historian A n g u s C a l d e r has p o i n t e d out: '. . . to m a k e o n e ' s w a y f r o m b a c k street o r s u b u r b to the city centre w a s a

L E F T Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas, 1895 A studio portrait, taken shortly before Wilde appeared at the Old Bailey, which emphasizes both Wilde's commanding presence and the youthful beauty o f ' B o s i e ' . B E L O W Oscar Wilde in his 'Aesthetic' lecturing costume, c. 1880. L o n g before his infatuation with Bosie brought his sexual predilections to public notice, Wilde had cultivated the public persona w h i c h later generations would recognize as camp.

Edward Carpenter, c. 1900. T h e beard and rough tweeds so characteristic o f the earthy 'manlove' espoused by the sexual pioneer at his commune in Milthorpe survive in this studio photograph.

A . E . Housman, c. 1900. B y contrast, the donnish Housman, yearning for a nostalgic Shropshire 'ladslove', maintains a more conservative appearance.

E . M . Forster, c. 1900. Caught in 'the Valley of the Shadow of Life', the novelist created Maurice Hall - 'handsome, healthy, bodily attractive, mentally torpid, not a bad business man' as his o w n antithesis . . . and the 'ideal'

'JAGGED WITH

SOPHISTICATION'

N o e l Coward's phrase aptly sums up the lifestyle of his friend Cecil Beaton in the inter-war years. T h e designer and photographer cut a dash wherever he went:

B E L O W Cecil Beaton at Leicester R a c e s , 1 9 2 5 , with Miss Peggy Broadbent and Miss J o y c e Greig.

A B O V E Cecil Beaton en fte in the studio: a 1 9 3 7 portrait by Gordon Anthony. B E L O W Cecil Beaton relaxing at home: left to right M r J . Lutro, Princess Paley, Lady Charles Cavendish, Mrs Harcourt Smith, Cecil Beaton.

HAPPY IN THE CLOSET Like the majority of more ordinary homosexual men, many prominent individuals kept their sexual tastes very private.

Christopher Isherwood (left) and W. H . Auden, in L o n d o n in 1938 - well after each had discovered that 'Berlin meant boys'.

Angus Wilson, 1 9 5 2 As discreet in life as he was in his novels and short stories, in the 'police state' of the 1950s Wilson was not alone in keeping an eye on what was happening behind his back.

T o m Driberg, 1 9 7 1 T h e elder statesman o f the Labour Party was not quite the patrician figure he wanted to appear.

Sir J o h n Wolfenden T h e unlikely patron saint of gay liberation was Vice-Chancellor of R e a d i n g University w h e n he was appointed the chairman of a government committee on sexual offences.

A B I T OF

ROUGH

A homosexual nostalgie de la boue, first discovered by the public in the late nineteenth century, re-emerged in the 1960s.

J o e Orton, 'the Oscar Wilde of Welfare State gentility', brought 'the language of the tribe' to the West E n d stage before he was battered to death by his lover Kenneth Halliwell in 1 9 6 7 .

R o n n i e Kray (right, with twin brother Reggie), 1966. T h e East End gang-leaders quickly caught the lizard eyes of Tom Driberg and the Conservative M P B o b Boothby.

CARRYING

ON

T h e decriminalization of most homosexual acts in 1 9 6 7 freed gay men to be themselves. B u t . . . Kenneth Williams, as one half of radio's 'Julian and Sandy' and, later, a television personality, embodied ideas first made acceptable fifty years earlier.

Ian McKellan in 1979 years before coming out and receiving a knighthood displays the defiance of the gay man of an earlier era (see picture of Beaton at the races in 1925).

'i

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p r o s p e c t fraught w i t h depression a n d e v e n d a n g e r . I n S e p t e m b e r 1 9 3 9 the total [ n u m b e r ] o f p e o p l e k i l l e d in r o a d accidents i n c r e a s e d b y nearly o n e h u n d r e d p e r cent. T h i s e x c l u d e s others w h o w a l k e d i n t o canals, fell d o w n steps, p l u n g e d t h r o u g h glass roofs a n d t o p p l e d f r o m railway platforms.'
47

O n c e again a carpe diem attitude resurfaced. N o

o n e k n e w w h a t m i g h t h a p p e n that night, that w e e k , that m o n t h a n d w i t h s o m e reason ('Careless talk costs l i v e s ! ' ) . N o figures w e r e released at the t i m e ; b u t it is n o w possible to say that, b e t w e e n the o u t b r e a k o f w a r in S e p t e m b e r 1 9 3 9 a n d the e n d o f 1 9 4 2 , m o r e civilians o n the H o m e F r o n t w e r e k i l l e d as a result o f e n e m y a c t i o n than s e r v i c e m e n o n a c t i v e s e r v i c e overseas. T h e B l i t z a l o n e c a u s e d s o m e 4 4 , 0 0 0 fatalities in L o n d o n a n d ports a n d cities s u c h as H u l l , C o v e n t r y a n d P o r t s m o u t h , a m o n g t h e m 8 1 8 officers o f the L o n d o n F i r e S e r v i c e . Chaos reigned, anything w e n t and m e n like J o h n L e h m a n n and Q u e n t i n C r i s p w e r e h a v i n g the t i m e o f their lives. T h e Y a n k s (and the C a n a d i a n s ) w e r e c o m i n g a n d in the perilous darkness the phrase ' O v e r here' took on w h o l l y n e w connotations: F o r m o s t o f 1 9 4 0 L o n d o n b y n i g h t w a s l i k e o n e o f those d i m l y - l i t parties that their hosts h o p e are s l i g h d y w i c k e d . I n a c o s y g l o o m y o u n g m e n a n d w o m e n strolled a r m in a r m a l o n g P i c c a d i l l y m u r m u r i n g , 'It's n o t as b a d t o n i g h t as last night, is it?' P o l i c e m e n a l l o w e d t h e m s e l v e s a certain skittishness. ' D o n ' t care, h u h ? ' t h e y c r i e d as I passed t h e m sheltering in d o o r w a y s . T a x i - d r i v e r s u n b e n t so far as to take o n e part o f the w a y h o m e free o f c h a r g e . A s s o o n as t h e b o m b s started to fall, the city b e c a u s e l i k e a p a v e d d o u b l e bed. V o i c e s w h i s p e r e d s u g g e s t i v e l y to y o u as y o u w a l k e d a l o n g ; hands r e a c h e d o u t i f y o u s t o o d still a n d in d i m l y lit trains p e o p l e c a r r i e d o n as they h a d o n c e b e h a v e d o n l y in taxis [. . .] O n c e , w h e n I emerged from Leicester Square Underground station, the o u d i n e o f the buildings o n the o p p o s i t e side o f the r o a d l o o k e d so unfamiliar that I t h o u g h t I m u s t h a v e t a k e n the w r o n g e x i t . W h e n I asked an invisible p a s s e r - b y w h e r e I w a s , h e kissed m e o n the lips, t o l d m e I w a s in N e w p o r t Street a n d w a l k e d o n .
4 8

A n d t h e n , o f c o u r s e , there w e r e the m u c h - f a b l e d g u a r d s m e n , ' s o r e n o w n e d ' , as J o h n L e h m a n n puts it, 'for their d e e d s o f v a l o u r a n d also for their u n i n h i b i t e d , i f v e n a l , attention t o the needs o f o l d e r a n d perhaps l o n e l y inverts in L o n d o n a n d o t h e r cities w h e r e t h e y h a p p e n

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to b e stationed'. L e h m a n n (born in 1 9 0 7 ) e v i d e n t l y v i e w e d h i m s e l f as o n e s u c h , a n d h a d a w e a l t h o f e x p e r i e n c e t o pass o n w h e r e g u a r d s m e n w e r e c o n c e r n e d . Initially, h e b e l i e v e d , they w e r e best a p p r o a c h e d in pubs: O n e w o u l d gradually e d g e o n e ' s w a y , in as u n r e m a r k a b l e a m a n n e r as p o s s i b l e , t o w a r d s a l i k e l y lad o n e h a d spotted s o m e w h e r e r o u n d the bar, a n d w i t h w h o m o n e h a d perhaps e x c h a n g e d a q u i c k g l a n c e . O n e w o u l d stand b e s i d e h i m for a f e w m o m e n t s , testing as it w e r e w i t h o n e ' s a n t e n n a e w h e t h e r h e w a s w a i t i n g for o n e to m a k e a move. T h i s w o u l d b e f o l l o w e d b y a casual r e m a r k about the w e a t h e r , o r s o m e s p o r t i n g e v e n t o f the day. I f the response a p p e a r e d friendly, o n e w e n t o n to offer h i m a drink. ' D o n ' t m i n d i f I d o , m i l d a n d bitter, p l e a s e . ' T h u s l a u n c h e d , the relationship d e v e l o p e d w i t h d e s u l t o r y c o n v e r s a t i o n (it m u s t b e r e m e m b e r e d that E n g l i s h m e n n e v e r m i n d silences), gradually m o v i n g closer to the y o u n g m a n ' s o w n life, his r e g i m e n t a l duties, a n d so o n . It m i g h t b e c o m e a n i m a t e d , h e m i g h t s h o w an e a g e r w i s h to u n b u r d e n himself, a n d o n e m i g h t d r o p a f e w hints o n e s e l f a b o u t w h e r e o n e l i v e d , a n d o n e ' s b a c h e l o r state; b u t n o t h i n g like an o u t - a n d - o u t p r o p o s a l . M o r e drinks f o l l o w e d ; the situation, i f all w a s g o i n g w e l l , r e l a x e d . T h e n , as c l o s i n g t i m e a p p r o a c h e d o n e n e v e r d e p a r t e d t o o early the crucial s u g g e s t i o n w a s m a d e : ' W h y n o t c o m e a n d h a v e the c o r n e r . ' A n d o u t o n e w e n t . . ,
4 9

another

d r i n k w i t h m e at h o m e ? ' ' T h a n k s v e r y m u c h . ' ' M y car is j u s t r o u n d

I f all this t o d a y sounds trite a n d h a c k n e y e d , it certainly seems to h a v e w o r k e d f o r L e h m a n n himself. T h e r e is n o reason to d o u b t the c l a i m h e m a k e s in his a u t o b i o g r a p h i c a l n o v e l In the Purely Pagan Sense that h e (or his alter e g o , the b o o k ' s J a c k M a r l o w e ) e n j o y e d a b r i e f r e l a t i o n ship w i t h ' J i m W a l k e r , o f the 3 r d B a t t a l i o n , G r e n a d i e r G u a r d s ' a n d later t o o k u p w i t h a y o u n g t r u m p e t e r f r o m the H o u s e h o l d Cavalry.

A b o u t J i m ' s height he was slimmer, with long and well-shaped thighs, a n d a b o d y as s m o o t h b u t n o t so h a r d as J i m ' s . H i s n a m e w a s F r e d . I k n e w I w a s o n l y o n e o f his m a n y clients, b u t h e h a d a c a p t i v a t i n g a b a n d o n w h i c h a p p e a l e d v e r y s t r o n g l y to m e , a n d h e m a d e m e feel that in his eyes n o o n e else m a t t e r e d as l o n g as h e

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was with m e . After dinner, w e w o u l d put on a g r a m o p h o n e record,

Tiger Rag o r There's a Small Hotel perhaps, a n d slip into b e d . H e


n e v e r said ' O u c h ! ' o r a p p e a r e d a n y t h i n g b u t satisfied w h e n I p u s h e d m y c o c k into h i m ; a n d y e t I a m certain h e w a s n o t q u e e r , o r rather w o u l d n o t turn o u t to b e q u e e r w h e n h e g r e w o l d e r .
50

W e s h o u l d b e careful, h o w e v e r , a b o u t t a k i n g t o o literally L e h m a n n ' s s u g g e s t i o n that virtually e v e r y g u a r d s m a n , regardless o f his o w n s e x u ality, w a s as easily p i c k e d u p a n d as m e e k l y - a n d busily compliant as F r e d . C e r t a i n l y ' D a v i d ' , the o n e - t i m e g u a r d s m a n w e h a v e p r e v i o u s l y e n c o u n t e r e d , d i d n o t think so: ' I t h i n k the r e p u t a t i o n for m a l e p r o s t i tution in the G u a r d s has b e e n b l o w n u p a n d e x a g g e r a t e d a bit. I m e a n , it j u s t w a s n ' t true that all g u a r d s m e n w e r e m a l e prostitutes [. . .] S o m e w e r e , b u t I w o u l d say perhaps the sort o f p e r c e n t a g e that y o u w o u l d find in c i v i l i a n s o c i e t y a n y w a y . '
5 1

W i t h o r w i t h o u t the active participation o f e a c h a n d e v e r y g u a r d s m a n , lubriciousness a d d e d unfamiliar thrills a n d u n d r e a m e d - o f o p p o r tunities to life o n the H o m e F r o n t . ' O h , w h a t w e n t o n w a s n o o n e ' s business!' recalled ' D a v i d ' , w h o m i g h t r e a s o n a b l y h a v e b e e n e x p e c t e d to h a v e seen a n d d o n e e v e r y t h i n g d u r i n g a p r e - w a r c a r e e r in the theatre. A n y t h i n g w e n t ; L e h m a n n ' s small h o t e l h a d n e v e r h a d it so g o o d . E v e n in the w i d e r , h e t e r o s e x u a l w o r l d there h a d b e e n a s u r g e in the n u m b e r o f w e d d i n g s celebrated in the m o n t h s after the d e c l a r ation o f w a r ; n o w to the strains o f the 1 9 3 9 hit ' H a n d s , K n e e s a n d B o o m p s - a - D a i s y ' a n d C o l e P o r t e r ' s ' L e t ' s D o It (Let's Fall in L o v e ) ' the w h o l e p a c e h a d q u i c k e n e d . N u m e r o u s tales o f B r i t i s h girls ' g e t t i n g i n v o l v e d w i t h ' A m e r i c a n G Is a n d e v e n ' g e t t i n g i n t o t r o u b l e ' for the sake o f a pair o f n y l o n s , a bar o f c h o c o l a t e o r a p a c k e t o f c h e w i n g - g u m date f r o m this p e r i o d . S e x w a s in the air, a n d as h e w a s m o v e d f r o m o n e p o s t i n g to a n o t h e r in different parts o f B r i t a i n ' R o y ' c o u l d hardly catch his breath: I g o t o n v e r y w e l l in the a r m y ; I l o v e d it, y o u k n o w . W e n t E d i n b u r g h the place w a s a riot, a riot! to

A n d e v e n L o n d o n . I w a s o n l e a v e . I w a s passing t h r o u g h L o n d o n . B l o o d y b o m b s falling all o v e r the p l a c e , a n d there w a s a C a n a d i a n , a little C a n a d i a n , a n d h e said, ' W h e r e d o I g o ? ' A n d I t o o k h i m to the S a l v a t i o n A r m y a n d they shut the d o o r in his face b e c a u s e h e w a s d r u n k . I said, ' W h a t d o y o u m e a n , the b o m b s are falling,

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the shells, the shrapnel!' ' C a n ' t h e l p it.' S o , I h a d a b o o k i n g for the U n i o n J a c k C l u b across the r o a d in W a t e r l o o , a n d t o o k h i m across there. I said, ' Y o u f o l l o w m e . ' S o h e slept w i t h m e that night. H e w a s w i l l i n g ; h e w a s T B H . I k n e w a lot o f m a r r i e d m e n ; I used to have married men. Y e s , E d i n b u r g h w a s a t r e m e n d o u s city. It w a s so full o f sailors a n d q u i t e easy; quite, q u i t e easy. T h e place w a s as i f the w o r l d h a d g o n e m a d b e c a u s e it w a s so e a s y . A n d then peace broke o u t . . .
52

'The Horrors of Peace Were Many'

Q U E N T I N

CRISP

C H O S E

his w o r d s carefully a n d k n e w e x a c d y w h a t

h e m e a n t w h e n , in a p o r t e n t o u s , s i n g l e - s e n t e n c e p a r a g r a p h , h e w r o t e : 'Peace broke out.' VE Day, proclaimed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill on 8 M a y 1 9 4 5 , h a d b e e n m a r k e d b y a s p o n t a n e o u s outburst o f n a t i o n a l r e j o i c i n g . M e m b e r s o f P a r l i a m e n t h e l d a special T h a n k s g i v i n g S e r v i c e . ' W e m u s t h a v e l o o k e d l i k e a p i c t u r e b y G i o v a n n i B e l l i n i as w e minster],' the Conservative M P Henry 'Chips' Channon filed, 5 0 0 strong, into St M a r g a r e t ' s [the p a r l i a m e n t a r y c h u r c h in W e s t wrote, and, setting a g r a n d l y j u b i l a n t n o t e . I n t o w n s a n d villages across the c o u n t r y , t o o , c h u r c h bells rang, U n i o n flags w e r e w a v e d , b u n t i n g r a t i o n e d f o o d t h e y c o u l d get their hands o n . A n d then, as n i g h t fell, all the lights c a m e o n . ' T h e curtains w e r e left u n d r a w n b e c a u s e a c o m m u n i t y spirit is a b r o a d a n d e v e r y o n e w a n t s to share in e v e r y o n e else's r e j o i c i n g s , ' G e o r g e B e a r d m o r e r e c o r d e d i n his d i a r y .
1

fluttered

in the b u r n t a n d g u t t e d E a s t E n d , street parties feasted o n w h a t e v e r

' A l l the searchlights s h o n e in the s k y , the office girls a n d front of

[ M r ] G a t e s w e n t u p to T o w n to j o i n the vast c r o w d s in

B u c k i n g h a m P a l a c e . ' C h u r c h i l l s t o o d a l o n g s i d e the K i n g a n d Q u e e n o n the b a l c o n y there, c h e e r e d b y tens o f thousands o f p e o p l e w h o t h r o n g e d the M a l l - a m o n g t h e m , a n o n y m o u s l y , t h e y o u n g Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret R o s e . ' T h e r e w e r e A m e r i c a n s and y o u n g A T S girls m a k i n g w h o o p e e , ' N a o m i M i t c h i s o n n o t e d , adding:
2

'I have

s e l d o m seen so m a n y A T S so m u c h d r u n k o n so l i t d e ! '

It w a s a g e n u i n e l y j o y o u s o c c a s i o n , w i t h the w h o l e n a t i o n g i d d i l y p o i s e d b e t w e e n w a r t i m e necessity a n d a b r i g h t n e w future. I n Observer the f o l l o w i n g S u n d a y advertisements for a p a m p h l e t the entitled

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' G o l d e n R u l e s f o r P a t c h i n g ' (by M r s S e w - a n d - S e w ) a n d the M i n i s t r y o f F u e l a n d P o w e r ' s b u l l e t i n 'Practical Ideas for B e t t e r S t e a m U s a g e ' jostled w i t h upbeat prognostications o f a c o m i n g consumerist peace. F o r t y L o n d o n theatres w e r e advertising s h o w s ( e v e r y t h i n g f r o m I v o r

N o v e l l o in Perchance to Dream at the H i p p o d r o m e to The Duchess of


Malfi at the H a y m a r k e t ) . P r i n g l e w e r e advertising clothes; C l a r k s w e r e offering a n e w r a n g e o f shoes, a n d T e l e p h o n e R e n t a l s L t d a s e r v i c e w h i c h w o u l d let ' k e y m e n contact e a c h o t h e r o n the instant'.
3

O n l y Q u e n t i n C r i s p , it s e e m e d , w a s truly a w a r e o f w h a t the c o m i n g o f p e a c e really m e a n t . ' T h e A m e r i c a n soldiers w e r e still w i t h us then, w h i c h m a d e L o n d o n v e r y beautiful a n d e x c i t i n g , ' h e admitted, r e m e m b e r i n g V E D a y . B u t all in all that w a s small c o n s o l a t i o n . T o h i m , the celebrations that e v e n i n g m a r k e d the e n d o f an era, a staging-post in his life and, indirectly, in that o f e v e r y o t h e r h o m o s e x u a l m a n . In The Naked Civil Servant h e n o t e d : ' T h e lights w e r e all o n for the first t i m e in f o u r years w h i c h w a s rather a s h a m e since I preferred it w h e n the lights w e r e off. I actually f o u n d w i t h anti-aircraft the w a r v e r y e x c i t i n g w i t h rattling we the sky p i n k w i t h d o o m , the d o c k s b u r n i n g a n d the streets
4

fire. S u d d e n l y all that c a m e to an e n d a n d

w e n t b a c k to b e i n g o u r dreary s e l v e s . ' N e a r l y t w e n t y years later, in 1 9 9 5 , the p r i v a t e catastrophe that w a s V E n i g h t w a s still h a u n t i n g him: O n that terrible e v e n i n g , as I w a s w e a v i n g m y w a y t h r o u g h the

W e s t E n d w i t h a p r o l o n g e d ' g r a n d c h a i n ' m o v e m e n t as t h o u g h I w e r e d o i n g the lancers w i t h the w h o l e w o r l d , m y n a m e w a s called. I h e a r d it a b o v e the s h o u t i n g , l a u g h i n g , s i n g i n g that w e n t o n all n i g h t . T u r n i n g , I s a w in a d o o r w a y the m a n w h o h a d p u t u p w i t h m y airs a n d graces all those l o n g h o r r i b l e m o n t h s in B a r o n ' s C o u r t w h e n I h a d first c o m e to L o n d o n f o u r t e e n y e a n earlier. I p a u s e d q u e s t i o n i n g l y in front o f h i m . H e said, ' Y o u l o o k
5

terrible.' T h e horrors o f peace w e r e m a n y .

It w a s n o t as i f h e h a d e n j o y e d a particularly ' g o o d w a r ' . T h e b l a c k o u t g a v e s o m e p r o t e c t i o n , the sheer availability o f s e r v i c e m e n offered e x t r a o p p o r t u n i t i e s , b u t n o t e v e n C r i s p c o u l d b e w h o l l y a b o v e the law:

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153 a certain

Outside

the

Hippodrome

Theatre

I met

by chance

p a r t - t i m e h o o l i g a n called M r P a l m e r . I slapped o n t o his plate his ration o f eternal w i s d o m for the day a n d t u r n e d i n t o C o v e n t r y Street. A l m o s t i m m e d i a t e l y I w a s s t o p p e d b y the s a m e t w o men [ p l a i n - c l o t h e d p o l i c e m e n w h o h a d earlier i n t e r v i e w e d h i m in the street]. 'Just a m i n u t e , y o u , ' t h e y said. ' W e are t a k i n g y o u in f o r soliciting.'
6

C r i s p w a s arrested, taken to S a v i l e R o w p o l i c e station, c h a r g e d , a n d bailed to appear the n e x t d a y in a p o l i c e c o u r t . H e h a d b e e n in s u c h places b e f o r e : ' W h e n I k n e w the Irish a n d S c o t t i s h b o y s , I w a s often in the p o l i c e courts to act as chorus to t h e m o r their friends a n d to c r y " W o e u n t o I l i u m " i f an unfair v e r d i c t w a s g i v e n . ' N o w , h o w e v e r , h e f o u n d h i m s e l f in the d o c k - but, h a p p i l y for h i m , it w a s a h o p e l e s s , v a i n g l o r i o u s case w h i c h the p o l i c e h a d b r o u g h t : V a r i o u s k i n d p e o p l e g a v e e v i d e n c e as to the i r r e p r o a c h a b i l i t y o f m y character and, to m y relief, M r P a l m e r w e n t i n t o t h e w i t n e s s b o x to declare that h e h a d s p o k e n to m e the p r e v i o u s a f t e r n o o n b e c a u s e h e k n e w m e [. . .] E v e r y o n e w h o s p o k e o n m y b e h a l f w a s a s k e d b y the magistrate's clerk i f h e k n e w that I w a s h o m o s e x u a l a n d r e p l i e d that h e did. T h i s q u e s t i o n w a s in e a c h case f o l l o w e d i m m e d i ately b y the w o r d s , u t t e r e d in a v o i c e hoarse w i t h i n c r e d u l i t y , ' A n d y e t y o u describe h i m as respectable?' A l l said, ' Y e s ' . W h e n the magistrate tired o f this recital o f m y praises h e said that the e v i d e n c e against m e w a s insufficient to c o n v i c t m e . I w a s dismissed.
7

C o n v i c t i o n s for soliciting a n d other, m o r e serious offences i n c l u d i n g the inevitable 'gross i n d e c e n c y ' h a d c o n t i n u e d t h r o u g h o u t the w a r ; i n d e e d , aided b y the special circumstances o f the b l a c k o u t , t h e y actually increased. T h e w a r years s a w the b e g i n n i n g o f a d r a m a t i c , almost e x p o n e n t i a l , y e a r - o n - y e a r increase in the n u m b e r o f r e p o r t e d i n d i c t able h o m o s e x u a l offences w h i c h w a s to p e a k in 1 9 6 3 (see g r a p h ) at a l e v e l t w e n t y - f o u r times h i g h e r than it h a d b e e n i n the early years o f the c e n t u r y . B u t , in a c u r i o u s sense, as l o n g as hostilities c o n t i n u e d it w a s as i f they d i d n o t m a t t e r o r w e r e n o m o r e t h a n a distraction, a t i r e s o m e i r r e l e v a n c e to the business o f the m o m e n t .

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Rates of change in the increase in indictable offences


[Average 1 9 0 0 - 1 9 0 5 = 100] 1921 H o m o s e x u a l offences H e t e r o s e x u a l offences Indictable crimes (males a g e d 15-19) 178 155 115 1938 572 282 130 1948 1405 588 135

1900-1963

1961 2513 1218 131

1963 2437 1248 130

2600 2400
2200 2000

1800

1600 1400 1200

o
-

< D O)

c a> g 1000
800 600 400 200
1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 Year

From: A . H. Halsey (ed.), Trends in British Society Since IQOO,

Macmillan, 1972, p. 5 3 3 .

W i t h the c o m i n g o f p e a c e , h o w e v e r , as Q u e n t i n

C r i s p suggests,

everything changed or seemed to change. A m o n g homosexual m e n there w a s a palpable sense o f v u l n e r a b i l i t y : n o w that the lights h a d c o m e o n again, t h e y felt e x p o s e d . I n the straitened, utilitarian p e a c e , t h e y w e r e . In the p o p u l a r d e m o n o l o g y o f the day t h e y w e r e h a r d l y differentiated f r o m the spivs w h o , w i t h their silk shirts, flashy ties a n d sharp f i v e - g u i n e a suits, e p i t o m i z e d the 'selfishness' w h i c h w a s h o b b l i n g the establishment o f a g e n u i n e

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w e l f a r e state - the spivs w h o , as D a v i d H u g h e s w a s t o p o i n t o u t , w e r e t h e m s e l v e s 'almost f e m i n i n e ' a n d full o f ' p a n s y b r a g g a d o c i o ' . w e r e aberrants, a n d s u c h w a s the m o o d o f the times 8

They

a 'social

p r o b l e m ' . E v e n such a d e e p l y u n s y m p a t h e t i c f i g u r e as t h e B i s h o p o f S o u t h w a r k c o u l d tell the H o u s e o f L o r d s in 1 9 5 4 that ' B e h i n d a n i m m e n s e n u m b e r o f these cases o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y there still lie unsatis factory o r b r o k e n h o m e s . ' T h e r e w e r e differences, h o w e v e r . W h i l e the n a t i o n c o u l d take the spiv (or at least the v a r i e t y p e r f o r m e r A r t h u r E n g l i s h , w h o b i l l e d h i m s e l f as ' T h e P r i n c e o f the W i d e B o y s ' ) to its heart, t h e h o m o s e x u a l did n o t fare so w e l l . T h e liberal aspirations o f the authors o f the 1 9 4 8 C r i m i n a l J u s t i c e B i l l , w h i c h p r o p o s e d an e n d to flogging and hard l a b o u r a n d a m a s s i v e e x p a n s i o n o f the p r o b a t i o n s e r v i c e , w e r e n o t shared b y the c o u n t r y at l a r g e . M o r e n o r m a l w a s a n i m p a t i e n c e w i t h ' e n l i g h t e n e d ' ideas a n d a r e j e c t i o n o f the v e r y n o t i o n o f a ' c u s h y ' welfare state culture w h i c h c o u l d e v e n c o u n t e n a n c e ' e x c u s i n g ' h o m o sexuality. A f e w years later, in 1 9 6 1 , this w a s to b e w e l l c a u g h t in the g r o u n d - b r e a k i n g film Victim. A l t h o u g h p r i m a r i l y c o n c e r n e d w i t h a w e l l - c o n n e c t e d barrister ( D i r k B o g a r d e ) a n d his a t t e m p t to e x p o s e a b l a c k m a i l ring, its script (by J a n e t G r e e n a n d J o h n M c C o r m i c k ) also offered an a l m o s t - t o o - s c h e m a t i c insight i n t o the ' l o w e r o r d e r s ' ' attitude to 'the p r o b l e m ' : I d o n ' t k n o w h o w y o u can stand t h e m . -Who? - E d d i e a n d P h i p a n d the rest o f t h e m . A l l the s a m e , the w h o l e b l o o m i n ' lot. - I thought they amused y o u . - T h e y ' r e g o o d for a l a u g h , all right. V e r y w i t t y at times. G e n e r ous t o o . B u t I hate their b l o o d y guts! -Hey! - D o n ' t l o o k at m e l i k e that. - T h e y ' r e j u s t n o t q u i t e n o r m a l , dear. W h a t ' s that m a t t e r to y o u ? I f t h e y h a d g a m m y legs o r s o m e t h i n g , y o u ' d b e s o r r y for t h e m . - S o r r y for t h e m ? N o t m e . It's a l w a y s e x c u s e s . E v e r y n e w s p a p e r y o u p i c k u p , it's e x c u s e s - e n v i r o n m e n t ; t o o m u c h l o v e as kids; t o o little l o v e as kids; t h e y can't h e l p it; it's part o f nature. W e l l , to m y m i n d it's a w e a k , rotten part o f nature, a n d i f t h e y e v e r m a k e it legal they m a y as w e l l license e v e r y o t h e r p e r v e r s i o n .

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N o r w e r e s u c h attitudes w h o l l y c o n f i n e d to the likes o f the b a r m a n a n d the ' m o d e l ' featured in the film. ' A t o l e r a n c e w h i c h is p r e p a r e d t o take n o n o t i c e o f that w h i c h is essentially evil a n d w i c k e d is n o t at all the sort o f t o l e r a n c e w e w a n t , ' E a r l J o w i t t h a d fulminated in the H o u s e o f L o r d s in 1 9 5 4 .
9

H i s insight i n t o the origins o f that evil

a n d w i c k e d n e s s n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g , the B i s h o p o f S o u t h w a r k c o u l d o n l y a g r e e . T h e w h o l e subject o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y w a s 'intensely r e p u g n a n t ' , h e t o l d their lordships. W h a t e v e r b r o u g h t it about, it raised 'intense m o r a l i n d i g n a t i o n in m a n y m i n d s , a n d perhaps s o m e k i n d o f p r i m i t i v e radical h o r r o r . S o c i e t y - o u r society, at a n y rate - reacts v e r y v i o l e n d y against it, b e c a u s e it feels that such practices are injecting p o i s o n into the b l o o d s t r e a m . '
10

F u r t h e r e c h o e s o f this m o o d w e r e n o t hard to find. R a b i d l y h o m o p h o b i c b o o k s w e r e b e i n g p u b l i s h e d , as often as n o t w i t h their true i n t e n t m a s k e d b y p s e u d o - s c h o l a r s h i p . Society and the Homosexual ( 1 9 5 2 )

and Homosexuality ( 1 9 5 5 ) w e r e f o l l o w e d b y They Stand Apart: A Critical


Survey of Homosexuality ( 1 9 5 5 ) , w h i c h w a s 'critical' in e v e r y sense, t a l k i n g o f 'potential e v i l ' , ' c o r r o d i n g practices' a n d the h o m o s e x u a l ' s 'filthy e r r a n d ' . M o r e r e c e n t l y , S i r D i r k B o g a r d e has recalled that the l a w y e r responsible f o r c l e a r i n g the script o f Victim, 'said h e s a w n o t h i n g libellous in it at all, b u t h e w i s h e d h e h a d n ' t r e a d it a n d h e w a s n o w g o i n g to w a s h o u t his m o u t h a n d w a s h his h a n d s ' .
11

D e m o r a l i z e d b y an e x p l o s i o n in the o v e r a l l c r i m e rate 2 6 6 , 2 6 5 i n d i c t a b l e offences h a d b e e n c o m m i t t e d in 1 9 3 7 ; in 1 9 4 8 there w e r e 5 2 2 , 6 8 4 - p o l i c e forces in e v e r y part o f the c o u n t r y t o o k the lead in this flight from liberalism a n d a d o p t e d a m o r e than usually rbarbative a p p r o a c h . A t the h e i g h t o f the C o l d W a r h o m o s e x u a l s o n the streets o f L o n d o n c a m e to fear a tap o n the s h o u l d e r f r o m ' M a v i s earlier: B e r n a r d w a s startled [. . .] b y a firmly e n u n c i a t i n g , slightly C o c k n e y v o i c e , ' E x c u s e m e , I ' m a p o l i c e officer. W e ' r e c h a r g i n g this y o u n g man with importuning. I h a v e h a d o c c a s i o n to n o t i c e that h e a p p r o a c h e d y o u a f e w m i n u t e s a g o . I s h o u l d b e glad to k n o w i f y o u w i s h to offer further e v i d e n c e against h i m . ' B e r n a r d ' s e y e s w e r e riveted u p o n the face o f the y o u n g m a n w i t h the l o n g dark hair.
13

Polizei

,]2

e v e r y bit as m u c h as their counterparts in B e r l i n h a d d o n e a d e c a d e

H i s u n d e r l i p w a s t r e m b l i n g , his eyes - o v e r - l a r g e w i t h terror - w e r e o n the p o i n t o f t e a r s .

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F o r the m a j o r i t y o f m e n , this w a s a fear m o r e real a n d m o r e v i s c e r a l than that o f the b l a c k m a i l e r . ' T h e p o l i c e were after m e , ' the poet J a m e s K i r k u p w a s c o n v i n c e d . ' I felt g u i l t y b e c a u s e I w a s " q u e e r " a n d therefore a c r i m i n a l , ' the n o v e l i s t P a u l B a i l e y r e m e m b e r e d . 'It w a s a v e r y unpleasant t i m e to l i v e i n , ' the w r i t e r C o l i n S p e n c e r has recalled: I can r e m e m b e r p e o p l e s e n d i n g m e letters w h i c h h a d little bits o f sticky p a p e r o n the b a c k to s h o w i f t h e y h a d b e e n o p e n e d o r n o t [. . .] T h e y w e r e terrified o f the k n o c k o n the d o o r in the early m o r n i n g o r late at night; the idea that the b e d sheets m i g h t b e i n s p e c t e d for s e m e n stains Fifties.
14

w h i c h w a s s o m e t h i n g that actually

h a p p e n e d ! T h e r e w a s s u d d e n l y a p o l i c e state i n E n g l a n d i n the

P o l i c e spies w e r e e v e r y w h e r e , o r so it w a s b e l i e v e d ; w a l l s h a d ears (sometimes q u i t e literally so the first a u t h o r i z e d use o f t e l e p h o n e t a ppi ng in S c o t l a n d h a d b e e n to a c q u i r e e v i d e n c e o f a suspect's h o m o sexuality). W h e r e v e r h e w e n t , the ' q u e e r ' h a d p e r p e t u a l l y to b e o n his g u a r d : . . . o n e o f the m o s t frightening episodes, i n retrospect, started i n the charmless toilet standing at the top o f the m a i n street in C h i p p e n h a m . H e r e I p i c k e d u p an elderly, r u b i c u n d gent, a n d as w e s t o o d there w e i g h i n g e a c h o t h e r u p a n d k e e p i n g a sharp ear o p e n for a p o l i c e m a n ' s o m i n o u s tread, w e e x c h a n g e d the usual pleasantries: ' D o y o u c o m e h e r e often?' ' G o t a n y w h e r e to g o ? ' 'Is this the o n l y c o t t a g e in t o w n ? ' ' D o y o u d o G r e e k ? ' ( ' A n c i e n t o r M o d e r n ? ' w a s m y r e p l y to this n e v e r v e r y h o p e f u l q u e r y as t o w h e t h e r I a c c e p t e d anal i n t e r c o u r s e - a regretful n e g a t i v e w a s m y a n s w e r . ) ' G o t the t i m e o n y o u ? ' ' G o t a l i g h t ? ' ' W h a t a b o u t a bit o f F r e n c h ? ' , etc. etc. T h e s e v e r y predictable c o n v e r s a t i o n s w e r e o f the u t m o s t b o r e d o m , l i k e those I usually h a d y e a r s later w i t h the J a p a n e s e , t h o u g h in v e r y different c i r c u m s t a n c e s . It transpired that m y g e n t h a d to catch a bus to B a t h , the o n e that passes t h r o u g h C o r s h a m , so w e g o t the s a m e b u s a n d w e n t upstairs, w h e r e t h e r e w e r e m a n y e m p t y seats, a n d i n d u l g e d i n m u t u a l masturbation all the w a y to m y stop. I h a d an o r g a s m r o u n d a b o u t P i c k w i c k , a n d it w a s o n l y t h e n that I n o t i c e d o u r l o c a l p l a i n - c l o t h e s officer w a s sitting o n the o p p o s i t e side o f the bus, a f e w seats i n

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front o f us. W e h a d c o v e r e d ourselves carefully w i t h coats w h e n t h e c o n d u c t o r c a m e upstairs to take o u r fares, a n d tried to c o v e r o u r passion w i t h stony faces a n d n o n c h a l a n t c i g a r e t t e s .
15

It w a s a t i m e o f b l u f f a n d counter-bluff, o f spies, d u p l i c i t y a n d R e d s u n d e r the b e d . It w a s the t i m e o f m i s s i n g diplomats, M c C a r t h y i s m , The Third Man ( G r a h a m G r e e n e / C a r o l R e e d , 1 9 4 9 ) , squalid bedsits existentialism o f M a r t i n H e i d e g g e r a n d a n d f l y - b l o w n terraces in the early fiction o f M u r i e l S p a r k a n d A n g u s W i l s o n a n d the angst-fled J e a n - P a u l Sartre (the latter's Roads to Freedom t r i l o g y h a d first a p p e a r e d in an E n g l i s h P e n g u i n e d i t i o n in 1 9 4 7 ) . I n e v i t a b l y , a n d in c o m m o n w i t h m a n y o t h e r h o m o s e x u a l m e n o f the p e r i o d , P e t e r W i l d e b l o o d t o o felt h e h a d n o c h o i c e b u t to dissemble: 'It w a s necessary for m e t o w a t c h e v e r y w o r d I s p o k e , a n d e v e r y gesture that I m a d e , in case I gave myself away. W h e n jokes w e r e made about "queers" I had to l a u g h w i t h the rest, a n d w h e n the talk w a s a b o u t w o m e n I h a d to i n v e n t c o n q u e s t s o f m y o w n . I h a t e d m y s e l f at s u c h m o m e n t s , t h e r e s e e m e d n o t h i n g else that I c o u l d d o . '
1 6

but

It w a s a g r u b b y g a m e , a n d fittingly o n e p l a y e d w i t h a w h o l l y c o n t e m p o r a r y m i x t u r e o f seriousness a n d i n n o c e n c e . F o r i f ' q u e e r s ' w e r e terrified o f d i s c o v e r y , it is n o t at all clear w h e t h e r , o t h e r than the p o l i c e a n d the practised b l a c k m a i l e r s o f the p r o m i n e n t , their p u t a t i v e d i s c o v e r e r s w o u l d e v e n h a v e r e c o g n i z e d t h e m . (Paul B a i l e y recalls a b o o k p u b l i s h e d at t h e t i m e w h i c h r e v e a l e d that m a l e h o m o s e x u a l s a l w a y s u r i n a t e d o n to the side o f the toilet b o w l , n e v e r directly i n t o the w a t e r - a s o m e w h a t r e c h e r c h tip.) I n an a g e w h i c h h a d y e t to absorb the c a m p a r c h e t y p e s p r o v i d e d o n t e l e v i s i o n b y L a r r y G r a y s o n a n d Are You Being Served?'s M r H u m p h r i e s (or e v e n to c o n f r o n t J u l i a n a n d his friend S a n d y o n radio's Round the Home), for the m o s t part h o m o s e x u a l s - real h o m o s e x u a l s - w e n t almost u n n o t i c e d . ' O u t w a r d l y r e s p e c t a b l e , ' w r o t e P e t e r W i l d e b l o o d , ' d i s c r e e d y dressed, careful in their b e h a v i o u r [they w e r e ] the last p e o p l e e v e r to b e suspected b y that l e g e n d a r y character, the m a n - i n - t h e - s t r e e t . '
17

'Richard', w h o was

a t e a c h e r at the time, l o o k s b a c k l a c o n i c a l l y at this w o r l d o f i n g e n u o u s a t a v i s m a n d tells a story o f p r e p s c h o o l life w h i c h w o u l d m a k e tabloid headlines w e r e it to h a p p e n today:

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I w a s i n t o ' c h i c k e n s ' [ u n d e r - a g e b o y s ] in those days. I g o t a c h a r g e o u t o f teaching; I taught best w h e n there w a s s o m e o n e in the class w h o m I fancied a bit. T h e r e w a s o n e s c h o o l I w a s at, a p r o g r e s s i v e s c h o o l , v e g e t a r i a n in fact, a n d r u n a l o n g the Unes o f A . S. N e i l l , w h e r e t h e r e w a s a lad I w a s attracted to; basically straight, b u t a v e r y s e x u a l y o u n g m a n . I g o t h i m to h e l p m e a r o u n d the s c h o o l , a n d o n o n e s c h o o l c a m p - at the headmaster's suggestion! - h e shared m y tent f o r a fortnight w i t h o u t a n y o n e t h i n k i n g a n y t h i n g o f it. T h a t ' s h o w n a i v e p e o p l e w e r e in those d a y s !
18

In the purlieus o f s o c i e t y - o r , m o r e typically perhaps, in the c r u s h bars o f W e s t E n d theatres - there w a s a ' g a y s c e n e ' (and o n e w h i c h , if o n l y in the pages o f A n g u s W i l s o n , e v e n t h e n k n e w itself as s u c h ) . B u t it w a s p r e c i o u s a n d intensely i n t r o s p e c t i v e : ' T e r e n c e ' , h e said, 'is b a t d i n g at the bar. It suits h i m to the g r o u n d . P u r e B a r k e r s ' sales. Bless his little K e n s i n g t o n heart. B e r n a r d , m y dear, y o u l o o k tired.' A n d as B e r n a r d w a s a b o u t to speak, ' O h I k n o w , b i t c h i n g m e ! T i r e d equals o l d . Y o u m u s t m a k e h i m rest, dear,' h e said to E r i c ; ' y o u k n o w , feet u p a n d forty w i n k s . N o t that I s h o u l d t h i n k y o u ' d b e m u c h g o o d at m a k i n g p e o p l e rest', he stared E r i c u p a n d d o w n ; ' y o u l o o k a p r o p e r little fidget to m e . ' E r i c , despite all h e h a d h e a r d f r o m B e r n a r d , w a s o b v i o u s l y b e i n g lulled i n t o cosiness b y S h e r m a n ' s c o n v e n t i o n a l l y m a l i c i o u s chatter. B e r n a r d a w a i t e d uneasily the three o r f o u r brutal thrusts w i t h w h i c h S h e r m a n usually f o l l o w e d such a s o f t e n i n g - u p process w h e n h e w a s 'among friends'.
20 19

U n d e r s t a n d a b l y , it w a s rare for a n y m a n w h o w a s fortunate

enough it

to b e a m o n g such 'friends' v o l u n t a r i l y to b r e a k c o v e r , a l t h o u g h

s o m e t i m e s h a p p e n e d - in their v e r y different w a y s G u y B u r g e s s a n d Q u e n t i n C r i s p b o t h e s c a p e d the n o r m a l c o n s e q u e n c e s o f d i s p l a y i n g flamboyant b e h a v i o u r p r e c i s e l y because o f the w a y t h e y flaunted their differentness. In a v e r y f e w cases t h e r e w e r e also o t h e r w i s e ordinary

m e n w h o , for o n e reason o r another, felt it i m p e r a t i v e t o ' c o m e o u t ' (although that is a t e r m t h e y w o u l d n o t h a v e u n d e r s t o o d ) . H e d i d n o t g i v e n a m e s o r dates, b u t in 1 9 5 5 P e t e r W i l d e b l o o d r e c a l l e d 'a s u r g e o n , respected a n d discreet, w h o t h r e w a w a y his g o o d n a m e i n o r d e r to

i6o

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r e m a i n , n i g h t a n d day, at the b e d s i d e o f his friend w h o w a s d y i n g in hospital'.


21

C a u g h t in the m i d s t o f this w o r l d o f s e c r e c y , guilt a n d suspicion w e r e m a n y y o u n g b u t fundamentally h o m o s e x u a l m e n w h o h a d g r o w n u p d u r i n g the w a r y e a r s . T h e i r s w a s a p e c u l i a r a n d u n i q u e p r e d i c a m e n t . L i t e r a t u r e a n d the m e d i a w e r e u n a b l e (or at least u n w i l l i n g ) to p r o v i d e t h e m w i t h p o s i t i v e r o l e m o d e l s , as K e n n e t h W i l l i a m s w a s to r e m a r k : T h e a u t h o r m a y h a v e his h o m o s e x u a l c o m m i t suicide (or cause h i m s e l f to b e killed) b e c a u s e a h e w i s h e s to s h o w that the m a n decides that his p o s i t i o n as a b n o r m a l is i n c o m p a t i b l e w i t h his p o s i t i o n in society, a n d therefore takes his o w n life; b h e w i s h e s to s h o w that the frustration i n v o l v e d w i t h a b n o r m a l i t y is so great that the h u m a n spirit c a n n o t b e a r the strain, & so kills himself; c h e w i s h e s to s h o w that the h o m o s e x u a l b e l i e v e s his desire to b e w i c k e d , a n d decides to kill his o w n w i c k e d self; d h e w i s h e s to s h o w that the h o m o s e x u a l , b e l i e v i n g his desires w o u l d horrify those h e l o v e s , sacrifices h i m s e l f in o r d e r to spare their f e e l i n g s .
22

E q u a l l y i m p o r t a n t , their elders, understandably p r e o c c u p i e d w i t h their o w n s u r v i v a l , w e r e d i s i n c l i n e d to discharge their o n c e - t r a d i t i o n a l , N e d L a t h o m function as ' p a t r o n s ' o r ' u n c l e s ' . M a t t e r s h a d s i m p l y b e e n t a k e n o u t o f their hands: 'It's absolutely beastly, I k n o w , b u t there's n o t h i n g o n e can d o , ' an o l d q u e e n w a s to l a m e n t in A n g u s W i l s o n ' s n o v e l Hemlock and After ( 1 9 5 2 ) . 'It's so frightening, oneself, I m e a n . '
2 3

frightening

for

I n retrospect all this w a s to h a v e i m p o r t a n t c o n s e q u e n c e s , for it w a s to b e this i m m e d i a t e p o s t - w a r g e n e r a t i o n w i t h its v i v i d a n d u n p a r a l l e l e d m e m o r i e s o f fear a n d loneliness w h i c h w a s to b e the p r i m a r y catalyst o f the legal a n d social u p h e a v a l s w h i c h w o u l d i m m e a s u r a b l y b e t t e r the lot o f the h o m o s e x u a l in s u c c e e d i n g decades. A t the t i m e , h o w e v e r , these m e n w e r e f o r c e d to c o p e as best t h e y c o u l d : ' T h e p e o p l e e v e r y o n e a s s u m e d to b e g a y w e r e n o t m y t y p e . T h e y w e r e t o o c a m p , t o o effeminate; t h e y j u s t w e r e n ' t the k i n d o f p e o p l e I w a s attracted t o . I rather w a n t e d to get to k n o w t h e m , t h o u g h simply

because I wanted to meet some gay people.' *

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It w a s m e n s u c h as this w h o w o u l d later d e s c r i b e h o w t h e y h a d h a d to l o o k u p w o r k s l i k e ' h o m o s e x u a l ' a n d ' p e r v e r s i o n ' in dictionaries and e n c y c l o p a e d i a s to reassure t h e m s e l v e s that t h e y w e r e n o t u n i q u e . 'Nicholas', naivety: T h e r e w e r e o n e o r t w o b o y s [at s c h o o l ] I felt s e x u a l l y attracted t o . O n e o f t h e m , a really n i c e - l o o k i n g b o y , w a s actually p u r s u i n g m e , b u t I d i d n ' t r e c o g n i z e s e x u a l invitations for w h a t t h e y w e r e in t h o s e days. H e used to say e x t r e m e l y c o m e - h i t h e r - i s h things s u c h as ' W h a t w o n d e r f u l legs y o u ' v e g o t . ' B u t it n e v e r c r o s s e d m y m i n d that h e was attracted to m e ! T h i s w e n t o n until I w e n t u p to C a m b r i d g e in 1 9 5 3 . T h e r e I m e t an i n c r e d i b l y attractive b o y , w h o w a s b l o n d a n d b u t c h a n d m a s c u l i n e a n d sporty - all those things w h i c h I a m attracted to a n d h e m a d e a d v a n c e s to m e ; b u t I d i d n ' t r e c o g n i z e them for w h a t t h e y w e r e . H e said, for instance, ' W h y d o n ' t y o u c o m e o u t a n d sunbathe w i t h m e ? I l o v e s u n b a t h i n g in the nude.' T h e n he asked m e to stay w i t h h i m at his h o m e o v e r the h o l i d a y s ' I ' v e o n l y g o t a single b e d , b u t . . .' a n d still I d i d n ' t t h i n k to myself, ' H e ' s t r y i n g to p r o p o s i t i o n m e . ' It j u s t n e v e r o c c u r r e d to me!
2 5

born

in

1 9 3 4 and

educated

at a s i n g l e - s e x

boarding and

s c h o o l , certainly p r e s e r v e d an almost u n b e l i e v a b l e i n n o c e n c e

T h e r e w a s as y e t n o h o m o s e x u a l c o m m u n i t y , n o m e e t i n g - p l a c e , n o c o m m o n g r o u n d . ' N i c h o l a s ' r e m a i n e d an o u t s i d e r - n o t necessarily shut out, j u s t w h o l l y i g n o r a n t o f the e x i s t e n c e o f the d o o r . N o r w a s he b y a n y m e a n s u n i q u e . E v e n the y o u n g J o e O r t o n ( w h o h a d g r o w n u p in the w o r k i n g - c l a s s suburbs o f Leicester) w a s s e e m i n g l y s o m e t h i n g o f an i n n o c e n t a b r o a d d u r i n g his first f e w w e e k s as a d r a m a s t u d e n t in L o n d o n . T h i s at a n y rate is the i m p r e s s i o n g i v e n b y a g n o m i c diary h e b e g a n at the t i m e : 15 May 1951: Started at R . A . D . A . O bliss! [. . .] 18 May: D i g s in G o w e r Street. S u c h fun. 19 May: O h the larks.
M E M O

S o m e o n e in the o t h e r class k e e p s l o o k i n g at m e . 20 May: D i d n o t h i n g .

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21 May: M r C o n s t a b l e ' s special m o v e m e n t [class]. W a s e y e d . [. . .] 23 May: M e t K e n a n d J o h n at C h a r i n g C r o s s R o a d .


M E M O

I d o n ' t quite understand K e n . [. . .] 1 June: M e t K e n a n d J o h n again. T h i s t i m e w i t h R e x B u t l e r . 2 June: F l o r a n g K e n .


M E M O

A m b e g i n n i n g to u n d e r s t a n d K e n . 3 June: D i d n o t h i n g . 4 June: M r C o n s t a b l e ' s m o v e m e n t . W e l l ! [. . .] 8 June: M e t K e n . H e invites us to l i v e w i t h h i m . 9 June: W e n t to the pictures.


M E M O

I am puzzled. 10 June: D i d n o t h i n g . 1 1 June: M u s t l e a v e o u r digs. 1 2 June: K e n offers to share flat again.

13 June: I say n o .
14 June: K e n offers again. 13 June: W e a c c e p t b e c a u s e w e must. 16 June: M o v e i n t o K e n ' s flat. 17 June: W e l l ! 18 June: W e l l ! ! 19 June: W e l l ! ! !
26

S e e n t o d a y , Victim is a p e r i o d - p i e c e , stagier than m a n y o t h e r b l a c k - a n d w h i t e films o f its p e r i o d a n d dated in b o t h d i a l o g u e a n d d i c t i o n . It also r e m a i n s an 'issue' film and, as such, l i m i t e d . T o a c o n t e m p o r a r y a u d i e n c e , i n d e e d , it c o m p l e t e l y misses the p o i n t : its c o n c e n t r a t i o n o n the r e l a t i v e l y p e r i p h e r a l p r o b l e m o f the b l a c k m a i l o f h o m o s e x u a l s bizarrely o v e r s h a d o w s a n y real e n g a g e m e n t w i t h the w i d e r questions p o s e d b y the c o n t i n u i n g illegality o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y itself. Instead, largely b e c a u s e o f the d e m a n d s o f the plot, it g o e s so far as to c h a r a c terize those i n the upper reaches o f the Metropolitan P o l i c e as

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sympathizers, o r at least as b e i n g possessed o f a restraining, a v u n c u l a r liberalism: I f o n l y these unfortunate devils [the b l a c k m a i l e r s ' h o m o s e x u a l victims] w o u l d c o m e to us in the first p l a c e . . . I f o n l y t h e y l e d n o r m a l lives they w o u l d n ' t n e e d to c o m e at all. I f the l a w p u n i s h e d e v e r y a b n o r m a l i t y w e ' d b e k e p t pretty busy, Sergeant. E v e n so, sir, this l a w w a s m a d e for a v e r y g o o d reason. I f it w e r e changed other weaknesses w o u l d follow. I see y o u ' r e a true P u r i t a n , B r i d i e . T h e r e ' s n o t h i n g w r o n g w i t h that, sir. O f c o u r s e not. B u t there w a s a t i m e w h e n that w a s against the l a w . It is doubtful w h e t h e r , to the m a j o r i t y o f h o m o s e x u a l s , it s e e m e d that w a y at the t i m e ; for, in L o n d o n at least, the years i m m e d i a t e l y p r e c e d i n g the film's release in 1 9 6 1 w e r e m a r k e d b y an officially s a n c t i o n e d intensification o f the p o l i c e harassment w h i c h h a d d e v e l o p e d since the e n d o f the w a r . Partly in response to p u b l i c ' c o n c e r n ' w h e n scant b u t sufficient details o f the lifestyles o f G u y B u r g e s s a n d D o n a l d M a c l e a n b e c a m e k n o w n after their d e f e c t i o n in M a y 1 9 5 1 , all manifestations o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y h a d b e e n i n c l u d e d in a c r a c k d o w n o n l a w a n d o r d e r instituted b y S i r D a v i d M a x w e l l F y f e , a p r o s e c u t o r at the N u r e m b e r g trials w h o b e c a m e H o m e S e c r e t a r y that y e a r . T h e w r i t e r Francis W h e e n has aptly d e s c r i b e d as ' n e a n d e r t h a l ' the qualities w h i c h h e b r o u g h t to the H o m e O f f i c e a r e f e r e n c e , perhaps, to that fact that it w a s M a x w e l l F y f e w h o s a n c t i o n e d the c o n t r o v e r s i a l hangings o f b o t h D e r e k B e n t l e y a n d T i m o t h y E v a n s . B u t less r e m a r k e d u p o n a l t h o u g h hardly less splenetic w a s his t r e a t m e n t o f h o m o sexuals. H e w a s certainly b e h i n d the e n f o r c e d r e s i g n a t i o n f r o m the H o u s e o f C o m m o n s o f W i l l i a m F i e l d after the L a b o u r M P w a s f o u n d guilty o f ' s o l i c i t i n g o r i m p o r t u n i n g for i m m o r a l p u r p o s e s ' a n d f i n e d 1 5 in J a n u a r y 1 9 5 3 . It is difficult to b e l i e v e , t o o , that the p r o s e c u t i o n s of Rupert Croft-Cooke and the actor J o h n Gielgud on minor i n d e c e n c y charges at a r o u n d this t i m e w o u l d h a v e b e e n b r o u g h t w i t h o u t his i m p r i m a t u r . I f these cases m a d e the headlines, h o w e v e r , t h e i m p a c t o f M a x w e l l

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F y f e ' s zeal w a s e q u a l l y p r o f o u n d o n h o m o s e x u a l s i n m o r e w a l k s o f life. ' I w e n t for a w a l k i n a p a r k ' , recalls o n e ,

normal

a n d in the gents I m e t the b r o t h e r o f a friend. W e w e r e s i m p l y talking, w h e n t w o p l a i n - c l o t h e s p o l i c e m e n c h a r g e d in, w a v i n g t o r c h e s a n d s h o u t i n g , ' g o t c h a , g o t c h a ' [. . .] I h a d m a d e e n e m i e s a m o n g s o m e o f the m o r e c o n v e n t i o n a l a n d c o n s e r v a t i v e officials l i k e the t o w n c l e r k a n d the c h i e f constable. W e w e r e c h a r g e d w i t h a 'serious o f f e n c e ' . I still find it distressing to talk a b o u t it b e c a u s e n o t o n l y d i d it w r e c k m y career, b u t it w a s a situation that clearly illustrated the gross unfairness o f the l a w t h e n . . F T h e r a n g e a n d scale - a n d i n d e e d the unfairness - o f this activity is further d e m o n s t r a t e d b y a m o r e detailed e x a m i n a t i o n o f the statistics. W e h a v e already seen that the total n u m b e r o f p r o s e c u t i o n s for alleged h o m o s e x u a l offences h a d b e e n i n c r e a s i n g y e a r b y y e a r since 1 9 3 9 . Y e t e v e n this tells o n l y h a l f the story; m o r e is r e v e a l e d b y a b r e a k d o w n o f the g l o b a l figures. T h u s , i n 1 9 5 2 , the first full y e a r after M a x w e l l F y f e ' s a p p o i n t m e n t , there w e r e 6 7 0 p r o s e c u t i o n s for s o d o m y a n d besti ality, 3 , 0 8 7 for the 'serious offences' o f a t t e m p t e d s o d o m y a n d i n d e c e n t assault, a n d 1 , 6 8 6 for gross i n d e c e n c y ; b y contrast, the figures for 1 9 3 9 had been, respectively, 1 3 4 and a m e r e 822 and 3 2 0 . This explosion, particularly in the n u m b e r o f p r o s e c u t i o n s for relatively m i n o r offences, c a n l a r g e l y b e e x p l a i n e d b y the i n t i m i d a t o r y a n d h i t h e r t o u n h e a r d - o f tactics e m p l o y e d b y the p o l i c e : I l i v e d in the W e s t C o u n t r y , in a v e r y c o n s e r v a t i v e seaside t o w n . A t that t i m e o b v i o u s l y b e i n g g a y w a s totally illegal, a n d o n e particular m e m b e r o f o u r g a y c o m m u n i t y w a s c a u g h t ' c o t t a g i n g ' b y the p o l i c e . T h e y t h r e a t e n e d h i m w i t h ten years i n p r i s o n i f h e d i d n ' t tell t h e m the n a m e s o f all the g a y m e n w h o l i v e d i n the area. S o h e w e n t r o u n d i n a p o l i c e car to e v e r y w h e r e w e w o r k e d o r l i v e d a n d a d o z e n o f us e n d e d u p at the Q u a r t e r Sessions in E x e t e r Assizes. I w a s c h a r g e d at the great a g e o f fifteen w i t h gross i n d e c e n c y a n d buggery. W h e n it c a m e to the s e n t e n c i n g it w a s rather frightening for myself and another y o u n g chap o f nineteen. T h e y w e r e sending p e o p l e d o w n - to p r i s o n - for f o u r to six years. W e w e r e j u s t s h a k i n g

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in o u r shoes w o n d e r i n g w h a t w a s g o i n g to h a p p e n . F o r t u n a t e l y , w e w e r e put o n probation.


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I n e v i t a b l y , it w a s in L o n d o n -

w h e r e M a x w e l l Fyfe's lead was

enthusiastically e n d o r s e d b y a n e w l y a p p o i n t e d c o m m i s s i o n e r o f the M e t r o p o l i t a n P o l i c e , S i r J o h n N o t t - B o w e r - rather than the p r o v i n c e s that the n e w p o l i c e offensive against h o m o s e x u a l s w a s m o s t apparent. P r e v i o u s l y tolerated, n o m i n a l l y ' p r i v a t e ' clubs, m o s t o f t h e m litde m o r e than a f t e r n o o n d r i n k i n g dens, w e r e selected for special attention. F o r those l i k e B o b b i e ' s , a 'rather d i n g y litde r o o m ' n e a r D e a n S t r e e t in S o h o w h i c h w a s l a r g e l y f r e q u e n t e d b y spivs a n d the demi-monde, p o l i c e raids a n d p r o s e c u t i o n s for l i c e n s i n g irregularities h a d a l w a y s b e e n an o c c u p a t i o n a l hazard. N o w t h e y also b e c a m e facts o f life for m o r e established v e n u e s s u c h as the M o u s e h o l e coffee bar a n d t h o u g h t they w e r e in the A t h e n a e u m '
2 9

the

v e n e r a b l e R o c k i n g h a m C l u b 'piss-elegant a n d full o f q u e e n s w h o - where T o m Driberg, E . M . Forster a n d J . R . A c k e r l e y w e r e o c c a s i o n a l l y to b e o b s e r v e d a m o n g the r e g u l a r clientele. O n e such raid, at the M o u s e h o l e , w a s instituted after a p l a i n - c l o t h e s p o l i c e m a n o n an u n a n n o u n c e d visit r e p o r t e d that a n o t h e r m a n h a d c o m p l i m e n t e d h i m o n his hairstyle a n d t h e n p l a c e d a h a n d o n his k n e e . O u t r a g e d b y the v i c i o u s r a n d o m n e s s o f this particular ' u n n e c e s s a r y interference in p e o p l e ' s private l i v e s ' , A c k e r l e y a n d F o r s t e r p l a n n e d to w r i t e a letter o f protest to a national n e w s p a p e r . F o r s t e r e v e n drafted the letter. ' I h a v e o c c a s i o n a l l y d r a w n a c u p o f coffee i n the M o u s e h o l e myself,' h e w r o t e , 'litde k n o w i n g o f m y peril, o r that a p o l i c e m a n might be observing m e and might demand m y name and b e c a u s e m y taste in clothes differed f r o m h i s . '
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address perhaps, down

Prudently,

the letter w a s n e v e r sent. O t h e r regulars h a d n o o p t i o n b u t to r e m a i n m o r e phlegmatic. T h e i r names having b e e n solemnly written in a p o l i c e m a n ' s n o t e b o o k - i n t i m i d a t i n g e n o u g h , b u t g e n e r a l l y the e n d o f the m a t t e r t h e y m e r e l y m o v e d o n to a n o t h e r p u b o r c l u b until the heat d i e d d o w n a n d o l d haunts r e - o p e n e d . T h e r e w a s a regular t r a n s h u m a n c e u p a n d d o w n R a t h b o n e P l a c e , o f f O x f o r d Street, a m o n g traditionally tolerant, ' b o h e m i a n ' p u b s , i n c l u d i n g the B l a c k H o r s e , the Wheatsheaf, the M a r q u i s o f G r a n b y a n d the n e a r b y B r i c k layers' A r m s , d u r i n g this p e r i o d . N o r w e r e p o l i c e activities c o n f i n e d to this superficial l e v e l of

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harassment a n d i n t i m i d a t i o n . A n a l t o g e t h e r m o r e sinister side o f their c a m p a i g n against h o m o s e x u a l s w a s r e p o r t e d b y a n e w s p a p e r in, o f all places, S y d n e y , Australia: F o r m a n y years past the [ L o n d o n ] p o l i c e h a d t u r n e d a b l i n d e y e to m a l e v i c e . T h e y m a d e arrests o n l y w h e n definite complaints w e r e m a d e from innocent people, or w h e r e homosexuality had e n c o u r aged other crimes. T h e y k n e w the n a m e s o f thousands o f perverts - m a n y o f h i g h social p o s i t i o n a n d s o m e w o r l d - f a m o u s - b u t they t o o k n o action. N o w , m e e t i n g S i r J o h n [ N o t t - B o w e r ] 's d e m a n d s , t h e y are m a k i n g it a p r i o r i t y j o b to increase the n u m b e r o f arrests [. . .] T h e Special B r a n c h began compiling a 'Black B o o k ' o f k n o w n p e r v e r t s in influential G o v e r n m e n t j o b s [in 1 9 5 1 ] after the disappear a n c e o f the diplomats D o n a l d M a c l e a n a n d G u y B u r g e s s , w h o w e r e k n o w n to h a v e p e r v e r t associates. N o w c o m e s the difficult task o f s i d e - t r a c k i n g these m e n i n t o less-important j o b s o r o f p u t t i n g them behind bars.
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N o t surprisingly, in the face o f all this ' N i c h o l a s ' recalls that at the t i m e h e ' w a s terrified o f the l a w , a n d frightened o f b e i n g h a d u p in c o u r t ' . D o w n at his isolated p r e p s c h o o l , ' R i c h a r d ' m i g h t h a v e b e e n able to g e t a w a y w i t h things; p e o p l e there d i d n ' t k n o w w h a t t h e y w e r e l o o k i n g for, i f i n d e e d t h e y w e r e l o o k i n g at all. In L o n d o n things w e r e different; the p o l i c e did k n o w , a n d they were l o o k i n g : I w a s terrified o f i m p r i s o n m e n t , a n d at the b a c k o f m y m i n d I k n e w it [ h o m o s e x u a l i t y ] w a s against the l a w . I r e m e m b e r o n c e , I w a s o n a T u b e train in a b o u t 1 9 5 8 a n d sitting n e x t to m e w a s a m o s t attractive m a n . I a s k e d h i m i f h e h a d the t i m e a n d h e b e g a n to m o v e u p to m e a n d ' g i v e m e the o l d e y e ' . I k n e w , this t i m e , w h a t w a s g o i n g o n . H e said, ' W o n ' t y o u c o m e w i t h m e ? ' A n d I w a s so tempted, b u t t h e r e w a s this little v o i c e inside m e saying, ' N o ! n o ! g e t o u t o f h e r e ! ' I c o u l d already see trials a n d p r i s o n a n d all the p u b l i c i t y . I w a s so frightened! [. . .] A n d t h e n m y m o t h e r g u e s s e d - s h e ' d h a d an u n c l e w h o w a s g a y b e c a u s e she n o t i c e d I w a s v e r y sad after [a close friend] h a d b e e n to stay w i t h us. S h e said, ' W e l l , tell m e , is it against the l a w , this t h i n g that y o u ' r e w o r r i e d a b o u t ? ' T h a t w a s the o n l y t h i n g that she

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w a s c o n c e r n e d a b o u t . S h e w a s n ' t s h o c k e d at all; h e r o n l y c o n c e r n w a s that I w o u l d get i n t o t r o u b l e . [. . .] I didn't do National Service, but I did do Basic T r a i n i n g twice, in 1 9 5 4 a n d 1 9 5 5 for a m o n t h o r six w e e k s e a c h t i m e . T h i s w a s at the t i m e o f the M o n t a g u trial. It w a s endlessly t a l k e d a b o u t at the c a m p . It w a s all the soldiers c o u l d talk a b o u t . A n d o f c o u r s e , that r e i n f o r c e d the fear that I h a d o f b e i n g c a u g h t .
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It h a d b e e n m o r e than h a l f a c e n t u r y since the W i l d e trials w h e n w h a t ' N i c h o l a s ' refers to as 'the M o n t a g u trial' w a s m o u n t e d in W i n c h e s t e r . B u t , w i t h its tantalizing m i x t u r e o f aristocracy a n d ' m a l e v i c e ' , it t o o s e e m e d p r i m e d i r r e v o c a b l y to c h a n g e the m o r a l c l i m a t e . N o t h i n g , as the j u d g e h a d p r o p h e s i e d in 1 8 9 5 , w o u l d b e q u i t e the s a m e as it h a d been before. B o r n in 1 9 2 1 , a n d a 'professional' r e n t - b o y o n the W e s t E n d s c e n e since 1 9 3 8 , ' T o n y ' m i g h t w e l l h a v e b e e n c o n s i d e r e d t o o fly to h a v e b e e n o v e r l y w o r r i e d b y it. ( ' O n l y o n c e [was I] e v e r in a c l u b w h e n the p o l i c e raided, b u t t h e y o n l y t o o k n a m e s . ' ) H e ' n e v e r s a w m y s e l f as a n y t h i n g l i k e the street boys', and anyway harboured secret ambitions to g i v e u p prostitution a l t o g e t h e r a n d g o o n the stage. T h e r e w e r e o n l y t w o bars h e used: ' o n e in P i c c a d i l l y y o u w e n t straight i n t o , a n d o n e in L e i c e s t e r S q u a r e called the C a v o u r . It w e n t in for an a w f u l lot o f c h o r u s b o y s , a n d that's really w h y I w e n t , b e c a u s e I t h o u g h t I m i g h t l a n d a j o b . ' N e v e r t h e l e s s , e v e n h e w a s s h o c k e d w h e n the y o u n g L o r d M o n t a g u o f B e a u l i e u ( w h o h a d s u c c e e d e d to the b a r o n e t c y in 1 9 2 9 , at the a g e o f three), his s e c o n d c o u s i n M i c h a e l P i t t - R i v e r s , his friend the w r i t e r a n d j o u r n a l i s t P e t e r W i l d e b l o o d a n d t w o o t h e r m e n w e r e arrested in J a n u a r y 1 9 5 3 : O n e w a s a w a r e o f the l a w . I u s e d to see t h o s e ' P i c c a d i l l y B o y s ' , as w e used to call t h e m , s o m e t i m e s g e t t i n g arrested a n d b e i n g t a k e n a w a y in b l a c k marias. I u s e d to t h i n k in terms [ o f ] , ' W e l l , that w i l l n e v e r h a p p e n to m e , b e c a u s e I d o n ' t d o that sort o f t h i n g . ' It n e v e r o c c u r r e d to m e that t h e r e m i g h t b e detectives u n d e r c o v e r in a c l u b . I used to t h i n k o f it as it is n o w perfectly l e g a l p r o v i d e d y o u m i n d y o u r o w n business. I d o n ' t t h i n k I w a s m a d e fully a w a r e o f the l a w until years later, w h e n the M o n t a g u case c a m e u p . T h e n

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y o u realised that y o u c o u l d b e h a d u p for s o m e t h i n g that h a d h a p p e n e d three years b e f o r e .


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S h o c k e d , t o o , a n d i f a n y t h i n g m o r e c o n v u l s i v e l y , w a s the j o u r n a l i s t M i c h a e l D a v i d s o n . N o t o n l y w a s h e a friend o f E d w a r d M o n t a g u ' s ; b e f o r e the w a r h e h a d h i m s e l f s e r v e d a short t e r m in p r i s o n for h o m o s e x u a l offences. N o w h e f o u n d h i m s e l f p i t c h e d practically a n d e m o tionally i n t o the centre o f an e v e n greater d r a m a . I n the s u m m e r o f 1 9 5 3 the n o v e l i s t R o b i n M a u g h a m ( n e p h e w o f S o m e r s e t ) h a d i n v i t e d h i m to share a h o u s e in D o r s e t for a m o n t h ' s h o l i d a y . T h e w e a t h e r w a s g l o r i o u s , it w a s C o r o n a t i o n y e a r a n d t h e y h a d b e e n asked to g o o n b o a r d H M S Adamant to w a t c h the c o m m e m o r a t i v e n a v a l r e v i e w . T h e n i g h t b e f o r e the R e v i e w w e w e n t o v e r to B e a u l i e u to dine w i t h E d w a r d M o n t a g u ; a n d the n e x t d a y d r o v e into Portsmouth. Adamant w a s l y i n g n e x t to the aircraft carrier allotted to m e m b e r s o f b o t h h o u s e s o f parliament, so M o n t a g u , b e i n g a p e e r , b o a r d e d h e r [. . .] T h a t e v e n i n g w e m e t E d w a r d in a P o r t s m o u t h bar; l u c k i l y w e h a d a d r i v e r to take us b a c k . It w a s n ' t l o n g after r e t u r n i n g f r o m D o r s e t to m y B a y s w a t e r h o m e that the t e l e p h o n e w o k e m e u p o n e m i d n i g h t . T h e call c a m e f r o m B e a u l i e u , f r o m a friend staying there: E d w a r d M o n t a g u , h e said, w a s b e i n g c h a r g e d w i t h 'a certain o f f e n c e ' a n d so w a s a n o t h e r m a n ; w o u l d I instantly g o r o u n d to that o t h e r m a n ' s flat a n d tell h i m w h a t w a s h a p p e n i n g ? I w e n t r o u n d to his m e w s flat, b a n g e d the p o o r f e l l o w u p , a n d g a v e h i m the c o n f o u n d i n g n e w s ; n o b o d y c o u l d k n o w better than I h o w h e t h e n felt: I s u p p o s e there is n o k n o w l e d g e so shocking, i n the s a m e p h y s i c a l w a y , as the k n o w l e d g e ( w h e t h e r o n e ' s i n n o c e n t o r guilty) that the w h o l e ghastly trail o f p o l i c e - c o u r t , trial, a n d perhaps prison, lies ahead; it affects o n e ' s bodily health as w e l l as o n e ' s m i n d ' s . O n e ' s transported in a flash f r o m a real w o r l d o f o r d i n a r y things l i k e bus-stops, tobacconists' shops a n d sitting in c i n e m a s b e s i d e o r d i n a r y p e o p l e to w h o m p o l i c e m e n are m e n w h o w i l l tell t h e m the t i m e to a n i g h t m a r e w o r l d , a city o f dreadful n i g h t w h e r e the knowledge g n a w s at o n e ' s m i n d l i k e a rat. P u n i s h m e n t b e g i n s l o n g b e f o r e j u d i c i a l p u n i s h m e n t can b e i m p o s e d . F o r a little t i m e after this I w a s r u n n i n g errands in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the d e f e n c e , s e e i n g E d w a r d a n d the others w h i l e t h e y w e r e o n bail a n d so o n ; a n d t h e n , in A u g u s t , R o b i n p r o p o s e d that w e s h o u l d g o to

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Ischia for a h o l i d a y , offering in his g e n e r o u s w a y to stand m e the fare. S o it w a s o n that island w e e k s later, that I r e a d o n e morning in a N a p l e s p a p e r the d u m b f o u n d i n g n e w s that a b r a n d n e w c h a r g e h a d b e e n b r o u g h t against E d w a r d ; a n d that this t i m e M i c h a e l P i t t R i v e r s w a s i m p l i c a t e d . T h e p o l i c e h a d b e e n o u t to ' g e t ' p o o r h u n t e d E d w a r d ; a n d in d o i n g so h a d t r i u m p h a n d y s c o o p e d u p t w o o t h e r m e n as w e l l .
3 4

D a v i d s o n , as his o w n a c c o u n t suggests, h a d o n l y b e c o m e i n v o l v e d in the affair in mdias res. A s the full story u n f o l d e d in c o u r t , 'the M o n t a g u C a s e ' w a s seen to h a v e h a d its origins in events w h i c h t o o k p l a c e w e l l b e f o r e the C o r o n a t i o n . In the s u m m e r o f 1 9 5 2 L o r d M o n t a g u h a d offered P e t e r W i l d e b l o o d the use o f a ' S p a r t a n ' b e a c h h u t near B e a u l i e u . W i l d e b l o o d w a n t e d to get o n w i t h s o m e w r i t i n g , b u t ' d i d n o t w a n t to b e a l o n e all the t i m e , a n d it s e e m e d quite a g o o d idea to take E d d i e M c N a l l y a l o n g ' . M c N a l l y , w h o m h e h a d m e t in P i c c a d i l l y C i r c u s s o m e m o n t h s p r e v i o u s l y , w a s a t w e n t y - t h r e e - y e a r - o l d R A F c o r p o r a l . H e asked w h e t h e r h e c o u l d b r i n g his friend, a n o t h e r R A F s e r v i c e m a n called J o h n R e y nolds. W i l d e b l o o d a g r e e d , u n a w a r e at this t i m e that b o t h m e n w e r e e x p e r i e n c e d operators o n 'the g a m e ' , a n d the t h r e e m a d e their w a y d o w n to the H a m p s h i r e b e a c h hut. T h e h o l i d a y b e g a n m o r e o r less a c c o r d i n g to plan. L o r d M o n t a g u w a s s p e n d i n g that w e e k e n d at B e a u l i e u w i t h a large h o u s e - p a r t y , a n d w h e n M c N a l l y a n d I a r r i v e d b y train f r o m L o n d o n h e m e t us at the station, t o o k us i n t o L y m i n g t o n to b u y p r o v i s i o n s , and but by d e p o s i t e d us at the b e a c h hut. R e y n o l d s h a d b e e n d e l a y e d , a r r i v e d later that e v e n i n g a n d w a s b r o u g h t d o w n to the h u t bottles o f b e e r w e r e also b r o u g h t d o w n , b y w a y o f supper. T h e party w h i c h f o l l o w e d has a c h i e v e d m o r e n o t o r i e t y t h a n a n y o t h e r since the days o f N e r o , b u t I feel b o u n d to confess that it w a s , in fact, e x t r e m e l y d u l l .
35

E d w a r d w i t h s o m e o f his h o u s e - g u e s t s . S o m e s a n d w i c h e s a n d a f e w

' T h e r e w a s ' , W i l d e b l o o d insists, ' n o d a n c i n g b e t w e e n males a n d n o activities [sic] w h i c h c o u l d b e d e s c r i b e d as i m p r o p e r . ' D u r i n g the c o u r s e o f the e v e n i n g , h o w e v e r , h e m e t M i c h a e l P i t t - R i v e r s a n d it w a s a g r e e d

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that h e a n d the t w o a i r m e n s h o u l d c o n t i n u e their h o l i d a y at L a r m e r T r e e , a h o u s e o n the P i t t - R i v e r s family estate. E v e r y o n e e n j o y e d himself; a n d W i l d e b l o o d , t h o u g h still intermittently s e e i n g a n d w r i t i n g to M c N a l l y , h a d to all intents a n d purposes forgotten a b o u t the h o l i d a y w h e n , in the a u t u m n o f 1 9 5 3 , E d w a r d M o n t a g u a n d a n o t h e r also b e e n s t a y i n g at the b e a c h hut. T h a t c h a r g e w a s t h r o w n out, but - in an i r o n i c p a r o d y o f the W i l d e trials M o n t a g u w a s subjected to a re-trial o n a lesser, b u t related, c o u n t . M e a n w h i l e , s o m e o f W i l d e b l o o d ' s letters to M c N a l l y h a d b e e n passed to the p o l i c e , a n d W i l d e b l o o d , t h e n the d i p l o m a t i c c o r r e s p o n d e n t o f the Daily Mail, w a s r o u s e d early in the m o r n i n g o f 8 J a n u a r y 1953: . . . t h e r e w a s a t h u n d e r o u s k n o c k i n g at the d o o r . I ran downstairs i n pyjamas a n d d r e s s i n g - g o w n a n d o p e n e d it. T h r e e m e n were standing o u t s i d e , w e a r i n g m a c k i n t o s h e s a n d trilby hats. O n e o f t h e m said: ' A r e y o u M r W i l d e b l o o d ? ' I told h i m that I w a s . H e said: ' W e are p o l i c e officers f r o m the H a m p s h i r e C o n s t a b u l a r y a n d from N e w Scotland Y a r d . W e h a v e c o m e to arrest y o u , W i l d e b l o o d , for offences arising o u t o f y o u r association w i t h E d w a r d M c N a l l y and J o h n R e y n o l d s in the s u m m e r o f 1 9 5 2 . ' It w a s a bitterly c o l d m o r n i n g , a n d w h e n I h e a r d these w o r d s , so i n c o n g r u o u s in their stilted l a n g u a g e , I felt as t h o u g h
36

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w e r e c h a r g e d w i t h i n d e c e n t assault o n a party o f B o y S c o u t s w h o h a d

I was

d r o w n i n g in an i c y s e a .

A little later, W i l d e b l o o d h a d c o m p o s e d himself. T h e r e is a certain

a n d unattractively s e l f - s e r v i n g b r a g g a d o c i o in his suggestion that i f the arresting officers h a d 'really w a n t e d a list o f h o m o s e x u a l s f r o m m e I w o u l d [have b e e n ] h a p p y to o b l i g e , b e g i n n i n g w i t h j u d g e s , p o l i c e m e n a n d m e m b e r s o f the G o v e r n m e n t ' ; but, g i v e n his s u b s e q u e n t actions, n o reason to d i s b e l i e v e his later d e c i s i o n that ' F a r f r o m i n c r i m i n a t i n g E d w a r d M o n t a g u a n d M i c h a e l P i t t - R i v e n , as [the p o l i c e ] h o p e d , I w o u l d s i m p l y tell the truth a b o u t myself. I h a d n o illusions a b o u t the a m o u n t o f p u b l i c i t y w h i c h w o u l d b e i n v o l v e d . I w o u l d b e the first h o m o s e x u a l to tell w h a t it felt l i k e to b e an e x i l e in o n e ' s o w n c o u n t r y . I m i g h t d e s t r o y myself, b u t perhaps I c o u l d h e l p others.'
37

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M a n y fascinating - a n d shameful - parallels can b e f o u n d b e t w e e n the trials o f M o n t a g u , W i l d e b l o o d a n d P i t t - R i v e n in 1 9 5 3 a n d those o f O s c a r W i l d e a n d A l f r e d T a y l o r in 1 8 9 5 . N o t the least o f these is the w a y in w h i c h class c a m e to play as i m p l i c i t a r o l e in the p r o c e e d i n g s o f the M o n t a g u trial at W i n c h e s t e r as it h a d d o n e w h e n W i l d e s t o o d in the d o c k at the O l d B a i l e y . M i c h a e l P i t t - R i v e r s ' s c o u n s e l great play o f this in his c l o s i n g s p e e c h . F o r e i g n e r s t h i n k w e are a nation o f snobs, [he told the j u r y ] . W e l l , I think w e are. B u t y o u m u s t h a v e g o t s o m e pretty basic s n o b b e r y in this case. It is n o w said that, b e c a u s e o n a s u n s h i n y h o l i d a y , w i t h chaps in b e a c h clothes d o w n in a b e a c h h u t - in those c i r c u m s t a n c e s w h e n they are all calling o n e a n o t h e r b y their C h r i s t i a n badge o f some indecent p r o s e c u t i o n in this case? C o m m e n t i n g o n this side o f things, P e t e r W i l d e b l o o d w a s later to w r i t e : ' T h e real c r i m e o f L o r d M o n t a g u , for e x a m p l e , in the e y e s o f s o m e " S o c i e t y " p e o p l e , w a s that h e b e c a m e a c q u a i n t e d o n n o m a t t e r w h a t basis - w i t h a m a n w h o (to q u o t e the p r o s e c u t i n g c o u n s e l ) w a s "infinitely his social i n f e r i o r " . '
38

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names,

[ w h e n ] y o u let t h e m call y o u b y y o u r C h r i s t i a n n a m e that is a association. R e a l l y ! D i d e v e r snobbery p u t f o r w a r d a m o r e greasy e x t e r i o r than that [put f o r w a r d ] b y the

B y all accounts, there w a s s o m e truth in that. B e h i n d the p r o s e c u t i o n there w e r e e c h o e s o f W i l d e ' s 'feasting w i t h p a n t h e r s ' a n d ' T o n y ' 's precise p i g e o n - h o l i n g o f the different types o f m a l e prostitute. r o o t i n g o u t h o m o s e x u a l s in h i g h places, t h e r e w a s perhaps There w a s also the s u g g e s t i o n that, as w e l l as a ' s e c u r i t y ' - i n s p i r e d passion for another, socio-political m o t i v e behind Sir D a v i d M a x w e l l Fyfe's h o m o p h o b i a . In his 1 9 5 5 b o o k Against the L a w W i l d e b l o o d r e p o r t e d that in a ' r e c e n t ' s u r v e y o f 3 2 1 c r i m i n a l cases i n v o l v i n g h o m o s e x u a l i t y the a c c u s e d m e n fell into the f o l l o w i n g social categories: S h o p a n d clerical w o r k e r s Artisans (factory w o r k e r s ) Transport and Post Office w o r k e r s U n s k i l l e d labourers H o t e l w o r k e r s a n d d o m e s t i c servants Students, trainees a n d s c h o o l b o y s 16% 15% 11% 10% 7% 6%

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T h e t a x o n o m y is archaic, b u t the table is a v i v i d illustration o f the legal a n d social reality facing h o m o s e x u a l s in the B r i t a i n o f the 1 9 5 0 s . A s the V i c t o r i a n m u s i c - h a l l s o n g h a d it, despite the dreadful lessons learnt in the aftermath o f the B u r g e s s a n d M a c l e a n defection, it w a s still 'the rich w h a t gets the pleasure, the p o o r w h a t gets the b l a m e ' . S i m p l e m e n t a l a r i t h m e t i c s h o w s that, o f the 3 2 1 cases b r o u g h t , s o m e 1 8 9 (59 p e r cent) w e r e against l o w e r m i d d l e - a n d w o r k i n g - c l a s s m e n , predominantly 'artisans', unskilled labourers a n d (a fast-disappearing launched (or at least those ' o f i n d e p e n d e n t means'); even c a t e g o r y ) d o m e s t i c servants. B y contrast, j u s t s e v e n w e r e against ' g e n t l e m e n '

a d d i n g in the m y s t e r i o u s 'unclassified' c a t e g o r y , that total still reaches n o m o r e than 4 2 ( 1 3 p e r cent). W e s h o u l d , then, g i v e at least s o m e c r e d e n c e to M i c h a e l D a v i d s o n ' s s u g g e s t i o n that L o r d M o n t a g u ' s arrest t o g e t h e r w i t h the u n e x p e c t e d s c o o p i n g s - u p o f W d d e b l o o d a n d P i t t - R i v e r s w a s , to p o l i c e m e n m o r e a c c u s t o m e d to d e t a i n i n g w r e t c h e d m e m b e r s o f the l o w e r orders, quite a c o u p . T h e y m i g h t o r m i g h t n o t h a v e b e e n expressly o u t to ' g e t ' h i m , as W i l d e b l o o d suggests; his n a m e m i g h t o r m i g h t n o t h a v e b e e n in the S p e c i a l B r a n c h ' s ' B l a c k B o o k ' (it has n e v e r b e e n p r o d u c e d , let a l o n e o p e n e d ) - b u t n o w t h e y h a d h i m a n d t h e y w e r e n o t lightly g o i n g to let h i m g o .

T h u s , a l o n g w i t h W i l d e b l o o d a n d P i t t - R i v e n , the t w e n t y - s e v e n - y e a r o l d p e e r faced a c o m m i t t a l h e a r i n g in front o f magistrates at L y m i n g t o n , n e a r B e a u l i e u , c h a r g e d w i t h m o r e than t w e n t y separate offences against the infamous Labouchre amendment to the 1886 Criminal L a w A m e n d m e n t A c t . M c N a l l y a n d R e y n o l d s , w h o m e v e n the p r o s e c u t i o n d e s c r i b e d as ' m e n o f the l o w e s t possible m o r a l character', h a d t u r n e d Q u e e n ' s e v i d e n c e a n d t o l d the c o u r t that w h a t W i l d e b l o o d w a s to d e s c r i b e as a ' S p a r t a n ' b e a c h h u t w a s in fact 'a g i l d e d d e n o f v i c e in w h i c h a l l - m a l e orgies w e n t o n till d a w n ' .
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A m i d s t m u c h p u b l i c i t y , the three defendants w e r e c o m m i t t e d for trial. B u t , as far as P e t e r W i l d e b l o o d w a s c o n c e r n e d , the d a m a g e h a d already b e e n d o n e : ' F r o m n o w o n , E d w a r d M o n t a g u ' s n a m e w o u l d b e indelibly c o n n e c t e d in the p u b l i c m i n d a n d therefore in the m i n d s o f the t w e l v e m e n w h o w o u l d later try h i m n o t o n l y w i t h B o y S c o u t s , b u t w i t h a l l - m a l e parties a n d c h a m p a g n e o r g i e s . ' T h e h e a r i n g finally b e g a n o n 1 5 M a r c h 1 9 5 4 w h e n , in the lofty surroundings o f the G r e a t H a l l o f W i n c h e s t e r C a s d e , the defendants e a c h p l e a d e d ' N o t G u i l t y ' to all o f the n i n e t e e n charges o n w h i c h t h e y w e r e finally indicted. T h e e n s u i n g trial ran for o v e r a w e e k , accounts o f it n o t infrequently j o s t l i n g reports o f the latest M a u M a u atrocities in K e n y a f r o m the front pages o f tabloid n e w s p a p e r s . A g a i n a n d again, it s o u n d e d as i f all c o n c e r n e d w e r e m e r e l y r e - e n a c t i n g the W i l d e trials. W i l d e b l o o d ' s c o u n s e l , P e t e r (later L o r d ) R a w l i n s o n , in particular, h a d s o m e t h i n g o f Sir E d w a r d C a r s o n ' s forensic i r o n y - 'Is that an ordinary letter?' - w h e n h e c a m e to c r o s s - e x a m i n e M c N a l l y : D u r i n g 1 9 5 2 a n d 1 9 5 3 w e r e y o u w h a t y o u w o u l d d e s c r i b e as 'in l o v e ' w i t h P e t e r W i l d e b l o o d ? - Y e s , sir. A n d w h e n y o u w r o t e h i m those letters o f w h i c h w e h a v e h e a r d , did y o u m e a n the expressions o f s e n t i m e n t w h i c h y o u e x p r e s s e d ? - Y e s , sir. L e t us r e m i n d ourselves o f t h e m . In D e c e m b e r 1 9 5 3 y o u said, ' A s for m e , w e l l , I n e v e r c h a n g e . ' D i d y o u m e a n that? - Y e s , sir. W h e n y o u w r o t e , ' I ' m still v e r y m u c h in l o v e ' , d i d y o u m e a n that? - Y e s , sir. A n d the letters y o u w r o t e w e r e quite sincere letters? Y e s , sir. It d i d n o g o o d , h o w e v e r . A f t e r retiring for little m o r e t h a n f o u r h o u r s , the j u r y r e t u r n e d w i t h their v e r d i c t . T h r o u g h o u t the trial the journalists c o v e r i n g it h a d r u n a b o o k as journalists e v e r y w h e r e t e n d to d o o n the l i k e l y o u t c o m e . H a v i n g h e a r d the c o u n s e l s ' c l o s i n g s p e e c h e s they w e r e offering odds o f e l e v e n - t o - t w o o n an acquittal. T h e d e f e n d ants w e r e n o t so s a n g u i n e , a n d their fears w e r e c o n f i r m e d w h e n the j u r y f o r e m a n rose to g i v e their decisions as c o u n t after c o u n t w a s read out. ' G u i l t y . . . G u i l t y . . . G u i l t y . . . N o t G u i l t y . ' W i l d e b l o o d listened, h e w a s to recall, w i t h a 'dull c u r i o s i t y ' 'Guilty . . . Guilty m e in prison for fifteen years i f h e felt so d i s p o s e d . ' . . . Guilty - b l e a k l y a w a r e o f the p o w e r o f the j u d g e : ' H e c o u l d p u t

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H e d i d n ' t , b u t n e i t h e r c o u l d h e o v e r l o o k the j u r y ' s v e r d i c t . In the c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h o u g h - a n d in m a r k e d contrast to M r J u s t i c e Wills's p e r o r a t i o n against W i l d e - w h e n h e c a m e to s e n t e n c e M o n t a g u , P i t t R i v e r s a n d W i l d e b l o o d the j u d g e w a s c o n s i d e r e d a n d almost h u m a n e in his r e m a r k s :

Y o u h a v e all three b e e n f o u n d guilty o f serious offences. Y o u , M o n t a g u , o f less serious offences than the o t h e r t w o . I h a v e p a i d the greatest attention to e v e r y t h i n g that has b e e n said o n y o u r behalf, a n d particular attention, W i l d e b l o o d , to the difficulties w h i c h y o u h a v e , n o d o u b t , e n c o u n t e r e d . B u t , o f c o u r s e , it is quite impossible for these offences to b e passed o v e r . I a m dealing w i t h y o u in the m o s t l e n i e n t w a y that I possibly can. Y o u , W i l d e b l o o d , w i l l g o to p r i s o n f o r e i g h t e e n m o n t h s ; y o u , M o n t a g u , for t w e l v e m o n t h s ; a n d y o u , P i t t - R i v e r s , for e i g h t e e n months.
41

W a i t i n g f o r the j u r y to reach their v e r d i c t , P e t e r W i l d e b l o o d h a d g i v e n a friendly j o u r n a l i s t , P e t e r D r a k e o f the Daily Express, a message the to pass o n to his m o t h e r , w h o h a d s u p p o r t e d h i m t h r o u g h o u t

p r o t r a c t e d legal p r o c e e d i n g s . I n part, it read: ' W h a t e v e r t h e y d e c i d e , I d o n o t w a n t y o u to b e a s h a m e d o f a n y t h i n g I h a v e d o n e . B e glad, rather, that at last a litde light has b e e n cast o n this dark territory in w h i c h , t h r o u g h n o fault o f their o w n , m a n y thousands o f o t h e r m e n are c o n d e m n e d to l i v e , in loneliness a n d f e a r . ' little light had b e e n cast b y the trial. T h e w h o l e issue o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y h a d o n c e again b e e n b r o u g h t to the forefront o f p u b l i c attention and, t o - i n g a n d f r o - i n g b e t w e e n the h o t e l in w h i c h h e w a s staying a n d the c o u r t r o o m , W i l d e b l o o d w a s r e p e a t e d l y e x p o s e d to the reactions to it o f the m e n a n d women o f W i n c h e s t e r . O n o n e o c c a s i o n a w o m a n spat at h i m : ' S h e w a s a r e s p e c t a b l e - l o o k i n g , m i d d l e - a g e d , t w e e d y p e r s o n w e a r i n g a sensible felt hat. S h e w a s standing o n the p a v e m e n t as the car w e n t b y . I saw h e r s u c k in h e r c h e e k s , a n d the n e x t m o m e n t a b i g b l o b o f spit w a s r u n n i n g d o w n the w i n d s c r e e n . '
43 42

It w a s a prescient

r e m a r k . O b s c u r e l y - W i l d e b l o o d w a s a m o n g the first to n o t i c e it - a

M o r e often, h o w e v e r , t h e r e w e r e which and b y e x p l o d i n g flashbulbs

s p o n t a n e o u s expressions o f s u p p o r t a n d a n e w u n d e r s t a n d i n g g e n u i n e l y surprised h i m : ' U n d a u n t e d

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c u r i o u s faces p e e r i n g t h r o u g h the w i n d o w , [a taxi d r i v e r ] r e m a r k e d : " P e r s o n a l l y , a n d s p e a k i n g m a n - t o - m a n , I t h i n k it's a lot o f b l e e d i n g n o n s e n s e . I f t w o chaps carry o n l i k e that a n d d o n ' t d o n o h a r m to n o o n e , w h a t business is it o f a n y b o d y e l s e ' s ? " '
4 4

T h i s c o n t i n u e d after the sentences w e r e a n n o u n c e d a n d c h i m e d w e l l w i t h the j o u r n a l i s t s ' p r e d i c t i o n s a n d the u n d e r l y i n g t e n o r o f the j u d g e ' s w o r d s . A s the defendants m a d e their w a y o u t o f the castle a n d p r e p a r e d to c l i m b into the v e t e r a n R o l l s - R o y c e w h i c h w a s t o take t h e m o f f to prison - W i l d e b l o o d n o t i c e d a g r o u p o f m e n a n d w o m e n s u r r o u n d i n g the car. It m i g h t h a v e b e e n the car itself w h i c h h a d e x c i t e d their interest, b u t t h e n o n e o f the w o m e n said, in a l o u d , toneless v o i c e : ' W h i c h is L o r d M o n t a g u ? A h , there h e is!' I t h o u g h t : Please d o n ' t let t h e m d o any m o r e to h i m . T h e y ' v e h a d their p o u n d o f flesh. A n d t h e n the c r o w d b e g a n to press r o u n d us, s h o u t i n g . It w a s s o m e m o m e n t s b e f o r e I realised that t h e y w e r e n o t s h o u t i n g insults, b u t w o r d s o f e n c o u r a g e m e n t . T h e y tried to pat us o n the b a c k a n d told us t o ' K e e p s m i l i n g ' , and w h e n the d o o r s w e r e shut t h e y w e n t o n t a l k i n g t h r o u g h the w i n d o w s a n d g a v e the t h u m b s - u p sign a n d c l a p p e d their h a n d s .
45

Farther a w a y , t o o , attitudes w e r e subtly altering. I f the o n l o o k e r s outside W i n c h e s t e r C a s t l e w e r e u n w i t t i n g b e l l - w e t h e r s , ten years after the e n d o f the w a r others w e r e b e g i n n i n g to f o l l o w their lead. A l m o s t i m p e r c e p t i b l y , a sense o f reason w a s b e g i n n i n g to supplant n e a n d e r t h a l p r e j u d i c e , albeit o n l y in certain quarters. T h u s w e find the n o v e l i s t P a t r i c k H a m i l t o n w r i t i n g to his b r o t h e r B r u c e at a r o u n d this t i m e : T h e p o l i c e l o v e to v i c t i m i s e a n y o n e w e l l k n o w n . Press a n d p u b l i c t o o . H e r e y o u h a v e a perfectly o r d i n a r y y o u n g m a n ( w i t h a l i k i n g , n o d o u b t , for B o y S c o u t s , A i r m e n , a n d o t h e r m a l e w h o r e s ) b e i n g fantastically p i l l o r i e d a n d c o n v i c t e d on the word of the male whores. In m y t o l e r a n c e for h o m o s e x u a l i t y I p e r s o n a l l y g o further than the a v e r a g e c i v i l i s e d p e r s o n , w h o is often h e a r d s a y i n g that it is all right p r o v i d e d ' t h e y d o n ' t c o r r u p t the young'. I d o n ' t see this. I d o n ' t think the y o u n g are c o r r u p t i b l e . I t h i n k that h o m o s e x u a l i t y is s o m e t h i n g constitutional - y o u either h a v e it o r n o t - I m y s e l f h a v e h a d passes m a d e at m e as a b o y , b u t t h e y j u s t d i d n ' t ' t a k e ' .

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A n d a l t h o u g h , at W e s t m i n s t e r [ S c h o o l ] I c o u l d (I n o w k n o w ) h a v e satisfied these leanings in the case o f o n e b o y in particular - still, I ' m sure I ' d n e v e r h a v e a c q u i r e d the h a b i t .
46

'The Ray of Hope'

' H O M O S E X U A L S I N G E N E R A L are exhibitionists a n d proselyrisers a n d are a d a n g e r to others, especially the y o u n g , ' S i r D a v i d M a x w e l l F y f e t o l d the H o u s e o f C o m m o n s o n 3 D e c e m b e r 1 9 . 5 3 . A n d h e w e n t o n : ' S o l o n g as I h o l d the office o f H o m e S e c r e t a r y I shall g i v e n o c o u n t e n a n c e to the v i e w that they s h o u l d n o t b e p r e v e n t e d f r o m b e i n g s u c h a danger.' E v e n the legalistic d o u b l e n e g a t i v e failed to c l o a k the minister's o w n d e e p antipathy t o w a r d s a n y possible c h a n g e in the l a w . N e v e r t h e l e s s , o f all p e o p l e it w a s that s a m e D a v i d M a x w e l l F y f e w h o w e n t b a c k to the H o u s e o f C o m m o n s a m e r e n i n e m o n t h s later to a n n o u n c e that the g o v e r n m e n t h a d d e c i d e d to set u p a d e p a r t m e n t a l c o m m i t t e e to e n q u i r e i n t o all aspects o f the l a w as it related to h o m o s e x u a l i t y a n d prostitution. ( O n c e again there w e r e parallels w i t h the W i l d e case; the C r i m i n a l L a w A m e n d m e n t A c t had, o f c o u r s e , b e g u n its life as a bill d e s i g n e d to p r o t e c t the rights o f v u l n e r a b l e y o u n g girls.) The committee the W o l f e n d e n C o m m i t t e e , as it w a s k n o w n , after its c h a i r m a n J o h n W o l f e n d e n , t h e n v i c e - c h a n c e l l o r o f R e a d i n g U n i v e r s i t y b e g a n w o r k in A u g u s t 1 9 5 4 . T h e task it faced w a s i m m e n s e ultimately the p r o d u c t i o n o f w h a t the press i m m e d i a t e l y d u b b e d the ' V i c e R e p o r t ' w a s to take a full t h r e e years and o f considerable d e l i c a c y . A t its first m e e t i n g W o l f e n d e n t o l d the c o m m i t tee: ' I h a v e n o t the faintest idea at this m o m e n t w h a t w e shall u l t i m a t e l y r e c o m m e n d ; but, w h a t e v e r it turns o u t to b e , m y guess is that it w i l l b e u n w e l c o m e to a p p r o x i m a t e l y fifty p e r cent o f H e r M a j e s t y ' s subjects. In short, w e can't w i n . '
1

It w a s , t h o u g h , necessary to fight the battle. M a x w e l l F y f e ' s v o l t e face and the a p p o i n t m e n t o f the c o m m i t t e e h a d o n l y c o m e about 177

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b e c a u s e o f a n o t h e r p e r c e p t i b l e increase in the p u b l i c awareness o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y . I n 1 9 5 3 J o h n G i e l g u d h a d b e e n c o n v i c t e d for c o t t a g i n g (he t o l d the c o u r t h e w a s 'a c l e r k ' e a r n i n g j u s t 1 , 0 0 0 a y e a r and m i g h t h a v e e s c a p e d p u b l i c i t y h a d h e n o t b e e n r e c o g n i z e d b y an Standard Evening r e p o r t e r w h o h a p p e n e d to b e in the press b o x ) . M e m o r i e s

o f the trials o f R u p e r t C r o f t - C o o k e a n d L o r d M o n t a g u w e r e still fresh, n o t least in the m i n d s o f M P s a n d n e w s p a p e r editors. H o m o s e x u a l i t y h a d o n c e again b e c o m e 'an issue' and, in liberal circles at least, this t i m e s o m e f o r m o f l i m i t e d d e c r i m i n a l i z a t i o n e v e n s e e m e d a cause w o r t h f i g h t i n g for. A d e c a d e b e f o r e its successful c a m p a i g n for the w i t h d r a w a l o f the d r u g t h a l i d o m i d e in the 1 9 6 0 s , the Sunday Times h a d effectively started that particular ball rolling w h e n , in M a r c h 1 9 5 4 , it p u b l i s h e d a l e a d i n g article anticipating W o l f e n d e n ' s terms o f reference a n d calling for a c o m p l e t e r e v i e w o f the l a w as it then s t o o d . It w a s to p r o v e a rallying call in the fight for w h a t w o u l d later b e k n o w n as ' g a y liberation'. T h e f o l l o w i n g w e e k the paper's c o r r e s p o n d e n c e c o l u m n carried a l o n g letter s i g n e d m e r e l y (but inevitably) ' Y o u r s faithfully, H O M O S E X U A L ' w h i c h b e g a n b y offering its author's ' d e e p l y felt thanks for the ray o f h o p e w h i c h y o u r sane a p p r o a c h to the p r o b l e m s o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y offers to t h e a b n o r m a l ' a n d t h e n in the c o u r s e o f s o m e 2 , 0 0 0 w o r d s tried to identify the m o s t intractable o f those ' p r o b l e m s ' :
2

A s y o u rightly say, [ h o m o s e x u a l i t y ] is a S o c i a l P r o b l e m ; it is also an i n d i v i d u a l p r o b l e m , a n d there is perhaps n o such p e r s o n as 'the t y p i c a l h o m o s e x u a l ' . N e w s p a p e r accounts a n d the p r o c e e d i n g s o f the c r i m i n a l courts m u s t t o g e t h e r g i v e m a n y o r d i n a r y p e o p l e the idea that all m a l e h o m o s e x u a l s are b y definition habitually p r o m i s c u o u s , a d d i c t e d to constant v i c e a n d liable to assault a n y o t h e r m a l e , g i v e n the slightest o p p o r t u n i t y . Y e t there m u s t b e v e r y m a n y l i k e m y s e l f perhaps e v e n a m a j o r i t y w h o , w i t h o u t e v e r h a v i n g b e e n a p p r o a c h e d b y a n o t h e r , h a v e k n o w n t h e m s e l v e s to b e i r r e v o c a b l y ' q u e e r ' f r o m early a d o l e s c e n c e ; h a v e for o n e reason o r a n o t h e r idealism, i n h i b i t i o n s o r timidity d e n i e d t h e m s e l v e s a n y physical relationships; a n d w h o reach their later t w e n t i e s o r thirties w i t h the e n e r g y - c o n s u m i n g stresses, i m p o s e d b y their unsatisfied e m o t i o n a l needs a n d the constant m e n t a l d i l e m m a o f their g e n e r a l situation, heightened every year.
3

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179

Y e a r s later the p s e u d o n y m o u s ' H O M O S E X U A L ' i d e n t i f i e d h i m s e l f as A n t o n y G r e y . A t the t i m e o f w r i t i n g h e h a d b e e n a t w e n t y - f i v e - y e a r o l d C a m b r i d g e graduate a n d c o u l d n o t h a v e f o r e s e e n that p u b l i c a t i o n o f his letter w o u l d l e a d to s o m e t h i n g w h i c h (he later w r o t e ) ' w a s to b e c o m e m y m a j o r personal p r e o c c u p a t i o n , a n d also m y professional o c c u p a t i o n , for m o s t o f the n e x t t w o d e c a d e s ' .

It is o n l y n o w , l o o k i n g b a c k , that w e can see w h y this s h o u l d h a v e b e e n the case. G r e y ' s letter, c o u c h e d as it w a s in a t o n e o f h u m a n e reasonableness, a p p e a r e d at a crucial t i m e . F o r i f it h a d a m o l l i f y i n g Times readers w h o h a d b e e n s h o c k e d b y the effect o n those Sunday

p r e v i o u s w e e k ' s leader, it also a n d rather m o r e i m p o r t a n t l y s e r v e d to m a k e m a n y h o m o s e x u a l m e n feel better a b o u t t h e m s e l v e s . H o w e v e r slight, h o w e v e r transient, in itself it offered t h e m a n o t h e r 'ray o f h o p e ' in an o t h e r w i s e particularly b e n i g h t e d d e c a d e . Specifically, it c a m e as a w e l c o m e c o r r e c t i v e to the o v e r w h e l m i n g l y n e g a t i v e , h o m o p h o b i c a l l y p r e j u d i c e d o r d o w n r i g h t i g n o r a n t attitudes d i s p l a y e d in m u c h that w a s b e i n g w r i t t e n a n d said d u r i n g this latest b o u t o f p u b l i c c o n c e r n a b o u t h o m o s e x u a l s a n d h o m o s e x u a l i t y in general. Some MPs o f it is n o w barely credible. In P a r l i a m e n t back-bench again

a n d b a c k - w o o d s peers regretted

h a v i n g to talk o n c e

a b o u t an 'intensely r e p u g n a n t ' subject, s o m e t h i n g w h i c h w a s ' e s s e n tially evil a n d w i c k e d ' , b u t t o o k e v e r y o p p o r t u n i t y to d o so. T h e press, t o o , c o n t i n u e d to m o r a l i z e o v e r the further falls o f the m i g h t y , m o s t n o t a b l y after the ' d i s g r a c e ' o f Ian H a r v e y in the a u t u m n o f 1958.
$ F I N E ON I A N H A R V E Y . HE W I L L P A Y TO E N D OF L I F E , ran

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h e a d l i n e after the f o r t y - f o u r - y e a r - o l d M P

and Foreign

O f f i c e minister h a d b e e n d i s c o v e r e d late o n e e v e n i n g in St J a m e s ' s P a r k , 'standing u n d e r a tree m i s b e h a v i n g ' w i t h a n i n e t e e n - y e a r - o l d Household Cavalry guardsman. T h e t w o m e n w e r e charged w i t h and c o n v i c t e d o f o n l y a m i n o r b r e a c h o f R o y a l P a r k s regulations after a gross i n d e c e n c y c h a r g e w a s d r o p p e d (the c o u r t h e a r d that the g u a r d s m a n ' w a s n o t addicted in this w a y ' a n d h a d o n l y g o n e w i t h H a r v e y ' o u t o f c u r i o s i t y ' ) . T h e n o m i n a l fine w a s , h o w e v e r , o n l y the b e g i n n i n g o f w h a t H a r v e y h i m s e l f w a s to call a p e r i o d o f ' P u r g a t o r y ' . T h e press eagerly r e p o r t e d h o w h e w a s f o r c e d to resign f r o m his L o n d o n clubs,

i8o

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relinquish g o v e r n m e n t office (ironically, his ministerial post w a s filled b y J o h n P r o f u m o ) a n d g i v e u p his seat in P a r l i a m e n t . Even ostensibly 'scientific' studies o f the subject still described
4

h o m o s e x u a l i t y as a ' s e v e r e m e n t a l sickness' a n d h o m o s e x u a l s t h e m selves as suffering f r o m 'personality d e f i c i e n c y ' . ' T h e r e are n o h a p p y h o m o s e x u a l s ; a n d there w o u l d n o t b e , e v e n i f the o u t e r w o r l d left t h e m in p e a c e , ' E d m u n d B e r g l e r told readers o f his u n a m b i g u o u s l y titled b o o k The Counterfeit Sex ( 1 9 5 8 ) . ' T h e reason is an internal o n e . U n c o n s c i o u s l y t h e y w a n t to b e d i s a p p o i n t e d . . .' 'It w a s n o t easy for e v e n sensible a n d socially c o n c e r n e d h o m o s e x u a l p e o p l e w h o r e a d [those] w o r d s to sustain a h i g h m o r a l e , ' A n t o n y G r e y w a s later to c o m m e n t . T h a t , i f a n y t h i n g , w a s a w r y understatem e n t . W i t h o u t the s u p p o r t o f a g a y c o m m u n i t y , e v e n w h i l e the W o l f e n d e n C o m m i t t e e w e n t a b o u t its w o r k , h o m o s e x u a l m e n v e r y often f o u n d t h e m s e l v e s in a n o m i c isolation, all t o o ready to b e l i e v e e v e r y t h i n g t h e y read a b o u t t h e m s e l v e s . (Ironically o r not, in his Sunday Times letter e v e n G r e y d e s c r i b e d h i m s e l f as ' q u e e r ' a n d talked a b o u t a ' p r o b l e m ' a n d the ' a b n o r m a l ' . ) T h u s in 1 9 5 8 the luckless Ian H a r v e y felt c o m p e l l e d to resign his seat in the H o u s e o f C o m m o n s a n d accept the ostracism o f his friends a n d the i r r e v o c a b l e e n d o f his political career. H i s , it m i g h t b e a r g u e d , w a s a special case, a cause clbre; b u t such p u b l i c o b l o q u y as h e attracted w a s o n l y an o u t w a r d manifestation o f the p r i v a t e fear a n d self-loathing felt b y m a n y m o r e o r d i n a r y h o m o sexuals at the t i m e . I n 1 9 5 5 , for instance, o n e s u c h m a n w h o h a d also b e e n arrested, b r o u g h t b e f o r e the courts o n gross i n d e c e n c y charges, c o n d i t i o n a l l y d i s c h a r g e d b u t still s a c k e d f r o m his j o b , w r o t e : I f it w e r e n o t for m y m o t h e r , I m i g h t w e l l take the quickest w a y o u t ; n o t that I a m a s h a m e d o f b e i n g w h a t I a m , b u t w h e n o n e has w o r k e d hard from small foundations a n d built a h a p p y life and e n v i r o n m e n t a b o u t o n e , w i t h v a r i o u s a c t i v e interests a n d m a n y h o p e s , it is so h a r d to b e k n o c k e d d o w n again [. . .] I h a d a friend, b u t n o w h e is afraid e v e n to w r i t e to m e , a n d I a m left w i t h o u t a n y profession, w i t h o u t h o p e for the future, a n d w i t h o u t a c o m p a n i o n , to l e a d w h a t seems a p o i n d e s s life.
5

'I b e g a n to suspect that I w a s n o t h u m a n . N o t i n h u m a n j u s t n o t

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like o t h e r h u m a n b e i n g s , ' the p o e t J a m e s K i r k u p has w r i t t e n o f his p e r i o d in his life. I w a s b e g i n n i n g to feel that the p o l i c e m u s t b e after m e . W a s this sheer paranoia, so w i d e s p r e a d a m o n g gays in the fifties? I f so, w a s it justified paranoia? W a s there s o m e t h i n g w r o n g w i t h m e ? W a s m y b e h a v i o u r b a d , o r s i m p l y n o t natural? [. . .] T h e p o l i c e were after m e . I k n e w that i f I stayed any l o n g e r in E n g l a n d t h e y w o u l d get m e . T h e r e w e r e b o b b i e s o n the beat in C h i p p e n h a m a n d B a t h , a n d in C o r s h a m itself there w a s a plain-clothes officer l i v i n g in the m a i n street j u s t a f e w d o o r s a w a y f r o m w h e r e m y parents a n d I w e r e staying in W e a v e r s ' C o t t a g e s , F l e m i s h B u i l d i n g s . I c o u l d n o t trust s o m e o f m y colleagues at the B a t h A c a d e m y o f A r t . . .
6

B y 1 9 5 7 e v e r y t h i n g h a d g o t t o o m u c h for ' N i c h o l a s ' , the C a m b r i d g e undergraduate w h o m w e h a v e already e n c o u n t e r e d . If he was not u n d u l y frightened o f the p o l i c e , l i k e K i r k u p h e t o o felt stifled b y the climate o f ' K a f k a e s q u e c r u e l t y ' . A l t h o u g h h e w a s o n l y in his early twenties, he h a d h a d e n o u g h : ' I w a n t e d to c h a n g e I w a n t e d to b e " n o r m a l " . I d i d n ' t w a n t to b e gay, o r " q u e e r " , as w e called it t h e n - t h o u g h I h a t e d the t e r m . ' T h u s , in his fourth y e a r at C a m b r i d g e , b e g i n n i n g w o r k o n a P h D , h e w e n t to see his d o c t o r a b r a v e m o v e in itself at the t i m e a n d asked for treatment. H i s a n d o t h e r m e n ' s m e m o r i e s o f that ' t r e a t m e n t ' , o f a v e r s i o n therapy w h i c h featured the use o f the n a u s e a - i n d u c i n g d r u g a p o m o r p h i n e a n d o f c r u d e antagonistic c o u n s e l l i n g , v i v i d l y recreate a w o r l d in w h i c h h o m o s e x u a l i t y w a s officially r e g a r d e d as a m e n t a l disorder. (It h a d b e e n formally classified as s u c h w h e n the World H e a l t h O r g a n i z a t i o n w a s established in 1 9 4 8 , a n d r e m a i n e d o n official B r i t i s h lists o f psychiatric disorders until 1 9 9 3 . ) ' N i c h o l a s ' 's t r e a t m e n t in particular, c u l m i n a t i n g as it d i d in a series o f i n t e r v i e w s w i t h R . D . L a i n g , the ' m e d i a psychiatrist' w h o w o u l d hit the headlines o n b o t h sides o f the A t l a n t i c d u r i n g the 1 9 6 0 s , also reveals h o w little m e d i c a l , p s y c h o l o g i c a l and, m o r e p r o f o u n d l y , social t h i n k i n g h a d c h a n g e d in half a c e n t u r y . I n d e e d , his a c c o u n t (and the separate e x p e r i e n c e s o f t w o o t h e r m e n ) precisely parallels the t r e a t m e n t u n d e r g o n e b y E . M . Forster's M a u r i c e H a l l s o m e f o r t y - f i v e y e a n p r e v i o u s l y :
7

182

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A t the t i m e I t h o u g h t it w a s a passing phase. I w a s b e g i n n i n g to g e t a bit n e r v o u s a b o u t it b e c a u s e it w a s taking such a l o n g t i m e to pass, so I w e n t to see a specialist. H e insisted o n e x a m i n i n g m e in the n u d e , a n d g a v e m e a full m e d i c a l e x a m i n a t i o n , r u n n i n g his h a n d u p a n d d o w n m y calves, a n d so o n . T h e n , w h e n I told h i m I thought I might be homosexual, he suddenly backed away. H e w a s absolutely horrified! At last judgement 'Rubbish, came. [Maurice] could scarcely believe his ears. It was

rubbish!' He had expected many things, but not this; for if his I can't have explained ' that tempta

words were rubbish his life was a dream. 'Dr Barry, 'Now listen to me, Maurice, never let that evil hallucination, tion from the devil, occur to you again. ' The voice impressed him, and was not Science decent fellow! 'I want manner. 'Rubbish', speaking? 'Who put that lie into your head? You whom I see and know to be a We'll never mention it again. No - I'll not discuss. I'll not advice,' said Maurice, struggling
8

discuss. The worst thing I could do for you is to discuss it. ' against the overwhelming 'It's not rubbish to me, but my life. ' came the voice authoritatively.

H e retreated b e h i n d a h u g e desk a n d said there w a s absolutely n o o n e at C a m b r i d g e w h o c o u l d 'deal' w i t h this ' c o n d i t i o n ' , b u t h e c o u l d s e n d m e to the T a v i s t o c k C l i n i c in L o n d o n w h e r e t h e y ' d treat m e o n the N a t i o n a l H e a l t h . It w a s an e n o r m o u s disruption to m y w o r k , b u t I w e n t . [. . .] I ' d also r e a d in o n e o f the S u n d a y papers a b o u t a d o c t o r at the M a u d s l e y H o s p i t a l w h o c o u l d c u r e h o m o s e x u a l i t y b y a v e r s i o n therapy. S o I r a n g h i m u p a n d e v e n t u a l l y m a n a g e d to get to see h i m - this is the e x t e n t to w h i c h I still w a n t e d to b e c h a n g e d . I w e n t in n o t t o o s o l e m n , t r y i n g to b e fairly cheerful, delinquent. I said, ' W e l l , w h a t ' l l y o u d o ? ' a n d h e said, ' I c a n ' t really s h o w y o u n a k e d m e n , b u t I'll s h o w y o u p h o t o g r a p h s o f n a k e d m e n a n d t h e n I'll g i v e y o u an injection o r a tablet w h i c h w i l l m a k e y o u feel absolutely nauseated. It's the P a v l o v i a n p r i n c i p l e ; y o u ' l l b e so n a u s e a t e d b y the idea o f m e n . . .' S o I said, ' I can see h o w that even l a u g h i n g a little bit, b u t h e w a s g r i m a n d treated m e like a j u v e n i l e

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w o r k s , b u t w i l l the o t h e r c o m e ? I d o n ' t w a n t to e n d u p f e e l i n g l i k e v o m i t i n g e v e r y t i m e I shake hands w i t h a m a n , a n d I d o n ' t w a n t to b e s e x u a l l y neutral either. I'll d o it, b u t w i l l y o u b e s h o w i n g m e pictures o f n a k e d w o m e n a n d g i v i n g m e w o n d e r f u l drugs t o m a k e m e attracted to t h e m ? ' ' N o , ' h e said, 'it'll j u s t c o m e . ' I said, ' B u t h o w ? ' a n d h e c o u l d n o t p r o v i d e a satisfactory e x p l a n a t i o n . I sat in the d o c t o r ' s r o o m , w i t h an o l d - f a s h i o n e d tape recorder.

T h e d o c t o r w a s asking m e questions l i k e D i d I realise h o w offensive it w a s to b e h o m o s e x u a l ? D i d I realise that anal s e x w a s vile? D i d I realise that oral s e x w a s vile? H e w a s t r y i n g to m a k e m e disgusting. H e p l a y e d the tape b a c k to m e a n d said, R i g h t , this is w h a t w e ' r e g o i n g to d o . A n d h e p u t m e in a r o o m w i t h a m a l e n u r s e , no w i n d o w s , a stack o f 'dirty b o o k s ' - as t h e y called t h e m i n those days - a n d pictures o f m a l e b o d i e s . T h e y w e r e n ' t dirty, actually; t h e y w e r e n ' t particularly disgusting. T h e y w e r e j u s t m a l e b o d i e s . A n d h e said, W h a t d o y o u drink? In those days I u s e d to drink G u i n n e s s , so I h a d a c o u p l e o f cases o f G u i n n e s s stacked u p . S o there I a m in this b e d , listening to a tape w h i c h lasts an h o u r a n d d r i n k i n g b e e r a n d l o o k i n g at the b o o k s , feeling a bit u n e a s y , w o n d e r i n g w h a t the hell w a s g o i n g o n . H e t h e n gets u p a n d gives m e an i n j e c t i o n a n d the injection m a d e m e v i o l e n d y ill. I j u s t w a n t e d to t h r o w u p . I said, I ' m g o i n g to b e sick, a n d h e said, G o o n then. I said, I n e e d a basin. N o , j u s t b e sick in the b e d . I said, Y o u ' r e j o k i n g . N o , n o ; j u s t b e sick. I w a s j u s t v o m i t i n g e v e r y w h e r e . T h a t lasted an h o u r . T h e n t h e y d i d it a n o t h e r h o u r a n d a n o t h e r h o u r . A n d e v e r y h o u r t h e y g a v e m e an i n j e c t i o n . '. . . now of-?' 'Whom is it of - ' [said M a u r i c e . ] 'Edna May.' 'Mr Edna May.' ' N o , M r Hall, Miss Edna M a y . ' 'It's M r E d n a M a y . ' 'Isn't she beautiful?'
9

feel

what

do

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suppose

this

picture

is

of,

whom

is

it

184

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'I w a n t to g o h o m e to m y m o t h e r . ' B o t h l a u g h e d at this r e m a r k , the d o c t o r l e a d i n g . ' M i s s E d n a M a y is n o t o n l y beautiful, she is attractive.' ' S h e d o e s n ' t attract m e , ' said M a u r i c e pettishly. ' O h , M r H a l l , w h a t an ungallant r e m a r k . L o o k at h e r l o v e l y hair.' ' I l i k e short hair best.' 'Why?" H e g o t quite i m p a t i e n t a n d ratty. H e w a s e x t r e m e l y r u d e . H e really w a s m o n s t r o u s . H e w a s the o n l y p e r s o n I m e t [ w h i l e I w a s getting treatment] w h o w a s offensive. I said I w a n t e d o u t . I f this is s u p p o s e d to m a k e m e better t h e n I d o n ' t w a n t to b e better. T h e y say, O h really, but w e h a v e n ' t finished. W e w a n t a n o t h e r t w o days. I w e n t bananas! I ' v e g o t a t e m p e r . . . T h e y said, B u t y o u ' v e g o t to try the electric treatment. I w e n t , W h a t d o y o u m e a n electrodes? T o m e electrodes w e r e Frankenstein! E l e c t r o d e s w e r e One Flew the F u n n y F a r m !
11

Over the Cuckoo's

Nestl E l e c t r o d e s w e r e

I h a d electrodes attached to m y a r m a n d m y l e g a n d I w a s s h o w n slides o f m e n a n d w o m e n a n d asked to say in a scale o f perhaps o n e to ten h o w s e x u a l l y e x c i t i n g I f o u n d the slides o f the m a l e . T h e n I w a s g i v e n electric shocks o f different v e l o c i t y [sic]. It increased o r d e c r e a s e d a c c o r d i n g to m y request, r e a c t i o n a n d attraction to the slides.
12

I told m y m o t h e r I w a s h a v i n g psychiatric treatment and, w h i l e I w a s a w a y , she w e n t to see m y d o c t o r a n d asked his a d v i c e . H e referred h e r to s o m e o n e else, a n d w h e n I g o t b a c k I w e n t to see this o l d c h a p . If this new doctor could alter his being, was it not his duty to go, or decay.'
3

though

body and soul would be violated? With the world as it is, one must marry

It w a s a m o s t e x t r a o r d i n a r y e x p e r i e n c e . T h e r e h e w a s in his c o n sulting r o o m . H i s w i f e w a s there, a n d there s e e m e d to b e at least a n o t h e r t w o o r three p e o p l e a r o u n d , a n d h e said h e w a n t e d a s p e c i m e n o f m y s e m e n . S o h e p u t m e u p o n to a c o u c h a n d w a n k e d m e off, b u t I w a s so embarrassed I c o u l d n ' t c o m e . N e v e r t h e l e s s h e

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still w r o t e a report a b o u t m e : M r is y o u n g , slim, etc. [. . .] [After that] I w a s i n t r o d u c e d to several doctors a n d s a w t h e m o n a regular basis. T h e n e v e n t u a l l y I w a s referred o n to R . D . L a i n g . I ' d n e v e r h e a r d o f h i m ; this w a s several years b e f o r e h e b e c a m e famous in the Sixties. H e h a d a v e r y bare little office w h e r e I s a w h i m t w i c e a w e e k for a y e a r . It w a s all v e r y formal, as those places w e r e in those days. That gentleman further relieved him hy coming up to his idea of what an he sat in a and

advanced scientific man ought to be. Sallow and expressionless, a bloodless hand. His accent was slightly American. what's the trouble?"* 'Well,

large pictureless room before a roll-top desk. 'Mr Hall, ' he said, and offered Mr Hall,

L a i n g w a s a v e r y short m a n , m u c h shorter than m e . H e u s e d to sit in a chair b y his desk puffing v e r y v i g o r o u s l y o n a p i p e . O n my first visit h e said, ' Y o u can either lie d o w n o n the c o u c h o r y o u can sit.' I sat, I s u p p o s e b e c a u s e I t h o u g h t t h e r e w a s s o m e sort o f F r e u d i a n clich that y o u o n l y lay o n the c o u c h i f y o u w e r e ill, mentally ill. I k n e w I w a s n ' t ill, I w a s j u s t a w a r e that I h a d ' p r o b l e m s ' - a n d that w a s the p r o b l e m , i f y o u see w h a t I m e a n . B u t I w a s t o o rational for L a i n g . H e w a n t e d m e to b e a far m o r e d e e p l y d i s t u r b e d p e r s o n than I w a s : I j u s t w a s n ' t m a d e n o u g h for h i m , I s u p p o s e . [. . .] H e used to say, in that v e r y b r o a d S c o t s a c c e n t h e h a d , ' M r , y o u ' v e n e v e r talked a b o u t y o u r relationship w i t h me. H a v e y o u n e v e r w a n t e d to m a r r y we?' A n d I ' d say, ' N o , I h a v e n ' t ; n o , I d o n ' t w a n t to m a r r y y o u . Y o u k n o w m y p o s i t i o n . ' ' M r , I suggest that y o u w a n t to h a v e a b a b y b y m e . D o y o u w a n t to h u m i l i a t e m e ? ' A n d I said, N o , o f c o u r s e I didn't; ' N o , I w a n t t o l o o k u p to y o u w h y s h o u l d I w a n t to h u m i l i a t e y o u ? Y o u ' r e g o i n g to h e l p m e . ' [Maurice] asked 'What's the name of my trouble? Has it one?' ' be done?'

'Congenital 'Congenital 'Oh,

homosexuality.

how much? Well, can anything

certainly, if you consent. ' Hall.

'The fact is I've an old-fashioned prejudice against hypnotism. ' 'I'm afraid you may possibly retain that prejudice after trying, Mr per cent but in only fifty per cent have I been successful. "
5

I cannot promise a cure. I spoke to you of my other patients seventy-five

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[Laing] w a s terribly passive, h e hardly said a n y t h i n g . H e w a s c o m p l e t e l y l a c k i n g in a sense o f h u m o u r . O n c e , I told h i m m y godfather h a d g i v e n m e five p o u n d s a n d I ' d d e c i d e d I t h o u g h t it w o u l d help m e i f I spent it o n g o i n g to see a prostitute. W h a t d i d h e think a b o u t that? W h a t w a s his a d v i c e ? H e absolutely refused to c o m m i t h i m s e l f w h y , for G o d ' s sake? I r e m e m b e r [the psychiatrist] o n c e s a y i n g to m e that she w i s h e d she c o u l d say: G o o u t a n d d o it, h a v e sex w i t h a m a n ! It m u s t h a v e b e e n terribly frustrating for h e r .
16

T h e r e w e r e m a n y times w h e n I d e l u d e d m y s e l f that the treatment w a s w o r k i n g . T h a t I w a s n ' t really h o m o s e x u a l ; that I w a s n ' t really attracted to m e n , a n d that I was attracted to w o m e n . B u t I w a s c o n n i n g myself. R e t r o s p e c t i v e l y , I can see that so c l e a r l y ! '
7

T h e n e x t t i m e I s a w [Laing] I told h i m h o w I ' d f o u n d a girl o f f P a r k L a n e s o m e w h e r e ; h o w I w e n t b a c k w i t h h e r to a r o o m s o m e w h e r e . It w a s u n b e l i e v a b l y squalid, an u n m a d e b e d , ashtrays e v e r y w h e r e . S h e w a s pretty, b u t a bit s k i n n y . S h e started to m a s t u r b ate m e , b u t I c o u l d n ' t e v e n g e t an e r e c t i o n . T h e w h o l e thing w a s so sordid! E v e n t u a l l y , I called a halt a n d said, ' L o o k , I ' m v e r y p o o r , I ' m o n l y a student. D o I h a v e to p a y y o u the full five p o u n d s ? ' ' Y e s , ' she said. S o I said, ' W e l l , can I j u s t kiss y o u ? ' ' N o , w e d o n ' t kiss, dear.' It w a s a h o r r i b l e e x p e r i e n c e . [. . .] A n d h e said, ' M r , y o u s e e m to w a n t m y p e r m i s s i o n for e v e r y t h i n g that y o u d o . ' I said I w a n t e d his a d v i c e . B u t he w o u l d n ' t say y e s a n d h e w o u l d n ' t say n o . E v e r y t h i n g h a d to b e related to m y relationship w i t h h i m . H e n e v e r f o c u s e d o n m y p r o b l e m s . H e n e v e r t a l k e d a b o u t t h e m : h e w a s totally p r e - o c c u p i e d w i t h m y relationship w i t h him. Jones].

'You should not resist me,' [said Dr hasker 'Damn it all, I don't.' 'You are less suggestible than you were. '

'I don't know what that may mean, not being an expert in the jargon, but I swear from the bottom of my heart I want to be healed. I want to be like other men, not this outcast whom nobody wants - "
8

I j u s t w a n t e d to k n o w w h a t w a s g o i n g to h a p p e n , a n d w h e t h e r h e

' T H E R A Y OF H O P E '

c o u l d c h a n g e m e . I ' d say to h i m things l i k e , ' D r L a i n g , w h a t ' s g o i n g to b e the result o f all this? W h a t ' s g o i n g to b e the " e n d p r o d u c t " ? I ' m d o i n g a P h D thesis; this is all t a k i n g u p an e n o r m o u s amount o f m y t i m e . ' A n d e v e n t u a l l y h e ' d say: ' Y o u ' r e a l w a y s talking a b o u t the result. Y o u ' r e t o o h a r d o n yourself. G o o u t o f h e r e , get m a r r i e d , h a v e a b a b y . ' [. . .] W h e n eventually I was psychoanalysed I had a dream I w a s three. 'I say, I had a dream when you woke me up [from a hypnotic trance]. I'd better tell it you. I thought I saw a face and heard someone say, your friend." walking dream.' 'Did it get near now?' Jolly near. Is that a bad sign?'
9

within

a b o u t t w o o r three w e e k s a b o u t s o m e t h i n g w h i c h h a p p e n e d w h e n

"That's that

Is that all right? I often feel

it I can't explain - sort of

towards me through sleep,

though it never gets up to me,

'No, oh no you're open to suggestion, you're open I made you see a picture on the wall. "

H e i m m e d i a t e l y p i c k e d u p o n this a n d said, ' S o m e t h i n g h a p p e n e d w h e n y o u w e r e three!' A w h o l e y e a r h a d g o n e b y b y t h e n t h o u g h , and shortly after that I s t o p p e d s e e i n g h i m . It w a s j u s t ridiculous. [. . .] getting

T h e last t i m e I s a w L a i n g j u s t the o n c e w a s in 1 9 6 4 . B y t h e n h e w a s a distinguished m a n . H e ' d p u b l i s h e d those b o o k s . I said to h i m that I w a s still c o n c e r n e d , that I still w a n t e d to b e h e t e r o s e x u a l . W a s t h e r e a n y t h i n g else I c o u l d d o ? It w a s t h e n that h e suggested L S D . I also h a p p e n e d to say to h i m ' D ' y o u t h i n k it's h e r e d i t a r y ? I h a d a g r e a t - u n c l e w h o w a s h o m o s e x u a l . ' H e h a d a slight outburst: ' W h o d o e s n ' t h a v e a g r e a t - u n c l e w h o ' s h o m o s e x u a l ? ' h e said. ' W h y b o t h e r to c h a n g e ? ' It w a s the first t i m e h e ' d e v e r said a n y t h i n g l i k e that. I ' m far t o o easily i n f l u e n c e d b y p e o p l e , a n d this w a s the G r e a t M a n , as it w e r e - b u t w h y c o u l d n ' t h e h a v e said that six years b e f o r e , w h e n I first w e n t to see h i m ?

i88

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T h e W o l f e n d e n R e p o r t , officially the Report of the Committee Offences and Prostitution, finally appeared on

on

Sexual

5 September 1957.

( W o l f e n d e n later r e c o r d e d in his a u t o b i o g r a p h y that ' e v e r y sentence in the final d o c u m e n t has a history, o f discussion, r e w o r d i n g , e x p a n s i o n , d e l e t i o n , fresh a p p r o a c h , a n d e v e n t u a l a c c e p t a n c e ' ) .
20

It attracted massive found

p u b l i c i t y a n d , as W o l f e n d e n h i m s e l f h a d p r e d i c t e d , its authors

t h e m s e l v e s in an u n c o m f o r t a b l e n o - w i n situation. B u t that w a s as n o t h i n g c o m p a r e d to the o b l o q u y their report attracted f r o m P a r l i a m e n t a n d s o m e e l e m e n t s o f the E s t a b l i s h m e n t . T h e cause o f all this ire a n d i n d i g n a t i o n w a s , o f c o u r s e , the liberal t o n e o f its proposals ('there m u s t r e m a i n a r e a l m o f p r i v a t e m o r a l i t y a n d i m m o r a l i t y w h i c h is, in b r i e f a n d c r u d e terms, n o t the l a w ' s business') a n d specifically its principal r e c o m m e n d a t i o n that ' h o m o s e x u a l b e h a v i o u r b e t w e e n c o n s e n t i n g adults in private b e n o l o n g e r a c r i m i n a l o f f e n c e ' . T h e r e w e r e actually a n o t h e r s e v e n t e e n lesser r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s d i r e c d y relating to h o m o s e x u a l offences, but those w e r e all d e p e n d e n t u p o n a c c e p t a n c e o f the first. E v e r y t h i n g c a m e to a h e a d w h e n the r e p o r t w a s first formally d e b a t e d in P a r l i a m e n t , in the H o u s e o f L o r d s in D e c e m b e r 1 9 5 7 a n d in the C o m m o n s in N o v e m b e r 1 9 5 8 . A l l the h o m o p h o b i a w h i c h h a d b e e n s w i r l i n g a r o u n d for the p r e v i o u s fifteen years finally g u s h e d out b i l e m i x e d w i t h a dash o f political ' c o n c e r n ' . 'Incest is a m u c h m o r e natural act than h o m o s e x u a l i t y , ' said o n e M P . O t h e r s c h i m e d in w i t h w h a t m i g h t h a v e b e e n i n t e n d e d as ' w e l l - i n t e n t i o n e d ' r e m a r k s - ' I feel sorry for these p e o p l e . T h e y d o n o t k n o w w h a t t h e y are missing' b u t the m a j o r i t y m a d e n o b o n e s a b o u t their c o n t i n u i n g abhorrence

o f the w h o l e subject: ' I a m r e p e l l e d b y the dirtiness o f s o m e o f those w h o s e c o n d u c t is e x p o s e d to the p u b l i c gaze. I w a n t to strip s o m e o f this false sentimentality, this false r o m a n t i c i s m f r o m h o m o s e x u a l i t y ' . . . ' W e s h o u l d k e e p t h e m o u t o f sight o f the g e n e r a l p u b l i c . ' ' A n d that w a s j u s t the start. T h e C o m m o n s r e t u r n e d implementation o f the o f all W o l f e n d e n ' s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s to talking
2

a b o u t matters h o m o s e x u a l in i 9 6 0 w h e n a m o t i o n calling for the w a s lost b y a m a j o r i t y o f m o r e than t w o to o n e - a n d again in 1 9 6 2 . O n the strength i 9 6 0 v o t e , the g o v e r n m e n t (by t h e n C o n s e r v a t i v e ) stalled, implementation c l a i m i n g that 'the c o u n t r y ' w a s n o t ready for the full

o f the W o l f e n d e n proposals. N e v e r t h e l e s s , the a r g u m e n t o r 'process o f public consultation' w e n t o n and o n b y J u l y i 9 6 0 one Lady L l o y d h a d already b e e n m o v e d t o w r i t e to the Daily Telegraph a v e r r i n g that

' T H E R A Y OF H O P E '

189

'All d e c e n t p e o p l e l o n g to see a cessation o f [this] discussion. B e h i n d a d r a w n b l i n d a corpse m a y b e rotting; the b l i n d w i l l n o t stop the smell, but at least it w i l l h i d e f r o m the passer-by the horrors o f p u t r e f a c t i o n . ' R u n n i n g parallel to all this, the perhaps surprising Sunday galre o f the great a n d the g o o d , a cross-section o f the
22

Times tide

o f liberalism w a s getting e v e r stronger. A s early as M a r c h 1 9 5 8 a (predominandy heterosexual) intellectual m o v e r s a n d s h a k e n o f the day, h a d w r i t t e n a letter to The Times w h i c h b e g a n : ' S i r , W e , the u n d e r s i g n e d , w o u l d like to express o u r general a g r e e m e n t w i t h the r e c o m m e n d a t i o n the W o l f e n d e n R e p o r t that h o m o s e x u a l acts c o m m i t t e d of in p r i v a t e

b e t w e e n c o n s e n t i n g adults s h o u l d n o l o n g e r b e a c r i m i n a l o f f e n c e . ' B i s h o p s a n d peers o f the realm, writers a n d p h i l o s o p h e r s ( i n c l u d i n g a not inconsiderable n u m b e r o f w o m e n ) w e r e a m o n g the signatories. It w o u l d b e i n v i d i o u s n o w to try to discern p r i v a t e m o t i v e s for their decision to g o p u b l i c , b u t the list is w o r t h reprinting i f o n l y to s h o w the d e g r e e o f backstage E s t a b l i s h m e n t s u p p o r t w h i c h still familiar today. In t i m e - h o n o u r e d presented in alphabetical order: Y o u r s , etc., N. G. A N N A N ; A T T L E E ; A . J . A Y E R ; I S A I A H B E R L I N ; f L E O N A R D B I R M I N G H A M ; ROBERT B O O T H B Y ; C . M . B O W R A ; C . D. BROAD; DAVID CECIL; L. JOHN COLLINS; ALEX COMFORT; A . E . D Y S O N ; f R O B E R T E X O N ; GEOFFREY F A B E R ; J A C Q U E T T A H A W K E S ; TREVOR H U D D L E S T O N CR; J U L I A N H U X L E Y ; C . D A Y L E W I S ; w . R. N I B L E T T ; J . B . P R I E S T L E Y ; R U S S E L L ; D O N A L D O. SOPER; S T E P H E N S P E N D E R ; M A R Y S T O C K S ; A . J . P. T A Y L O R ; E. M . w . T I L L Y A R D ; A L E C R. V I D L E R ; K E N N E T H W A L K E R ; LESLIE D. W E A T H E R H E A D ; C . V. W E D G W O O D ; WILSON; JOHN WILSON; BARBARA W O O T O N .
2 3

Wolfenden's

proposals e n j o y e d . M a n y o f the names at the b o t t o m o f the letter are Times style, in 1 9 5 8 t h e y w e r e

ANGUS

T h e h o m o s e x u a l m a n w a s headline n e w s ; a n d w h i l e the g o v e r n m e n t d i c k e r e d o v e r quite h o w they w e r e g o i n g to react to W o l f e n d e n , h e o r at least the general idea o f ' h o m o s e x u a l i t y ' l o o k e d l i k e r e m a i n i n g so. Predictably, the Times letter (actually drafted b y the literary critic a n d a c a d e m i c A . E . D y s o n ) elicited a response c l a i m i n g that i m p l e m e n tation o f W o l f e n d e n ' s proposals w o u l d b r i n g 'a m o s t u n s a v o u r y subject into undesirable p r o m i n e n c e ' a n d e v e n ' d i v i d e the n a t i o n ' . A s A n t o n y

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G r e y i m p l i e s , h o w e v e r , in contrast w i t h D y s o n ' s letter, that o n e w a s s i g n e d b y a g r o u p o f distincdy B - l i s t celebrities. T h e B i s h o p s o f Carlisle and Rochester and Lords L a w s o n and Winterton hardly h a d the m e d i a c l o u t o f the likes o f f o r m e r p r i m e minister C l e m e n t A t t l e e , J u l i a n H u x l e y , B e r t r a n d Russell, A . J . P . T a y l o r a n d D a m e V e r o n i c a Wedgwood. T h u s , a g o o d case can e v e n b e m a d e that, right f r o m the start, there w a s serious liberal s u p p o r t for w h a t W o l f e n d e n w a s r e c o m m e n d i n g . In his s e c o n d b o o k , the less-satisfactory A Way of Life, p u b l i s h e d o n e y e a r a h e a d o f the report, in 1 9 5 6 , P e t e r W i l d e b l o o d h a d w r i t t e n : T h e p u b l i c a t i o n of Against the Law resulted in a flood o f letters, all ringing me

o f w h i c h h a d to b e a n s w e r e d . F o r the first f e w m o n t h s an a v e r a g e o f o n e r e a d e r in e v e r y ten w a s either w r i t i n g to m e o r u p , a n d I b e g a n t o w o n d e r w h e t h e r I s h o u l d e v e r h a v e t i m e to w r i t e a n o t h e r b o o k T h e letters w e r e nearly all from ' n o r m a l ' m e n a n d w o m e n w h o d i d n o t share, b u t s y m p a t h i s e d w i t h , the p r o b l e m s w h i c h I h a d o u t l i n e d in the b o o k . T h e r e w e r e letters from J u d g e s , magistrates, doctors, barristers
2 4

and

clergymen, housewives

and

mothers and businessmen . . .

U n f o r t u n a t e l y f o r L a d y L l o y d a n d 'all d e c e n t p e o p l e ' , the discussion w a s o n l y j u s t b e g i n n i n g . I n d e e d , it is still g o i n g o n .

A m o n g s t h o m o s e x u a l m e n , reactions to W o l f e n d e n w e r e m o r e c o m p l e x . F o r y e a r after y e a r the central p r o b l e m r e m a i n e d : Wolfenden could the w a s j u s t a report; its r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s w e r e j u s t , w e l l , r e c o m m e n d a tions. T h e y d i d n o t h a v e the f o r c e o f l a w . O n l y P a r l i a m e n t c h a n g e that. B u t t h e r e w a s a ray o f h o p e . C o m i n g as it d i d in the w a k e o f a c l u t c h o f u n e x p e c t e d events w h i c h h a d b e g u n w i t h d e f e c t i o n o f G u y B u r g e s s a n d the b i s e x u a l D o n a l d M a c l e a n in M a y 1 9 5 1 a n d i n c l u d e d the u n u s u a l a m o u n t o f attention the press g a v e P e t e r W i l d e b l o o d ' s a c c o u n t o f the M o n t a g u case, Against s o m e t h i n g w o u l d h a v e to b e d o n e . . . S e n s i n g this, a l m o s t i m p e r c e p t i b l y , the ' g a y c o m m u n i t y ' b e g a n to e m e r g e in s o m e t h i n g l i k e its present f o r m . U r - a c t i v i s t s s u c h as A n t o n y G r e y seized o n W o l f e n d e n a n d the s u b s e q u e n t debate a n d u s e d it to the Law, in 1 9 5 5 , the r e p o r t c o u l d n o t b e i g n o r e d for e v e r . W h a t e v e r it w a s ,

' T H E R A Y OF H O P E '

191

b r i n g their plight further into the p u b l i c c o n s c i o u s n e s s . I n d e e d , it is possible to trace the origins o f the B r i t i s h ' g a y l i b e r a t i o n ' m o v e m e n t f r o m their actions at this t i m e . W e h a v e already seen that the m e r e a p p o i n t m e n t o f the W o l f e n d e n C o m m i t t e e h a d c h a n g e d the c o u r s e o f G r e y ' s life, a n d g i v e n h i m a 'professional o c c u p a t i o n ' for the n e x t t w e n t y y e a r s . T h i s b e g a n m o d estly e n o u g h w h e n h e b e c a m e i n v o l v e d in B r i t a i n ' s first ' g a y rights' g r o u p , the H o m o s e x u a l L a w R e f o r m S o c i e t y ( H L R S ) , an a d h o c b o d y w h i c h w a s partly the b r a i n - c h i l d o f s o m e o f the signatories to the Times letter D y s o n (eventually its v i c e - c h a i r m a n ) , S t e p h e n S p e n d e r , J a c q u e t t a H a w k e s a n d C a n o n J o h n C o l l i n s w e r e a m o n g the o r i g i n a l m e m b e r s a n d partly a m u t u a l s u p p o r t g r o u p for o p e n l y h o m o s e x u a l m e n b r a v e e n o u g h to m a k e their proclivities k n o w n . C h i e f a m o n g s t these w e r e L e n S m i t h a n d Reiss H o w a r d , at w h o s e h o m e in L i v e r p o o l R o a d , Islington, the H L R S u s e d to m e e t . I n retrospect, S m i t h a n d H o w a r d s e e m to represent, a l m o s t to the l e v e l o f p a r o d y , the 'Julian a n d S a n d y ' s t e r e o t y p e o f the fifties h o m o sexual c o u p l e . B o t h w e r e pacifists; b o t h , t o o , h a d p r e v i o u s l y b e e n m a r r i e d . S m i t h w a s a m e m b e r o f the I n d e p e n d e n t L a b o u r P a r t y a n d h a d b e e n i n t e r n e d as a c o n s c i e n t i o u s o b j e c t o r d u r i n g the w a r ; R e i s s , a C a n a d i a n , w a s an artist. N o w , together, t h e y ran an a n t i q u e s h o p f r o m the L i v e r p o o l R o a d address. N e v e r t h e l e s s , as G r e y points their d e c i s i o n to s u p p o r t the H L R S out, a n d g i v e it a h o m e a n d postal

address ' w a s o n e o f signal b r a v e r y [because] p o l i c e s u r v e i l l a n c e o f a n y o n e k n o w n o r suspected as a practising h o m o s e x u a l w a s v e r y m u c h a reality in those days, a n d L e n a n d Reiss k n e w v e r y w e l l that i f t h e y w e r e to b e arrested a n d c o n v i c t e d t h e y w o u l d g e t h e a v y p r i s o n sentences'.
25

C h i e f a m o n g s t the H L R S ' s aims a n d o b j e c t i v e s w a s t o

change

p u b l i c a n d political o p i n i o n in f a v o u r o f a r e f o r m o f the l a w , b r o a d l y a l o n g the lines w h i c h W o l f e n d e n h a d r e c o m m e n d e d . E v e n that, h o w e v e r , w a s fraught w i t h difficulties; a n d the great a n d the g o o d w h o h a d offered their services to the s o c i e t y w e r e n o t u n a w a r e o f t h e i r o n y o f their position: T h e e x e c u t i v e c o m m i t t e e for their part w e r e m o s t l y n o t h o m o s e x u a l themselves; t h e y w e r e v e r y c o n s c i o u s o f the delicate, a n d in s o m e respects potentially d a n g e r o u s , nature o f the task w h i c h t h e y h a d

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t a k e n o n , a n d t h e y w e r e understandably roaded' by a group who, however

n e r v o u s o f b e i n g 'rail and well-

well-informed

i n t e n t i o n e d , w e r e all personally v u l n e r a b l e in the e x i s t i n g state o f the l a w a n d m i g h t d o irreparable d a m a g e to the S o c i e t y ' s cause i f they put a foot w r o n g , individually or collectively.
26

T h e y n e e d n o t h a v e w o r r i e d . T h o u g h o v e r the years the

HLRS

i n c r e a s i n g l y b e c a m e a c o n t a c t p o i n t for h o m o s e x u a l m e n , c o m p a r a t i v e l y f e w actually j o i n e d a n d f e w e r still p l a y e d any active part in its c a m p a i g n i n g . In his b o o k G r e y singled o u t A . E . D y s o n (later to b e c o m e f a m o u s / n o t o r i o u s as c o - e d i t o r o f the right-wing ' B l a c k Papers' o n e d u c a t i o n p o l i c y ) a n d specially praised his w o r k . ' D y s o n ' s b r a v e initiative in l a u n c h i n g the H L R S ' , h e w r o t e , ' s h o u l d earn h i m an honourable footnote in the social history o f this c o u n t r y . ' In the s o c i o - p o l i t i c a l spirit in w h i c h b o t h h e a n d D y s o n w e r e w o r k i n g this w a s u n d o u b t a b l y true. B u t it w a s also true that, as early as the late 1 9 5 0 s , the m a j o r battles for h o m o s e x u a l l a w r e f o r m w e r e b e i n g fought b y m e m b e r s o f w h a t w e w o u l d n o w call the liberal, 'chattering classes'. It h a d b e c o m e a G o o d C a u s e , an Issue albeit o n e w h i c h h a d little o r n o t h i n g to d o w i t h o r d i n a r y h o m o s e x u a l s . I n d e e d , d u r i n g the i 9 6 0 C o m m o n s debate R o y ( n o w L o r d ) J e n k i n s w a s to say: ' I a m not c o n c e r n e d only w i t h w h a t homosexuals want, or e v e n primarily with w h a t t h e y w a n t . I a m c o n c e r n e d w i t h w h a t I think is a reasonable l a w for a civilised s o c i e t y . ' T h u s the w h o l e d e c r i m i n a l i z a t i o n c a m p a i g n c a m e to b e seen b y m e n s u c h as ' R i c h a r d ' as litde m o r e than h e t e r o s e x u a l d o - g o o d i n g a feeling w h i c h intensified w h e n , w i t h i n days o f the f o u n d a t i o n o f the HLRS, a n o t h e r w o r t h y b o d y c a m e into b e i n g . T h e A l b a n y T r u s t ( w h i c h a c h i e v e d charitable status in 1 9 6 5 ) w a s n a m e d after its m e e t i n g p l a c e , the set o f r o o m s in A l b a n y , P i c c a d i l l y , t h e n o c c u p i e d b y the b l u f f n o v e l i s t a n d w a r t i m e Postscript-writer J . B . Priestley a n d his w i f e and J a c q u e t t a H a w k e s , b o t h signatories o f the original Times letter o r i g i n a l trustees. T h i n g s w e r e spiralling a w a y f r o m the m a n in the street. T h e A l b a n y T r u s t actually c a m e close to m a k i n g a v i r t u e o u t o f the a s e x u a l h i g h - m i n d e d n e s s w h i c h m o t i v a t e d b o t h it a n d the strangely HLRS.

h e a v i l y i n v o l v e d w i t h the H L R S . T h e y a n d D y s o n w e r e a m o n g its

A c c o r d i n g to its deeds, its initial objects w e r e ' T o p r o m o t e p s y c h o -

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logical health in m e n b y c o l l e c t i n g data a n d c o n d u c t i n g research: T o publish the results t h e r e o f b y w r i t i n g , films, lectures a n d o t h e r m e d i a : T o take suitable steps based t h e r e o n for the p u b l i c benefit to i m p r o v e the social a n d g e n e r a l c o n d i t i o n s necessary for s u c h h e a l t h y p s y c h o logical d e v e l o p m e n t . ' It is easy n o w to m o c k these ideas o f ' r e s e a r c h ' a n d the g r a n d i l o q u e n t use o f w o r d s such as ' t h e r e o f a n d ' t h e r e o n ' in this d o c u m e n t . B u t it is notable, t o o , that n o w h e r e does the w o r d ' h o m o s e x u a l ' appear. T h e H L R S a n d the A l b a n y T r u s t lobbyists w e r e d o i n g their best, a n d f r o m the best o f m o t i v e s ; b u t (as is s o m e t i m e s the case w i t h S t o n e w a l l a n d O u t r a g e ! today) there w a s increasingly a sense in w h i c h the abstract cause threatened to o b s c u r e a n d e v e n o v e r w h e l m an essentially h u m a n p r e d i c a m e n t . F o r m e n l i k e ' N i c h o l a s ' , in particular, t h e r e w a s a certain irrelevancy about committee meetings and notions o f 'the public benefit'. T h e pattern o f his life, h e b e l i e v e d , h a d b e e n set at an early a g e . N o w , effectively dysfunctional, alone after the failure o f the v a r i o u s l y w e l l - i n t e n t i o n e d m e d i c a l a n d psychiatric ' c u r e s ' w h i c h m i g h t j u s t h a v e aided his 'healthy p s y c h o l o g i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t ' , h e t o o k the o n l y c o u r s e w h i c h s e e m e d o p e n to h i m . It w a s y e t a n o t h e r ray o f h o p e : S o p h i e w a s the sister o f o n e o f m y friends. I m e t h e r at o n e o f his parties in 1 9 5 6 . S h e w a s v e r y y o u n g then, a b o u t fifteen, b u t she sat n e x t to m e a n d c u d d l e d m e . A n d t h e n she w r o t e m e a letter s a y i n g that she l o v e d m e . A n d she w e n t o n w r i t i n g . E v e n t u a l l y I m e t h e r again - this w o u l d h a v e b e e n in 1 9 5 8 - a n d w e started t o see e a c h o t h e r quite a bit. S h e ' d h o l d o n to m e as i f she w a s n e v e r g o i n g to let g o . S h e ' d w a n t a fumble w h i l e w e w e r e at the theatre; she w a s v e r y passionate. I ' d n e v e r c o m e across a n y t h i n g l i k e that, a n d f o u n d it v e r y flattering. S o I t h o u g h t i f she feels as s t r o n g l y a b o u t m e as this, w e l l , m a y b e it'll all c o m e right for m e . T h i s o f c o u r s e w a s e x a c t l y the a d v i c e I ' d b e e n getting at that t i m e from the p s y chiatrists a n d f r o m the b o o k s I ' d b e e n reading: y o u ' v e j u s t g o t to take the p l u n g e a n d e v e r y t h i n g w i l l b e all right in the e n d . T h e n I w e n t o f f to w o r k for an oil c o m p a n y in Pakistan. I tried to ' k e e p m y s e l f for S o p h i e , as it w e r e . T h e n , after a b o u t a y e a r , she c a m e o u t w i t h m y m o t h e r . S h e w a s still o n l y e i g h t e e n , b u t she b r o u g h t a letter f r o m her m o t h e r g i v i n g h e r p e r m i s s i o n to m a r r y m e . I w e n t into it h o p i n g , hoping it w o u l d w o r k . I told h e r that I

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h a d great p r o b l e m s s e x u a l l y a n d I d i d n ' t k n o w w h e t h e r I ' d b e able t o c o n s u m m a t e the m a r r i a g e . I didn't actually say that I h a d this attraction to m y o w n s e x , that effectively I w a s g a y ; b u t I r e c k o n e d that w h a t I ' d said w a s e n o u g h . I really w a n t e d the m a r r i a g e to work. T h e n , after a b o u t f o u r m o n t h s a v e r y b u t c h , r e d - h a i r e d a d v e n t u r ous sort o f b o y o f a b o u t m y age c a m e o u t [to w h e r e w e w e r e in P a k i s t a n ] . I w a s intensely attracted to h i m : o n e e v e n i n g I w a s d a n c i n g w i t h S o p h i e a n d I j u s t w e p t . I c o n s c i o u s l y a l l o w e d m y s e l f to w e e p . A n d she said, ' W h a t ' s h a p p e n i n g ? C a n ' t y o u tell m e ? ' A n d I told h e r h o w I w a s m u c h m o r e attracted to m y o w n s e x a n d h o w d i s a p p o i n t e d in m y s e l f I w a s . I didn't o r c o u l d n ' t j u s t c o m e o u t a n d tell h e r ' I ' m g a y ' - for a start I d i d n ' t k n o w for sure that I w a s . I still t h o u g h t that it w o u l d all j u s t b l o w o v e r ; I hoped it w o u l d . S h e w a s in great floods o f tears o v e r this, b e g g i n g m e n o t to send h e r a w a y . S h e w a s v e r y m u c h in l o v e . S o I asked h e r to m a r r y m e . B e f o r e w e g o t m a r r i e d I d i d h a v e s e x w i t h her, a n d I f o u n d I c o u l d get an e r e c t i o n a n d penetrate her. It w a s n ' t w i l d l y successful, b u t I t h o u g h t it w o u l d c o m e . I w a s still pretty w e l l a v i r g i n , certainly in terms o f penetration; I ' d j u s t h a d those f u m b l i n g e x p e r i e n c e s w i t h b l o k e s . B u t it w a s n ' t disgusting, as I t h o u g h t it w o u l d b e . L o o k i n g b a c k , t h o u g h , I s u p p o s e a lot o f it w a s m e t h i n k i n g ' H e r e I a m , a y o u n g m a n a b o u t to get m a r r i e d ' , a n d e n j o y i n g the i m a g e o f a y o u n g , h a n d s o m e m a s c u l i n e b o d y my own young, handsome masculine body
27

m a k i n g l o v e . S e v e r a l gay

friends w h o g o t m a r r i e d h a v e also m e n t i o n e d this. B u t o f c o u r s e , it w a s n ' t v e r y e x c i t i n g a n d I didn't w a n t to d o it v e r y m u c h . I d i d it w i t h h e r b e c a u s e I w a n t e d to h a v e a child b y her. I g o t m a r r i e d w i t h that h o p e . A f t e r a b o u t a y e a r I g o t b a c k from a trip o n e day a n d f o u n d h e r i n q u i t e a state. I d o n ' t k n o w w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d , b u t she w a s in tears a n d e v e n t u a l l y she said, ' I w a n t a d i v o r c e , I m u s t h a v e s e x . ' T h a t ' s the w a y she p u t it. I respected that e x c e p t that I ' d w a r n e d h e r a b o u t m y p r o b l e m s b e f o r e w e w e r e m a r r i e d . A n d then she told m e that s h e ' d slept w i t h n i n e m e n b e f o r e m e . S h e c o u l d r e m e m b e r t h e m all. I ' m afraid that did add to the a c r i m o n y at the t i m e . It upset m e quite a lot a n d after she left I started d r i n k i n g quite h e a v i l y . I ' d b e e n true to h e r w h i l e w e w e r e m a r r i e d , b u t afterwards

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I started to h a v e s o m e s e x u a l e x p e r i e n c e s . A n d I b e g a n to m a s t u r b a t e for the first t i m e in m y life. O d d .


2 8

A f t e r h e s a w L o r d B r a b a z o n , A n t o n y G r e y recalled, h e r e c e i v e d a n o t e f r o m the p e e r telling h i m that h e ' w i l l a l w a y s b e w e l c o m e h e r e a n d that I w i l l d o all I can to h e l p o v e r this difficult q u e s t i o n ' . B r a b a z o n w a s as g o o d as his w o r d . S o t o o w e r e o t h e r influential figures after the H L R S a n d the A l b a n y T r u s t b e g a n a relentless p r o g r a m m e of attrition, b o m b a r d i n g M e m b e r s o f P a r l i a m e n t a n d o p i n i o n formers -

w i t h press releases a n d digests o f the m o s t m e m o r a b l e cases w h i c h w e r e still c o m i n g b e f o r e c r o w n , magistrates' a n d - n o t i n f r e q u e n d y c o r o n e r s ' courts. T h e story o f the m a n w h o k i l l e d h i m s e l f w h i l e a w a i t i n g trial ( J a n u a r y 1 9 5 9 ) ; o f the m a n w h o told the p o l i c e that h e w a s b e i n g b l a c k m a i l e d , o n l y to find h i m s e l f arrested; o f the soldier w h o h a n g e d h i m s e l f rather than face a c o u r t martial; o f the middle-aged h o m o s e x u a l c o u p l e w h o gassed t h e m s e l v e s w h e n the p o l i c e b e g a n investigating w h a t w e r e alleged to b e ' u n n a t u r a l s e x u a l offences' . . . A s a p u b l i c relations e x e r c i s e - in an a g e in w h i c h P R h a d h a r d l y b e e n h e a r d o f it w a s surprisingly successful. M e n l i k e L o r d B r a b a z o n o f Tara, R o y Jenkins and K e n n e t h R o b i n s o n , M P (who promoted the bill d u r i n g the i 9 6 0 debate), as w e l l as a n u m b e r o f o t h e r influential b a c k - b e n c h e r s , w e r e b r o u g h t o n - s i d e . It is difficult to see h o w this c o u l d h a v e b e e n a c h i e v e d o t h e r than at an ' o l d b o y ' , ' o l d s c h o o l t i e ' l e v e l . In a w o r l d in w h i c h the majority o f M e m b e r s o f P a r l i a m e n t h a d still b e e n e d u c a t e d in a l l - m a l e p u b l i c schools a n d y e t c o n t i n u e d to insist that they h a d n e v e r m e t a h o m o s e x u a l , it w a s p r o b a b l y the o n l y stratagem w h i c h c o u l d h a v e w o r k e d . T h e d e g r e e o f i g n o r a n c e w a s staggering, the l e v e l o f p r e j u d i c e b e y o n d that w h i c h e v e n the c a m paigners h a d i m a g i n e d . O n a train j o u r n e y G r e y f o u n d h i m s e l f seated w i t h the C o n s e r v a t i v e M P G o d f r e y L a g d e n : ' L a g d e n [leaned] across to m e a n d said, in a g e n u i n e l y p u z z l e d v o i c e : " T e l l m e , is it really true that these h o m o s e x u a l s find the idea o f g o i n g to b e d w i t h a w o m a n distasteful?" W e a r i l y , I replied, " Y e s , s o m e o f us actually do".. :
1 9

B u t e v e n at this stage, tensions w e r e b u i l d i n g u p a m o n g the p r o s e l y tizers, and, in the m a n n e r o f m a n y g i n g e r - g r o u p s b e f o r e a n d s i n c e , the H L R S a n d the A l b a n y T r u s t s o o n f o u n d t h e m s e l v e s riven by

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internal i n - f i g h t i n g . Ironically, the b r a v e h o m o s e x u a l L e n S m i t h w a s the first casualty. H e felt u n a b l e to c o n t i n u e a n d w i t h d r e w , l e a v i n g its d a y - t o - d a y r u n n i n g (from n e w offices in Shaftesbury A v e n u e ) in the hands o f the n e w l y a p p o i n t e d secretary o f the H L R S , the R e v d A n d r e w H a l l i d i e S m i t h , his w i f e a n d the c h a i r m a n o f b o t h the H L R S a n d the A l b a n y T r u s t , the r e d o u b t a b l e New o n e - t i m e p o l i c e inspector) C . H . R o l p h . T h i s is n o t the place for a detailed history o f g a y politics A n t o n y G r e y has, a n y w a y , p r o v i d e d that in Quest for Justice b u t e v e n the a c c o u n t o f this v e r y early skirmish serves to g i v e s o m e indication o f w h a t w a s to c o m e . It has b e e n important, t o o , in d e m o n s t r a t i n g j u s t h o w influential w h a t w e must, for w a n t o f a better term, call the h e t e r o s e x u a l E s t a b l i s h m e n t v o i c e b e c a m e at a t i m e w h e n the v o i c e f r o m the streets h a d neither w o r l d e n o u g h n o r time to m a k e itself heard. F o r all its i n f l u e n c e , h o w e v e r , n o t e v e n the H L R S c o u l d eradicate innate p r e j u d i c e o v e r n i g h t . A s w e h a v e seen, the i960 House of C o m m o n s v o t e after a debate o n the W o l f e n d e n R e p o r t resulted in an i g n o m i n i o u s t w o - t o - o n e ( 2 1 3 9 9 ) defeat b u t in the climate o f the t i m e it w a s j u s t possible to c l a i m e v e n that as a m o r a l v i c t o r y . In an u n p u b l i s h e d a c c o u n t o f his w o r k at this p e r i o d H a l l i d i e S m i t h wrote: A f t e r the debate, the question w a s n o l o n g e r whether the l a w w o u l d b e r e f o r m e d , b u t when. In t h r e e y e a n the w o r d ' h o m o s e x u a l i t y ' h a d ceased to b e a dirty j o k e a n d h a d b e c o m e a t o p i c for serious discussion. T h e days w h e n v i c t i m s o f p r o s e c u t i o n s w e r e d i s o w n e d b y their parents o r friends are almost o v e r , a n d an increasing n u m b e r o f e m p l o y e r s are w i l l i n g to r e - e n g a g e c o n v i c t e d h o m o s e x u a l s . In 1 8 9 5 , the n a m e o f O s c a r W i l d e w a s u n m e n t i o n a b l e . In i 9 6 0 , w h i l e the l a w u n d e r w h i c h h e w a s c o n d e m n e d w a s b e i n g d e b a t e d in the H o u s e o f C o m m o n s , t w o o f the m o s t p o p u l a r films in L o n d o n w e r e s y m p a t h e t i c d o c u m e n t a r i e s o f his trials. Statesman j o u r n a l i s t (and

'You'll Pardon the Mess; We Can't Help It, Really; We're Bachelors'

I N R E T R O S P E C T W H A T b e c a m e k n o w n as 'the Vassal] affair' w a s o n l y a small w a v e in the rising tide o f social r e - a l i g n m e n t w h i c h m a r k e d the early 1 9 6 0 s . P u b l i c interest b e g a n in the a u t u m n o f 1 9 6 2 w h e n an A d m i r a l t y civil servant b y the n a m e o f J o h n Vassall w a s c o n v i c t e d o f s p y i n g for the S o v i e t U n i o n a n d j a i l e d for e i g h t e e n years. T h e r e w a s a sort o f w e a r y inevitability in the m e d i a c o v e r a g e , h o w e v e r , e v e n w h e n it b e c a m e k n o w n that Vassall w a s h o m o s e x u a l , a n d thus (in the public m i n d at least) peculiarly v u l n e r a b l e to b l a c k m a i l . U n l i k e the B u r g e s s a n d M a c l e a n story a d e c a d e p r e v i o u s l y , the 'affair' signally failed to m e t a m o r p h o s e into a f u l l - b l o w n scandal. It w a s a l l e g e d that Vassall h a d b e e n ' t o o familiar' w i t h the t h e n A d m i r a l t y minister, T h o m a s G a l b r a i t h ; it w a s an u n d e n i a b l e fact that G a l b r a i t h h a d r e s i g n e d (although he w a s s u b s e q u e n d y cleared o f a n y personal o r professional i m p r o p r i e t y ) , b u t the w h o l e case s o o n d r o p p e d f r o m the headlines. W i t h i n a matter o f w e e k s it w a s r e m e m b e r e d o n l y in o c c a s i o n a l reports o f the protracted p r o c e e d i n g s o f a tribunal set u p to l o o k i n t o was equally q u i c k l y forgotten. A n o t h e r c o r n e r h a d b e e n turned. A l t h o u g h a n y m e n t i o n o f h o m o sexuality could still trigger e x p l o s i o n s o f i n d i g n a t i o n a n d r e v u l s i o n , in its small w a y the Vassall affair indirectly p l a y e d a part in further familiarizing the p u b l i c w i t h the subject (or, b u t less often n o w , the 'problem') o f homosexuality. T h e comparatively cool, matter-of-fact w a y in w h i c h the press a n d p u b l i c n o w dealt w i t h a n o t h e r h o m o s e x u a l scandal s e e m e d to b o d e w e l l for the future. In A p r i l 1 9 6 3 the Sunday Mirror h a d still felt it necessary to g i v e its 197 the 'security i m p l i c a t i o n s ' o f the w h o l e affair. T h e hapless Vassall h i m s e l f

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readers a t w o - p a g e g u i d e o n ' H o w to S p o t a Possible H o m o ' -

he'd

g i v e t h e m 'shifty g l a n c e s ' a n d h a v e ' d r o p p e d e y e s ' a n d 'a fondness for the theatre' b u t at a r o u n d the same time h o m o s e x u a l i t y h a d b e e n m o r e reasonably discussed o n Any Questions? o n the B B C Home political shrill S e r v i c e . M o r e a n d m o r e serious o r at least s e m i - s e r i o u s b o o k s , studies a n d articles w e r e also b e i n g published. m a g a z i n e Encounter T h e literary a n d ran o n e o f the first a n d m o s t n o t a b l e o f these in Mirrors

N o v e m b e r 1 9 6 2 . S h a r p l y contrasting w i t h the Sunday

a l a r m i s m , the t o n e o f S i m o n R a v e n ' s l o n g article ' B o y s W i l l B e B o y s T h e M a l e Prostitute in L o n d o n ' w a s d e t e r m i n e d l y responsible a n d m e a s u r e d . E v e n the g u a r d s m a n to w h o m R a v e n s p o k e s e e m e d to belong to quite a different generation to the libidinous twod i m e n s i o n a l chancers w h o m J o h n L e h m a n n h a d e n c o u n t e r e d : ' " S o m e o f us get quite f o n d o f the blokes w e see r e g u l a r l y , " h e said. " Y o u g o to their flats a n d h a v e s o m e drinks a n d talk a bit t h e y ' r e n i c e f e l l o w s , s o m e o f t h e m , a n d interesting to listen to. A n d as for the sex bit, s o m e o f the y o u n g e r ones aren't b a d l o o k i n g , a n d I ' v e h a d s o m e real thrills o f f t h e m in m y t i m e . " ' W h a t J . R . A c k e r l e y called his 'fairy story for adults', We Think World of You, the

h a d a p p e a r e d in i 9 6 0 , b u t e v e n that w a s w h i m s i c a l

a n d o b l i q u e in c o m p a r i s o n w i t h three m o r e n e w b o o k s o n e x p l i c i d y h o m o s e x u a l t h e m e s w i t h w h i c h it w a s sharing shelf-space b y the e n d o f 1 9 6 2 . T h e r e was Rupert Hart-Davis's expurgated but none p s e u d o n y m o u s ' a u t o b i o g r a p h y ' - Another g u i d e to h o m o s e x u a l i t y . In The Homosexual Society' R i c h a r d H a u s e r c l a i m e d , o n the basis o f Kind of Loving the less l o n g - a w a i t e d e d i t i o n o f O s c a r W i l d e ' s De Profundis; there w a s a by 'Anthony R o w l e y ' and, perhaps oddest o f all, there w a s a k i n d o f straight m a n ' s

n o real scientific research, to h a v e identified m o r e than forty different types o f h o m o s e x u a l . M a n y o f these w i l l b e familiar to a n y o n e w h o has read this far: t h e r e w a s the C a l l - B o y , the S u g a r - D a d d y , the D e m o r a l i z e d M a r r i e d M a n , the C l u b T y p e , the P u b T y p e , the ' C o t t a g e ' T y p e , the S h i p ' s Q u e e r , the W a r Q u e e r , the B o d y - B u i l d e r , the R e l i g i o u s H o m o s e x u a l , a n d so o n a n d so o n . M o s t w e r e n o m o r e than b r o a d sketches o f the social stereotypes w h i c h b y t h e n e v e n The had parachuted Goon Show h a d h a d in its sights. O n e o f S p i k e M i l l i g a n ' s scripts, for instance, a n a i v e N e d d y S e a g o o n into the arcane w o r l d o f G r y t p y p e - T h y n n e a n d the r o u g h a n d e v e r - r e a d y M o r i a r t y :

'YOU'LL

PARDON

THE MESS

199

GRYTPYPE-THYNNE:

Y o u ' l l p a r d o n the mess; w e c a n ' t h e l p it

really; w e ' r e b a c h e l o r s . NEDDY SEAGOON: W h y don't y o u get married? / w o u l d , but Moriarty doesn't l o v e m e .

GRYTPYPE-THYNNE:

It w a s h a r d l y m o r e than a p o t - b o i l e r , b u t H a u s e r ' s b o o k u n w i t t i n g l y s e r v e d to m a r k the c o n f l u e n c e o f the t w o streams o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y w h i c h w e h a v e so far b e e n f o l l o w i n g . U n l i k e the Sunday Mirror g u i d e ,

it w a s f u n d a m e n t a l l y g o o d - n a t u r e d . Its patient i f h a r d l y o r i g i n a l t a x o n omy r e d u c e d the o n c e - s h o c k i n g ' S u g a r - D a d d y ' ( N e d L a t h o m , say)

a n d ' W a r Q u e e r ' to little m o r e than h o u s e h o l d familiars. L i k e J u l i a n a n d his friend S a n d y , the itinerant q u e e n s w h o m K e n n e t h W i l l i a m s a n d H u g h P a d d i c k first b e g a n to p a y at a r o u n d this t i m e , t h e y w e r e hardly the t y p e to frighten the horses. R a t h e r , l i k e J o h n Vassall, t h e y s e e m e d to e m p h a s i z e j u s t h o w o r d i n a r y a n d u b i q u i t o u s the h o m o s e x u a l was. W i t h o r w i t h o u t his s u e d e shoes, d r o p p e d e y e s a n d shifty g l a n c e s , h e c o u l d b e a c l e r k Vassall h a d b e e n a c l e r k o r a m e m b e r o f o n e o f the m o r e effete professions to w h i c h J u l i a n a n d S a n d y aspired. S u n d a y b y S u n d a y o n the B B C L i g h t P r o g r a m m e ' s Beyond Our Ken

a n d Round the Home t h e y c o u l d b e h e a r d as travel o r theatrical agents, a n t i q u e dealers, restaurateurs ' C o u l d I h a v e a v a d a at y o u r e n t r e s ? ' ' O o o o h ! ' E ' s b o l d , i n n e e ? ' - o r e v e n journalists: J U L I A N : G o o d m o r n i n g ! I ' m J u l i a n , this is m y friend S a n d y . H e l l o ! H e l l o ! W e ' r e f r o m the Daily minutes o f y o u r time? KENNETH them. J U L I A N : O o o o h ! W e l l , o u r e d i t o r says w h y d o n ' t y o u troll o f f to Mr H o m e ' s latty . . . H O R N E : T h a t ' s a flat o r h o u s e - T r a n s l a t o r ' s n o t e . H O R N E : W e l l , it d e p e n d s w h a t y o u w a n t to d o w i t h Palari, y e s ! C a n w e h a v e f i v e

KENNETH

J U L I A N : . . . a n d h a v e a palari w i t h h i m . S A N D Y : W e l i k e to h a v e s o m e t h i n g h o t a n d p e r s o n a l . . . Listeners felt t h e y k n e w t h e m , o r perhaps s o m e o n e l i k e t h e m . E v e n the m o r e o r less accurate 'palari' i n w h i c h their s k e t c h e s w e r e c o u c h e d s e e m e d to signal h o w safe a n d almost o r d i n a r y J u l i a n , S a n d y a n d t h e i r real-life e q u i v a l e n t s h a d b e c o m e . I n d e e d , palari itself, b y t h e n a l m o s t e x t i n c t o n the g a y s c e n e , e n j o y e d a b r i e f g e n e r a l v o g u e at this t i m e ,

200

ORDINARY

PEOPLE

l e a v i n g m e n l i k e ' R i c h a r d ' and ' J o h n ' , w h o at least k n e w the m e a n i n g and derivation o f the words, looking on in b e w i l d e r m e n t . For back ' R i c h a r d ' , w h o b e g a n his life in the w o r l d o f 1 9 3 0 s r e v u e a n d musical c o m e d y , w h a t h e called 'this sudden memories: W e a l w a y s said ' G i r l ' at the e n d o f a s e n t e n c e . It w a s a sort o f full stop. Y o u ' d say s o m e t h i n g l i k e , ' Y o u all right, girl?' o r ' F a n c y a drink, girl?' B u t y o u c o u l d get quite technical, t o o . Y o u c o u l d say s o m e t h i n g l i k e I h e a r d s o m e o n e say o n the radio j u s t the o t h e r day: ' O o o o h , w i l l y o u j u s t v a d a the b o n a f i l i o m i ajax!' w h i c h m e a n t , ' O h , j u s t l o o k at the y o u n g , slightly effeminate m a n standing n e x t to y o u . ' It w a s all c a m p a n d rather silly, t h o u g h ; e v e n then. M e n talking ' Z h o o s h i n g - u p ' !
2

c r a z e ' at least b r o u g h t

W h e n Porter and W e e k s interviewed 'John', though, he expressed rather m o r e a m b i v a l e n t sentiments. A n o t h e r o n e - t i m e chorus b o y , h e s a w the p u b l i c a p p r o p r i a t i o n o f this j o k e y private l a n g u a g e almost as an i n v a s i o n o f his p r i v a c y . It w a s as i f h e felt that, as a c o n c o m i t a n t to i n c r e a s i n g p u b l i c acceptability, the h o m o s e x u a l w a s b e i n g f o r c e d to s u r r e n d e r a bit o f his individuality: It w a s originally the l a n g u a g e o f circus p e o p l e . T h e r e are bits o f p i g L a t i n as w e l l . F o r instance, ' f a c e ' is ' e c a f - w e l l , that's j u s t 'face' backwards. 'Riah' that's 'hair' b a c k w a r d s . B u t y o u h a v e other things; hands are 'lappers', legs are 'lallipegs', breasts are ' j u b e s ' , eyes are ' o c a l s ' o r ' o p a l s ' . It's d i e d o u t n o w . I think it w a s B r u c e F o r s y t h w h o d i d a w h o l e s o n g in palari, a n d t h e n o f c o u r s e K e n n e t h W i l liams a n d H u g h P a d d i c k [used it] in Beyond m y s t e r y left.
3

Our Ken. S o really it

b e c o m e s l i k e e v e r y t h i n g else; e v e r y b o d y does it. S o there's n o m o r e

O n M o n d a y 1 4 J a n u a r y 1 9 6 3 K e n n e t h W i l l i a m s w r o t e w a n l y , i f rather tetchily, in his diary: T h e papers are full o f this Vassall e n q u i r y . T h e reporters g i v i n g e v i d e n c e all talk a b o u t h o m o s e x u a l intrigue & hint at dark secrets in h i g h places. A l l the m u c k r a k i n g is g o i n g o n . T o n o a d v a n t a g e . H o m o s e x u a l i t y in itself is n o v i c e , a l a w w h i c h m a k e s it o n e is evil.

'YOU'LL

PARDON THE MESS

201

H a d the g o v e r n m e n t acted o n the findings o f the W o l f e n d e n report, this w h o l e nasty e p i s o d e w o u l d n e v e r h a v e o c c u r r e d . Unfortunately,


4

as w e h a v e seen, H a r o l d M a c m i l l a n ' s C o n s e r v a t i v e

g o v e r n m e n t h a d little i n t e n t i o n o f acting, least o f all w h i l e the n a m e Vassall a n d the red rags o f ' b l a c k m a i l ' a n d 'national s e c u r i t y ' w e r e still p e r i o d i c a l l y resurfacing in the headlines. A n d so things d r a g g e d o n . A n d o n . A t the H o m o s e x u a l L a w R e f o r m S o c i e t y ' s offices in Shaftes b u r y A v e n u e , h o w e v e r ( w h e r e , f o l l o w i n g a n o t h e r r o u n d o f internal disagreements, A n t o n y G r e y h a d taken o v e r as a c t i n g secretary), it r e m a i n e d business as usual a n d t h e n s o m e . M o r e letters w e r e w r i t t e n , m o r e lectures g i v e n , m o r e contacts m a d e , m o r e m e e t i n g s h e l d , m o r e m o n e y raised. B u t , in the frustrating s t a n d - o f f - W o l f e n d e n per se w a s n o t d e b a t e d at all in the parliamentary sessions o f 1 9 6 3 a n d 1 9 6 4 that w a s a b o u t all. Basically, l i k e the rest o f B r i t a i n , the s o c i e t y c o u l d o n l y sit a n d w a i t for the i m p e n d i n g G e n e r a l E l e c t i o n . L o o k i n g b a c k , this p e r i o d o f q u i e t u d e seems e x t r a o r d i n a r y . It spans the e x a c t p e r i o d in w h i c h E n g l a n d started to ' s w i n g ' . 1 9 6 3 in particular w a s the y e a r w h i c h effectively k i l l e d o f f the o l d o r d e r a n d g a v e a f i v e - m i n u t e k n o c k o n the d r e s s i n g - r o o m d o o r o f the n e w . It w a s the y e a r o f the G r e a t T r a i n R o b b e r y ; the y e a r 7 0 , 0 0 0 m e m b e r s o f the C a m p a i g n for N u c l e a r D i s a r m a m e n t ( C N D ) m a r c h e d f r o m B r i t a i n ' s A t o m i c W e a p o n s R e s e a r c h E s t a b l i s h m e n t at A l d e r m a s t o n in B e r k s h i r e to h o l d their b i g g e s t e v e r rally in L o n d o n ; a n d the y e a r in w h i c h the Beatles first e n t e r e d the B r i t i s h p o p charts ( ' F r o m M e T o Y o u ' ; ' S h e L o v e s Y o u ' ) . E v e n the p o e t P h i l i p L a r k i n f o u n d it an ' A n n u s M i r a b i l i s ' the title o f o n e o f his m o s t famous p o e m s : S e x u a l intercourse b e g a n In N i n e t e e n S i x t y - T h r e e ( w h i c h w a s rather late for m e ) A n d the B e a t l e s ' first L P . I f s e x u a l i n t e r c o u r s e d i d n o t e x a c t l y b e g i n for J o h n P r o f u m o , M a c millan's m a r r i e d S e c r e t a r y o f State for W a r , in 1 9 6 3 , almost a l o n e h e w a s responsible for its r e c r u d e s c e n c e a m o n g the B r i t i s h p e o p l e . L a r k i n does not m e n t i o n it (nor, c u r i o u s l y , in their a u t o b i o g r a p h i e s , m e m o i r s , letters o r taped r e c o l l e c t i o n s d o m a n y g a y m e n ) , b u t w h a t i n e v i t a b l y B e t w e e n the e n d o f the C h a t t e r l e y B a n

202

ORDINARY

PEOPLE

b e c a m e k n o w n as 'the P r o f u m o affair' w a s the cause clbre o f the y e a r , w h a t P r o f e s s o r B e n P i m l o t t has called 'the biggest inquisition into the m o r e s o f the g o v e r n i n g class since the trial o f O s c a r W i l d e ' . It b l e w apart the n o t i o n o f E s t a b l i s h m e n t p r o b i t y , nearly b r o u g h t d o w n (and certainly fatally w e a k e n e d ) the g o v e r n m e n t , a n d u n w i t t i n g l y p r e p a r e d the g r o u n d for future revelations d i r e c d y relevant to this story. T h e p u b l i c first g o t to h e a r a b o u t things - r u m o u r s h a d b e e n e c h o i n g t h r o u g h the corridors o f p o w e r for w e e k s , i f n o t m o n t h s in M a r c h , w h e n P r o f u m o assured the H o u s e o f C o m m o n s that ' T h e r e w a s n o i m p r o p r i e t y w h a t s o e v e r in m y acquaintanceship w i t h M i s s [Christine] K e e l e r . ' T h a t w a s j u s t the start, h o w e v e r , for it s u b s e q u e n d y b e c a m e k n o w n that h e w a s l y i n g - that, at the h e i g h t o f the C o l d W a r , a B r i t i s h w a r m i n i s t e r had b e e n i n v o l v e d w i t h a ' m o d e l ' , w h o m h e h a d first seen s w i m m i n g n a k e d in a p o o l at C l i v e d e n , L o r d A s t o r ' s c o u n t r y estate. O n c e it w a s d i s c o v e r e d that K e e l e r w a s also i n v o l v e d w i t h Y e v g e n y I v a n o v , the S o v i e t M i l i t a r y A t t a c h in L o n d o n , familiar a r g u m e n t s a b o u t the dangers o f b l a c k m a i l w e r e again rehearsed a n d P r o f u m o w a s f o r c e d to f o l l o w the c o u r s e taken b y so m a n y b e f o r e h i m . H i s resignation w a s a c c e p t e d o n 5 J u n e . It m a r k e d the e n d o f an especially f e v e r e d spring: I n the late spring o f 1 9 6 3 m e n a n d w o m e n all o v e r B r i t a i n w e r e telling, a n d others w e r e b e l i e v i n g , e m b e l l i s h i n g a n d repeating, such stories as that n i n e H i g h C o u r t j u d g e s h a d b e e n e n g a g i n g in s e x u a l o r g i e s , that a m e m b e r o f the C a b i n e t h a d s e r v e d d i n n e r at a private party w h i l e n a k e d e x c e p t for a m a s k , a small lace a p r o n a n d a card r o u n d his n e c k r e a d i n g ' I f m y services d o n ' t please y o u , w h i p m e ' , that a n o t h e r m e m b e r o f the C a b i n e t h a d b e e n d i s c o v e r e d b y p o l i c e b e n e a t h a b u s h in R i c h m o n d P a r k w h e r e h e a n d a prostitute h a d b e e n e n g a g i n g in oral-genital activities a n d that the p o l i c e h a d h u s h e d the m a t t e r u p , that the P r i m e M i n i s t e r , H a r o l d M a c m i l l a n , h a d k n o w n a b o u t s o m e , o r all, o f these matters b u t h a d taken in n o a c t i o n , a n d that a principal m e m b e r o f the r o y a l family h a d b e e n h a v i n g s e x u a l relations w i t h o n e , i f n o t t w o , prostitutes circumstances inevitable.
5

ministers

that w o u l d h a v e m a d e

exposure sooner or

later

B e r n a r d L e v i n p u b l i s h e d those w o r d s in 1 9 7 0 (and it is interesting to n o t e that, a l t h o u g h h o m o s e x u a l i t y d i d n o t feature in the Profumo

'YOU'LL

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affair, h o m o - e r o t i c , s a d o - m a s o c h i s t i c elements are p r o m i n e n t in these p r o t o t y p i c a l u r b a n m y t h s ) . S o e x t r a o r d i n a r y d i d the stories s e e m , e v e n in 1 9 7 0 , h o w e v e r , that L e v i n felt b o u n d to verify t h e m w i t h a f o o t n o t e : ' T h e a u t h o r h e a r d all o f these stories at the t i m e , m o s t o f t h e m m o r e than o n c e , a n d all o f t h e m f r o m p e o p l e w h o b e l i e v e d , o r professed t o b e l i e v e , that t h e y w e r e true.' In this h e a t e d a t m o s p h e r e L o r d D e n n i n g , the M a s t e r o f the R o l l s , h a d q u i c k l y b e g u n a n o t h e r g o v e r n m e n t e n q u i r y i n t o the 'security considerations' o f the P r o f u m o affair, the usual w a y o f i n d e f i n i t e l y k i c k i n g a c o n t e n t i o u s issue firmly into t o u c h . It c o u l d n o t stay t h e r e for l o n g , h o w e v e r . In S e p t e m b e r p e o p l e q u e u e d all night to b u y c o p i e s o f w h a t w a s then trendily entitled Lord Denning's such as Report of the Nyasaland Report (in sharp contrast, L e v i n of Inquiry). It b e c a m e a n o t e d , to the g e n e r a l r u n o f g o v e r n m e n t reports w h i c h b o a s t e d titles Commission r u n a w a y best-seller for H e r M a j e s t y ' s S t a t i o n e r y O f f i c e . D e n n i n g w a s to b l a m e ; h e h a d g i v e n a n a t i o n t h e n a d d i c t e d to the w o r l d o f J a m e s B o n d - fourteen o f Ian F l e m i n g ' s n o v e l s w e r e in p r i n t in 1 9 6 3 ; the film v e r s i o n o f D r No h a d b e e n released to great success in 1 9 6 2 - an official report w h i c h read l i k e a c r i m e thriller, e v e n i f its s e c t i o n headings w e r e m o r e M i c k e y Spillane than Ian F l e m i n g : ' T h e S l a s h i n g a n d S h o o t i n g ' , ' M r P r o f u m o Is W a r n e d ' , ' T h e S p a n i a r d ' s P h o t o g r a phy', ' T h e M a n Without a Head'. Ill a n d tired, H a r o l d M a c m i l l a n w a s appalled b y the w h o l e P r o f u m o debacle a n d its s e e d y aftermath. ( ' T w o , possibly t h r e e H i g h Court j u d g e s I c o u l d b e l i e v e ; but n i n e , n o , n o , ' h e is r e p o r t e d to h a v e said.) A t nearly s e v e n t y years o f a g e the O l d E t o n i a n G r e a t W a r officer h a d addressed the H o u s e o f C o m m o n s o n 1 7 J u n e a b o u t Profumo's b e h a v i o u r : ' I find it difficult to tell the H o u s e w h a t a b l o w it has b e e n for m e , for it seems to h a v e u n d e r m i n e d o n e o f the v e r y f o u n d a t i o n s u p o n w h i c h political life m u s t b e c o n d u c t e d . ' ' W o u n d e d ' , as h e put it, h e staggered o n until, h o s p i t a l i z e d b y an acute prostate p r o b l e m , he a n n o u n c e d his resignation as P r i m e M i n i s t e r o n 1 0 O c t o b e r . L o r d H o m e read the a n n o u n c e m e n t Conservative Conference, then coincidentally in to the annual Within session.

hours, the ' c u s t o m a r y processes o f c o n s u l t a t i o n ' h a v i n g b e e n o b s e r v e d , that same H o m e - b y t h e n plain Sir A l e c D o u g l a s - H o m e - w a s P r i m e M i n i s t e r . A f t e r a l o n g c o n v a l e s c e n c e , M a c m i l l a n r e t u r n e d to the b a c k

204

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b e n c h e s little k n o w i n g that, for h i m at least, the w o n t w a s y e t to c o m e . A n d w h e n it did, it c a u g h t h i m c o m p l e t e l y u n a w a r e s . N o o n e , least o f all the f o r m e r p r i m e minister, w a s p r e p a r e d for the b o m b s h e l l w h i c h the Sunday Mirror d r o p p e d o n 1 2 J u l y 1 9 6 4 . In thick i n k y b l a c k the front p a g e h o w l e d : P E E R A N D A G A N G S T E R :
PROBE.

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It s o u n d e d l i k e a n o t h e r o f L e v i n ' s obiter dicta. N e i t h e r the p e e r n o r the gangster w a s identified b y n a m e , b u t the f o l l o w i n g article explicitly stated that the p o l i c e the ' Y a r d ' - w e r e investigating an alleged ' h o m o s e x u a l relationship b e t w e e n a p r o m i n e n t p e e r a n d a leading t h u g in the L o n d o n u n d e r w o r l d ' . T h e r e w e r e teasing references to ' M a y fair parties i n v o l v i n g c l e r g y m e n ' a n d 'the private w e e k e n d activities o f the p e e r a n d a n u m b e r o f p r o m i n e n t p u b l i c m e n d u r i n g visits to Brighton'. T h e dread w o r d ' b l a c k m a i l ' surfaced, too. It did not take l o n g for the identity o f the p e e r , n o r e v e n that o f the gangster, to leak o u t . W i t h i n a w e e k the Daily Mirror a n n o u n c e d that it h a d a the ' p i c t u r e w e dare n o t print' s h o w i n g 'a w e l l - k n o w n m e m b e r o f the H o u s e o f L o r d s seated o n a sofa w i t h a gangster w h o leads biggest protection racket L o n d o n has e v e r k n o w n ' . T h e German

n e w s m a g a z i n e Stem h a d it t o o , a n d gleefully told its readers that the p e e r w a s L o r d B o o t h b y (the O l d E t o n i a n f o r m e r C o n s e r v a t i v e M P R o b e r t B o o t h b y , w h o h a d b e e n m a d e a Life P e e r in 1 9 5 8 ) a n d the gangster R o n n i e K r a y . In the light o f his c o m m e n t s o n P r o f u m o ' s p e r f i d y in the C o m m o n s , it is possible to i m a g i n e H a r o l d M a c m i l l a n ' s reactions to this. B o o t h b y was an o l d friend; b u t there w e r e d e e p e r issues, t o o . W e n o w k n o w that for years M a c m i l l a n h a d b e e n a w a r e of, a n d h a d a c c e p t e d w i t h a p a i n e d c o m p l a i s a n c e , the fact that his w i f e , L a d y D o r o t h y (ne C a v e n dish) h a d e n j o y e d a l o n g - t e r m affair w i t h B o o t h b y . R i g h t u p until the day o f his death M a c m i l l a n c o u l d n e v e r b r i n g h i m s e l f to talk a b o u t a n y o f this. But i f h e w a s a shattered E n g l i s h m a n , the luckless A l e c D o u g l a s nation.

H o m e s a w h i m s e l f as the v e r y likely p r e m i e r o f a shattered innuendo-laden

N e w s p a p e r after n e w s p a p e r w a s p r o d u c i n g further legally v e t t e d b u t stories a b o u t B o o t h b y a n d K r a y . Classified g o v e r n m e n t papers released o n l y in J a n u a r y 1 9 9 5 r e v e a l h o w w o r r i e d D o w n -

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i n g Street w a s that the e p i s o d e c o u l d b e e v e n m o r e d a m a g i n g to t h e m than P r o f u m o ' s h a d b e e n to M a c m i l l a n . D o u g l a s - H o m e w a s told that t w o T o r y M P s knew that ' L o r d B o o t h b y a n d [ T o m ] D r i b e r g h a d b e e n i m p o r t u n i n g males at a d o g track a n d w e r e i n v o l v e d w i t h gangs o f thugs w h o dispose o f their m o n e y at the tracks.' H i s C h i e f W h i p let it b e k n o w n (confidentially) that ' i f a p r o s e c u t i o n w a s i m p e n d i n g a n d w a s b e i n g h e l d u p , it s h o u l d p r o c e e d . ' In the e v e n t , it d i d n ' t c o m e to that. T h e g o v e r n m e n t w a s let o f f the h o o k w h e n B o o t h b y w e n t p u b l i c in a letter to The Times w h i c h t o w n - c r i e d rather than m e r e l y p r o c l a i m e d his i n n o c e n c e : ' I a m n o t a h o m o s e x u a l . I h a v e n o t b e e n to a M a y f a i r party o f a n y k i n d for m o r e than t w e n t y years. I h a v e m e t the m a n alleged to b e the ' K i n g o f the U n d e r w o r l d ' o n l y t h r e e times, o n business matters; a n d t h e n b y a p p o i n t m e n t in m y flat at his request, a n d in the c o m p a n y o f o t h e r p e o p l e . ' costly legal action, the Daily Mirror
6

N o o n e really b e l i e v e d h i m but, s e e m i n g l y fearful o f e v e n m o r e c a v e d in, a p o l o g i z e d a n d p a i d B o o t h b y 4 0 , 0 0 0 in c o m p e n s a t i o n . T o s o m e p e o p l e the a l w a y s i m p e c u n i o u s p e e r said h e h a d g i v e n this sudden w i n d f a l l a w a y to charity; to others ( D r i b e r g included) h e c o n f i d e d that h e h a d u s e d it to b u y a c o u n t r y h o u s e . A s M a c m i l l a n h a d cause to k n o w , B o o t h b y w a s m o r e than d o u b l e - f a c e d .

B o b B o o t h b y w a s in his early sixties in 1 9 6 3 ; T o m D r i b e r g w a s fiftyeight. N e i t h e r h a d w h a t w a s then called ' o l d m o n e y ' b o t h , i n d e e d , fought p e r i o d i c battles w i t h the Inland R e v e n u e undoubtedly but they were they figures o f the E s t a b l i s h m e n t . T h e y h a d a certain clout, a n d

used it. S e x u a l intercourse d i d n o t b e g i n for t h e m in

1 9 6 3 , a n y m o r e than it h a d for J o h n P r o f u m o ; b u t it w a s a r o u n d t h e n that, f o r e v e r o p e n to blandishment, their elderly lizard eyes b e g a n to focus o n w h a t w a s h a p p e n i n g in ' s w i n g i n g L o n d o n ' . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , D r i b e r g ' s u n i q u e l y frank b u t u n f i n i s h e d a u t o b i o g r a p h y , p o s t h u m o u s l y p u b l i s h e d as Ruling graphical w r i t i n g s (/ Fight Tomorrow to Live Passions, does n o t c o v e r this Yesterday, Your p e r i o d o f his life. T h o u g h o t h e r w i s e e x h a u s t i v e , B o o t h b y ' s a u t o b i o ( 1 9 4 7 ) , a n d My ( 1 9 6 2 ) ) , t o o , are u n r e v e a l i n g a b o u t all that really m a t t e r e d

in his personal life. H o w e v e r , c o p i o u s s e c o n d a r y descriptions exist o f the m a n n e r in w h i c h m i d d l e - a g e d a n d e v e n elderly m e n l i k e D r i b e r g

206 and B o o t h b y battened

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the remnants

o f an o l d - f a s h i o n e d ,

patrician

h o m o s e x u a l i t y o n to the n e w y o u t h culture. T h e y d o n o t tell an especially edifying story. D i g n i t y in particular is signally l a c k i n g in the details o f the t w o parliamentarians' i n v o l v e m e n t w i t h R o n n i e K r a y . B o o t h b y h a d apparently first c o m e across h i m w h e n the gangster called at his flat in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h an u n s p e c i fied business deal. A s i f to demonstrate his o w n special credentials as a ' s w i n g e r ' in O c t o b e r 1 9 5 9 h e h a d w a r n e d the H o u s e o f C o m m o n s that the p u b l i c r e g a r d e d M P s as 'practically senile a n d hopelessly " s q u a r e " ' D r i b e r g h a d m e t b o t h R o n n i e a n d his t w i n b r o t h e r R e g g i e at an East E n d n i g h t c l u b . Fittingly, the introductions o n that o c c a s i o n w e r e m a d e b y J o a n L i t t l e w o o d , d i r e c t o r o f the n o t titled m u s i c a l Fings Ain't Wot They Used t'Be (1959). inappropriately

A l t h o u g h in early 1 9 6 3 the K r a y s - t h e n a g e d t w e n t y - e i g h t - w e r e n o t quite the lords o f the m a n o r w h i c h shotguns, torture a n d finally m u r d e r w e r e to g i v e t h e m , neither e n c o u n t e r w a s w i t h o u t a certain seediness. U n l i k e B o o t h b y a n d D r i b e r g , h o w e v e r , the twins k n e w w h a t t h e y w e r e d o i n g . B e i n g seen in the c o m p a n y o f a M e m b e r o f P a r l i a m e n t a n d a P e e r o f the R e a l m w a s n o t o n l y gratifying in itself; as their c o n f i d e n c e in their o w n i n v i n c i b i l i t y g r e w , k n o w l e d g e o f the h o m o s e x u a l i t y o f b o t h m e n a n d n o t least their p r e d i l e c t i o n for r o u g h trade w a s an almost b a n k a b l e asset, a p o w e r f u l l e v e r w h i c h c o u l d b e p u l l e d i f e v e r the g o i n g g o t t o u g h . It w a s a n o t h e r m a r k o f the K r a y s ' s e l f - c o n f i d e n c e that R o n n i e n e v e r felt it necessary to h i d e his o w n h o m o s e x u a l i t y . T h e i r b i o g r a p h e r J o h n P e a r s o n has w r i t t e n : ' I ' m n o t a poof, I ' m h o m o s e x u a l , ' h e w o u l d say, a n d [he] w a s g e n u i n e l y p u t o u t b y the antics o f effeminate males.. T a n s i e s ' , h e u s e d t o say, w i t h the same C o c k n e y c o n t e m p t p r o n o u n c e d the w o r d ' w o m e n ' . H e l i k e d b o y s , preferably w i t h l o n g lashes a n d a certain m e l t i n g l o o k r o u n d the e y e s . H e particularly e n j o y e d t h e m i f t h e y h a d n o e x p e r i e n c e o f m e n b e f o r e . H e l i k e d t e a c h i n g t h e m a n d often g a v e t h e m a f i v e r to take their girl-friends o u t o n c o n d i t i o n t h e y slept w i t h h i m the f o l l o w i n g night. H e a l w a y s asked t h e m w h i c h they p r e f e r r e d . H e w a s s o m e t h i n g o f a sadist, b u t w a s g e n e r o u s w i t h his l o v e r s [. . .] a n d , as h e p r o u d l y insisted, [he] w a s free from c o l o u r with which he

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p r e j u d i c e , h a v i n g tried S c a n d i n a v i a n s , Latins, A n g l o - S a x o n s , A r a b s , Negroes, C h i n e s e and a Tahitan.


7

A b o v e all, R o n n i e w a s a s n o b . H e e n j o y e d k i t t i n g o u t his latest finds at C e c i l G e e o r a n y o t h e r fashionable tailor b e f o r e p a r a d i n g t h e m a r o u n d the W e s t E n d a n d p l y i n g t h e m w i t h drinks at the S o c i e t y C l u b in J e r m y n Street. It w a s fun, t o o , to entertain new parliamentary, titled a n d s h o w - b u s i n e s s friends at the flat h e k e p t in C e d r a C o u r t , W a l t h a m s t o w . T h e y c o u l d p l a y w i t h his c o l l e c t i o n o f n o r t h A f r i c a n g e w g a w s , a d m i r e the large painting o f a n a k e d b o y w h i c h d o m i n a t e d o n e wall, a n d l o u n g e o n their host's elaborate f o u r - p o s t e r b e d w h i l e t h e y p o p p e d w h a t e v e r pills h a p p e n e d to b e o n offer. R o n n i e ' s C e d r a C o u r t parties e v e n a c h i e v e d a fame o f their o w n , the suburban bacchanalia at w h i c h ' r o u g h b u t c o m p l i a n t E a s t E n d lads w e r e s e r v e d ' , in Francis W h e e n ' s w o r d s , ' l i k e so m a n y c a n a p s ' , b e c o m i n g a small b u t r e c o g n i z e d part o f L o n d o n ' s h o m o s e x u a l s c e n e . A t o n e a television p u n d i t m o r e than m a d e the a c q u a i n t a n c e o f a famous d i s c - j o c k e y . A t others, as P e a r s o n has d e s c r i b e d ( w i t h a perhaps understandable tact), actors w o u l d find t h e m s e l v e s r u b b i n g shoulders w i t h 'a w o r l d - f a m o u s painter, several b o x e r s , the c h a i r m a n o f an e n g i n e e r i n g firm, an assortment o f m e n f r o m the C i t y , a n d t w o y o u n g m e n in dark suits w h o t u r n e d o u t to b e C h u r c h o f E n g l a n d c l e r g y m e n ' . T h i s w a s feasting w i t h panthers o n a l e v e l w h i c h e v e n O s c a r W i l d e c o u l d n o t h a v e e n v i s a g e d - but, for the likes o f D r i b e r g a n d B o o t h b y , that w a s precisely the attraction. It d i d n o t matter that R o n n i e h a d g o t their n u m b e r a n d w a s using t h e m to facditate entry i n t o what P e a r s o n called 'the useful f r e e m a s o n r y o f the simdarly i n c l i n e d ' . ( D r i b e r g w a s later to s h o w h o w useful h e c o u l d b e in that respect b y p e t i t i o n i n g the H o m e S e c r e t a r y o n R o n n i e ' s b e h a l f to get a 'friend' transferred to a prison m o r e a m e n a b l e than D a r t m o o r . ) It d i d n ' t e v e n matter that they w e r e risking their careers as w e h a v e seen, e v e n the Sunday Mirror c o u l d b e silenced. T h e risk w a s part o f the thrill. as the K r a y s seems m e l o extreme function T o d a y the i n v o l v e m e n t o f the likes o f B o o t h b y a n d D r i b e r g w i t h such c o n s p i c u o u s m e m b e r s o f the demi-monde dramatic a n d little short o f pathetic, b u t w h e n seen in c o n t e x t it is illustrative o f m o r e than senescent v e n i a l i t y . It is o n l y an manifestation o f the w a y in w h i c h h o m o s e x u a l i t y c a m e to

as o n e o f the levellers o f class, a g e a n d social b o u n d a r i e s in the n e w

208

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w o r l d o f the 1 9 6 0 s . F u r t h e r e x a m p l e s o f this process in action are, sadly, n o t h a r d to find. W e can see it in B r i a n E p s t e i n ' s instant infatu ation w i t h J o h n L e n n o n the first time h e h e a r d the B e a d e s play at the C a v e r n C l u b in L i v e r p o o l . It w a s at l u n c h t i m e o n T h u r s d a y 9 N o v e m b e r 1 9 6 1 the v e r y p r e c i s i o n o f t i m e a n d date is perhaps i n d i c a t i v e o f h o w p o w e r f u l an e p i p h a n y it w a s . J e w i s h , fastidious a b o u t his a p p e a r a n c e , his dark suits a n d his crisp w h i t e shirts, E p s t e i n w a s then t w e n t y - e i g h t a n d w o r k i n g in the family d e p a r t m e n t store. C h r o n i c a l l y repressed, h i t h e r t o his taste for ' r o u g h trade' h a d l e d h i m to adopt a secret n o c t u r n a l e x i s t e n c e , t o u r i n g w o r k i n g - c l a s s pubs b e h i n d the city's R o y a l C o u r t T h e a t r e in search o f c o m p l i a n t d o c k e r s o r s e a m e n . N o w , in o n e l u n c h t i m e , the w h o l e o f his life h a d c h a n g e d : ' H e h a d fallen in l o v e w i t h J o h n L e n n o n . H e w a s besotted, n o t b y the p r e t t y - f a c e d P a u l [ M c C a r t n e y ] o r P e t e [Best] b u t b y the b o y w h o s e faade o f crudeness a n d toughness t o u c h e d the n e r v e o f his m o s t secret " R o u g h T r a d e " fantasies.'
8

L e n n o n w a s , b y all accounts, as adept at a v o i d i n g E p s t e i n ' s advances w h i l e still a c c e p t i n g all that h e h a d to offer as R o n n i e K r a y w a s w i t h B o o t h b y . T r a g i c a l l y , for E p s t e i n that w a s all part o f his appeal. B a c k in L o n d o n , things w e r e naturally m o r e fluid. A n e w eclectic aristocracy w a s e v o l v i n g , a m o n g w h o m a n y t h i n g o r nearly a n y t h i n g - w e n t . A n d artfully at the centre o f it, literate, L S E - e d u c a t e d , sexually a m b i v a l e n t a n d a p p a r e n d y available, w a s M i c k J a g g e r , in so m a n y w a y s the antithesis o f L e n n o n . D r i b e r g w a s i n t r o d u c e d to the n o t o r i o u s face o f the R o l l i n g S t o n e s in 1 9 6 7 , b y the gay A m e r i c a n B e a t p o e t A l l e n G i n s b e r g . H e w a s o v e r w h e l m e d . A f t e r an afternoon in J a g g e r ' s c o m p a n y , largely spent staring at his c r o t c h , h e a n n o u n c e d : ' O h m y , M i c k , what a b i g basket y o u h a v e ! ' ' I w a s slightly embarrassed, as D r i b e r g was my guest,' G i n s b e r g has recalled. ' I w a s also a s t o u n d e d at his b o l d n e s s . I h a d eyes for J a g g e r myself, b u t I w a s v e r y c i r c u m spect a b o u t J a g g e r ' s b o d y . Y e t h e r e w a s D r i b e r g c o m i n g o n c r u d e . T h e r e w a s a k i n d o f Z e n directness a b o u t it that w a s interesting: I s u d d e n l y realised that w i t h directness l i k e that y o u c o u l d score m a n y times.'
9

O r at least y o u c o u l d try. D r i b e r g w a s far f r o m alone in his pursuit o f J a g g e r . C e c i l B e a t o n , a n o t h e r m e m b e r o f the sixties' c h a r m e d circle, t o o k things m u c h further. T h e n s i x t y - t h r e e years o f a g e , the friend a n d p h o t o g r a p h e r o f r o y a l t y first e n c o u n t e r e d J a g g e r in M a r c h 1 9 6 7 ,

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w h i l e h e w a s staying at a h o t e l in M a r r a k e s h . S u d d e n l y , the R o l l i n g Stones ' t o g e t h e r w i t h h a n g e r s - o n , chauffeurs, a n d A m e r i c a n s ' a r r i v e d . T h e r e w a s ' B r i a n J o n e s , w i t h his girlfriend, b e a t n i k - d r e s s e d Anita P a l l e n b e r g dirty w h i t e face, dirty b l a c k e n e d e y e s , dirty canary drops o f hair, barbaric j e w e l l e r y ' ; there w a s K e i t h R i c h a r d 'and, o f c o u r s e , Mick Jagger'. In the days that f o l l o w e d B e a t o n w r o t e p a g e after p a g e in his diary a b o u t the effect J a g g e r h a d o n h i m : I d i d n ' t w a n t to g i v e the i m p r e s s i o n that I w a s o n l y interested in M i c k , b u t it h a p p e n e d that w e sat n e x t to o n e a n o t h e r as h e d r a n k a V o d k a Collins and s m o k e d w i t h pointed finger held high. His skin is c h i c k e n - b r e a s t w h i t e a n d o f a fine quality. H e has an i n b o r n e l e g a n c e . [. . .] H e is v e r y g e n d e , a n d w i t h perfect m a n n e r s . H e i n d i c a t e d that I s h o u l d f o l l o w his e x a m p l e a n d eat the c h i c k e n w i t h m y fingers. It w a s tender a n d g o o d . H e has m u c h a p p r e c i a t i o n , a n d his small, a l b i n o - f r i n g e d eyes n o t i c e e v e r y t h i n g . [. . .] H i s figure, his hands a n d arms w e r e i n c r e d i b l y f e m i n i n e [..]! t o o k M i c k t h r o u g h the trees to p h o t o g r a p h h i m in the m i d d a y sun. I g a v e his face the s h a d o w s it n e e d e d . T h e lips w e r e o f a fantastic roundness, the b o d y almost hairless a n d y e t , surprisingly, I m a d e h i m l o o k l i k e a T a r z a n b y P i e r o di C o s i m o . H e is s e x y , y e t c o m pletely sexless. H e c o u l d nearly b e a e u n u c h . A s a m o d e l h e is a natural.
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In the light o f all this, it is n o t perhaps entirely surprising that m a n y o f the h o m o s e x u a l m e n w h o m {pace R o y J e n k i n s ) the predominandy the and straight m e m b e r s o f the H o m o s e x u a l L a w R e f o r m S o c i e t y a n d w o u l d j u s t l e a v e t h e m a l o n e . T h e y read a b o u t Vassall, P r o f u m o

A l b a n y T r u s t w e r e so d e t e r m i n e d to help rather w i s h e d that e v e r y o n e all the o t h e r scandals, a n d j u s t s h r u g g e d ; for t h e m the H L R S ' s H a l l i d i e S m i t h h a d b e e n asking the w r o n g question: f o r t h e m it w a s n o t so m u c h when the l a w w o u l d b e r e f o r m e d , b u t should it L i v e r p o o l Street days, the H L R S be?
u

Ostensibly, this sounds absurd. R i g h t f r o m the start, f r o m its early h a d b e e n s o m e t h i n g o f a lifeline, w i t h its premises acting as an unofficial m e e t i n g - p l a c e a n d a d v i c e

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c e n t r e f o r h u n d r e d s o f o r d i n a r y h o m o s e x u a l m e n . I n subsequent g a y m y t h o l o g y , t o o , it a n d the A l b a n y T r u s t h a v e b e e n p o r t r a y e d as such u n a l l o y e d G o o d T h i n g s that it is almost heretical to recall the l e v e l o f i n d i f f e r e n c e to the w o r k t h e y w e r e d o i n g w h i c h existed, e v e n a m o n g those g a y m e n w h o m i g h t h a v e b e e n its casual 'clients'. Y e t t h e r e w a s a feeling that the ' d o - g o o d e r s ' w e r e principally inter ested in political c h a n g e , in d o i n g s o m e t h i n g w h i c h w o u l d h e l p that a n o n y m o u s a r c h e t y p e 'the h o m o s e x u a l ' rather than b e t t e r the lot o f particular i n d i v i d u a l s . M e n l i k e ' R i c h a r d ' a n d ' S t e p h e n ' , for instance, l o o k e d o n W o l f e n d e n ' s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s in m u c h the say w a y as t h e y d i d the parallel proposals for a r e f o r m o f d i v o r c e legislation: as s o m e t h i n g to b e w e l c o m e d b u t s o m e t h i n g w h i c h w a s still n o t especially r e l e v a n t to t h e m . ' R i c h a r d ' t o o k the i m p r i s o n m e n t o f L o r d M o n t a g u , P e t e r W i l d e b l o o d a n d M i c h a e l P i t t - R i v e r s almost as a personal affront ' I w a s s h o c k e d at the p o l i c e action. P e r s e c u t i o n , I called it; I still d o . I w a s a p p a l l e d ' b u t h e w a s virtually u n m o v e d b y the g a y rights a c t i v i s m o f the 1 9 6 0 s : ' I w a s in f a v o u r o f decriminalization, o f c o u r s e . B u t the W o l f e n d e n debate d i d n ' t affect m y life v e r y m u c h . I ' d b e e n h a v i n g r a m p a n t s e x for years; it d i d n ' t e x a c d y m a k e a lot o f difference! I n m y o p i n i o n the m o s t i m p o r t a n t t h i n g it d i d w a s to liberalize the general atmosphere.'
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M o v i n g in c o m p l e t e l y different social circles, ' S t e p h e n ' felt m u c h the s a m e . L o o k i n g b a c k a d e c a d e after the m a j o r i t y o f the W o l f e n d e n r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s h a d finally passed into l a w , h e w a s c o o l l y realistic: ' I w a s , I think, a w a r e o f c h a n g i n g o p i n i o n s in the w a k e o f the K i n s e y R e p o r t , for instance, o r the W o l f e n d e n proposals. B u t , there again, I w o n d e r i f things h a v e c h a n g e d as m u c h as p e o p l e m a k e out. I s h o u l d n ' t h a v e t h o u g h t the c h a n g e in the l a w affected p e o p l e ' s lives much.'
1 3

' S t e p h e n ' w a s , h o w e v e r , s o m e t h i n g o f a special case. A h i g h - r a n k i n g c i v d servant, h e w a s f o r t y - s e v e n years o f a g e w h e n the W o l f e n d e n R e p o r t w a s p u b l i s h e d a n d in a l o n g - s t a n d i n g ' m a r r i e d ' relationship w h i c h h a d started j u s t after the w a r . T h u s h e w a s , in effect, part o f a c o n t i n u a t i o n o f the c o s y , p r e - w a r a n d w a r t i m e c o t e r i e the B e a t o n s , C o w a r d s , L e h m a n n s , B u r g e s s e s a n d their l i k e - for w h o m h o m o s e x u a l ity h a d n e v e r b e e n a p r o b l e m . ' T h e a d v e r t i s e m e n t c o l u m n s o f the New Statesman w e r e places that o n e l o o k e d at [for] rather carefully c o d e d a d v e r t i s e m e n t s " B a c h e l o r seeks a n o t h e r to share h o u s e " , that

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sort o f thing,' h e recalled. I n his w o r l d o n e c o u l d easily h a v e b e e n f o r g i v e n for t h i n k i n g that the w a r h a d n e v e r h a p p e n e d : T h e r e u s e d to b e drag parties w h i c h w e r e often v e r y g r a n d , b e c a u s e these p e o p l e usually h a d e n o r m o u s flats a n d lots o f m o n e y , a n d it w a s c h a m p a g n e a n d that sort o f thing. T h e o t h e r thing, o f c o u r s e a great m e c c a for the g a y w o r l d w a s L a d y M a l c o l m ' s servants' ball at the A l b e r t H a l l e v e r y y e a r . S h e w a s s o m e v e r y b e n e v o l e n t lady w h o b e l i e v e d in d o i n g s o m e t h i n g for the servants; a n d so e v e r y year, at the A l b e r t H a l l , she o r g a n i s e d this e n o r m o u s servants' ball w h i c h I s u p p o s e several t h o u s a n d p e o p l e u s e d to g o to, dressed u p . A n d that b e c a m e a m e c c a for h o m o s e x u a l s w h o u s e d to g o in all sorts o f e x t r a o r d i n a r y garbs. I w e n t o n c e o r t w i c e , I t h i n k , a n d I saw y o u n g m e n dressed in a tiger skin o r all sorts. I w a s dressed rather respectably, as a m a t t e r o f fact. I w e n t in an A r a b c o s t u m e w h i c h I ' d b e e n g i v e n d u r i n g the w a r , w i t h flowing things a n d a c o r d r o u n d o n e ' s h e a d . L a d y M a l c o l m w a s h o r r i f i e d b y it; a n d e v e n t u a l l y the t h i n g w a s b r o u g h t to an e n d . T h e o t h e r e v e n t , o f c o u r s e , w a s the C h e l s e a A r t s B a l l w h i c h w a s a m i x e d affair, b u t again sort o f l a r g e l y p a t r o n i s e d b y the g a y fraternity. A n o t h e r great m e e t i n g place w a s the gallery at S a d l e r ' s W e l l s . T h e r e w a s the ballet, o f c o u r s e , b u t o n e u s e d to g o u p t h e r e a n d o n e g o t in for a shilling a n d [stood] at the b a c k . T h a t w a s really quite s o m e p i c k - u p p o i n t .
14

J o e O r t o n seems to h a v e b e e n e q u a l l y s a n g u i n e , e q u a l l y at h o m e w i t h the status q u o . T h e r e is n o t a single r e f e r e n c e t o W o l f e n d e n in his p u b l i s h e d diaries ( w h i c h c o v e r the p e r i o d b e t w e e n D e c e m b e r 1 9 6 6 and A u g u s t 1 9 6 7 ) . N o r , o n the strength o f t h e m , d i d politics o r t h e struggle for h o m o s e x u a l rights o v e r l y c o n c e r n h i m . R a t h e r , a l t h o u g h their c e n t r e p i e c e is a t e d i o u s l y detailed a c c o u n t o f the p r i a p i c excesses w h i c h O r t o n a n d his l o v e r K e n n e t h H a l l i w e l l e n j o y e d d u r i n g a s p r i n g h o l i d a y in M o r o c c o , the diaries p r e s e r v e a n d h i g h l i g h t i m a g e s o f the q u o t i d i a n - b u t hardly m u n d a n e - reality o f h o m o s e x u a l life as it w a s d e v e l o p i n g in the m i d - 1 9 6 0 s . T h e y g i v e a g r a p h i c a c c o u n t o f the deterioration o f O r t o n ' s relationship w i t h H a l l i w e l l as w e l l as v i v i d snapshots o f m o r e successful d o m e s t i c set-ups:

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K e n n e t h W i l l i a m s said, ' G e t C l i v e a n d T o m to i n t r o d u c e y o u to the H o l l o w a y set. T h e r e ' s this d o c t o r q u e e r , b u t g o o d - n a t u r e d a n d she's b o u g h t this h o u s e a n d s t o c k e d it w i t h b o y s . T h e y ' r e all w o r k i n g lads. A l l f r o m borstal. A n d she's allotted t h e m their v a r i o u s tasks. O n e is responsible for the p l u m b i n g , a n o t h e r for the e l e c tricity. A n d so it g o e s o n [. . .] T h e r e ' s e v e n a b o y responsible for the g o l d f i s h , ' K e n n e t h said, m o r e as an afterthought. ' A n d i f any o f t h e m n e g l e c t their tasks she calls h i m into h e r surgery, w a g s h e r finger a n d says, " N o w then, D e n n i s , y o u ' v e n e g l e c t e d to feed the goldfish. W h a t is y o u r e x c u s e ? " A n d the lad m i g h t say, " W e l l , y o u see, I h a d the trade in a n d I f o r g o t . " " F o r g o t ! " this q u e e n w i l l say, " H a d the trade in a n d forgot? Y o u ' v e n o right to h a v e the trade until y o u ' v e fed the f i s h . " "
5

E l s e w h e r e , t o o , far a w a y f r o m the H o l l o w a y R o a d , an i n w a r d l o o k i n g , d o m e s t i c a t e d a n d virtually s e l f - c o n t a i n e d w o r l d w a s e v o l v i n g a w o r l d w h i c h s e e m e d to h a v e litde n e e d o f legislation o r w o u l d - b e legislators. R a t h e r y o u n g e r than O r t o n , ' S a m ' r e m e m b e r e d it o n l y t h r o u g h incidents that are as m u c h a part o f a y o u n g h o m o s e x u a l ' s life t o d a y as t h e y w e r e in the years i m m e d i a t e l y b e f o r e d e c r i m i n a l i z a t i o n : T h e r e w a s o n e b o y w h o s e e m e d quite h a p p y to a c c o m p a n y m e e v e r y w h e r e I w e n t . I t h o u g h t perhaps h e w a s interested, a n d o n e d a y I m a n a g e d t o get m y h a n d o n his thigh. H e k n o c k e d it off, b u t h e n e v e r said a n y t h i n g . W e w e n t b a c k to the billet a n d the n e x t t h i n g I k n e w h e a n d a m a t e o f his c a m e i n t o m y r o o m . T h i s b o y w a s a b o x e r a n d his m a t e kept e g g i n g h i m on, and they took m e outside. 'I s h o u l d p u n c h y o u r f u c k i n g h e a d i n , ' t h i s g u y says. S o l s a i d , ' W e l l , l o o k ; if y o u w a n t to. Y o u d o it i f it'll m a k e y o u feel a n y better.' S o h e hit m e , b u t h e m u s t h a v e ' p u l l e d ' it, b e c a u s e it d i d n ' t hurt m e at all. I said, ' F e e l better n o w ? ' b u t h e c o u l d n ' t say ' Y e s ' . I m e t o n e q u i t e n i c e y o u n g b o y . I s h o u l d think h e ' d [have b e e n ] i n his early t w e n t i e s , b u t h e l o o k e d a b o u t e i g h t e e n . W e w e n t to b e d t o g e t h e r ; w e h a d s e x , a n d a f e w days later cor! It w a s fortunate for m e that I h a d a friend w h o w o r k e d in the V . D . clinic, so I h a d q u i c k , easy t r e a t m e n t .
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E v e n t u a l l y a G e n e r a l E l e c t i o n w a s called, a n d p o l l i n g t o o k p l a c e o n T h u r s d a y 1 6 O c t o b e r 1 9 6 4 . N o t entirely u n e x p e c t e d l y - for the last f e w days o f the c a m p a i g n o p i n i o n polls h a d s h o w n a g r o w i n g s w i n g in their d i r e c t i o n L a b o u r w o n . T h e i r o v e r a l l m a j o r i t y w a s o n l y f i v e , b u t they h a d p u t an e n d to 'thirteen y e a n o f T o r y m i s r u l e ' largely t h r o u g h the endlessly repeated p r o m i s e o f the n e w P r i m e M i n i s t e r H a r o l d W i l s o n to forge a n e w B r i t a i n in the w h i t e heat o f t e c h n o l o g y . It is doubtful, h o w e v e r , w h e t h e r the fundamentally d e c e n t b u t o v e r ridingly p r a g m a t i c W i l s o n s a w the legalization o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y as any m o r e a part o f that n e w B r i t a i n than ' R i c h a r d ' , ' S t e p h e n ' o r J o e O r t o n . T h e r e w e r e far m o r e pressing a n d less o b v i o u s l y c o n t e n t i o u s issues to b e addressed. W i t h o u t w a r n i n g , h o w e v e r , t h e r e c a m e a n e w d e m a n d for the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f the W o l f e n d e n proposals. U p in the H o u s e o f L o r d s the eighth E a r l o f A r r a n , a h e r e d i t a r y p e e r w h o t o o k the C o n s e r v a t i v e W h i p (but w a s later to cross the floor a n d j o i n the then L i b e r a l P a r t y ) , s u d d e n l y d e c l a r e d his s u p p o r t for the c a u s e . ' B o o t y ' A r r a n w a s a m a v e r i c k o n the r e d b e n c h e s . H e k e p t a p e t b a d g e r w h i c h h a d the free r u n o f his c o u n t r y h o u s e , a n d h e c o n t r i b u t e d a regular gossip c o l u m n to the L o n d o n Evening News w h i c h , a c c o r d i n g to A n t o n y G r e y , h e w o u l d c o m p o s e in l o n g h a n d , l y i n g full-length o n the floor o f his office. H e w a s n o t h i m s e l f h o m o s e x u a l , h e t o l d his n o b l e friends o n 1 2 M a y 1 9 6 5 , b u t h e h a d d o n e his h o m e w o r k (under the surprised b u t d e l i g h t e d tutelage o f the H L R S ) a n d n o w felt 'that, in a c c e p t i n g the l a w o n h o m o s e x u a l practices as it n o w stands, w e are persecuting a m i n o r i t y a n d w e are b e i n g unjust. A n d these things, I think, are u n b e c o m i n g to o u r c o u n t r y . ' Stardingly, a n u m b e r o f o t h e r lords b o t h t e m p o r a l a n d spiritual (then

t h o u g h t so t o o , a m o n g t h e m the A r c h b i s h o p o f C a n t e r b u r y

M i c h a e l R a m s e y ) , the A r c h b i s h o p o f Y o r k , the E a r l o f L o n g f o r d a n d B a r o n e s s Gaitskell, the w i d o w o f the f o r m e r L a b o u r leader. B e t w e e n t h e m , ' B o o t y ' a n d his f e l l o w peers, t o g e t h e r w i t h a g r o w i n g n u m b e r o f m e m b e r s o f the H o u s e o f C o m m o n s , w o r k e d relentlessly to h a v e A r r a n ' s technical ' M o v i n g for P a p e r s ' m o t i o n t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a B i l l a n d t h e n to get that B i l l formally tabled. C i r c u m s t a n c e s w e r e against t h e m . N o t o n l y w a s there, as w e h a v e seen, c o n t i n u i n g indifference in large parts o f the h o m o s e x u a l c o m m u n i t y ; the o v e r a l l t o n e o f parliamentary o p i n i o n r e m a i n e d s t u b b o r n l y anti. B u t s l o w l y a m o m e n t u m built u p . T h e A r r a n B i l l (the Jons et

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origo, o f c o u r s e , o f w h a t w a s to b e c o m e the 1 9 6 7 S e x u a l O f f e n c e s A c t ) was p r e s e n t e d to b o t h houses o f P a r l i a m e n t n o less than three times. I n 1 9 6 5 it actually p r o c e e d e d as far as a v o t e in the H o u s e o f C o m m o n s b u t 'the N o e s h a v e it, the N o e s h a v e it!' w a s n a r r o w l y defeated. E v e n the n o r m a l l y b u o y a n t ' B o o t y ' A r r a n w a s b e g i n n i n g to w o n d e r w h a t h e h a d g o t h i m s e l f i n t o . O b s c e n i t i e s h a d b e e n d a u b e d o n the walls o f his L o n d o n c l u b . ' F r a n k l y , ' h e told the H o u s e o f L o r d s , ' I a d m i t that m a n y times I w o u l d gladly h a v e b e e n shot o f the w h o l e w r e t c h e d business. T h e r e is n o fun in it, a n d s o m e t i m e s o n e feels desperate at s o m e o f the letters o n e r e c e i v e s . M o s t o f m y post is a n o n y m o u s n o w a d a y s , a n d such letters d o n o t e x a c t l y e n c o u r a g e o n e t o c o n t i n u e . ' ( O n e such, o p e n e d b y his secretary, w a s n o m o r e than a p a r c e l o f h u m a n faeces. ' I t h r e w it a w a y , L o r d A r r a n , ' she g a m e l y a n n o u n c e d ; 'it w o u l d n ' t k e e p . ' ) T h e r e w a s a certain surrealism a b o u t the p r o t r a c t e d p r o c e e d i n g s as the a r g u m e n t s d r a g g e d o n in a w o r l d s e e m i n g l y h e r m e t i c a l l y sealed f r o m reality. O n the o n e h a n d F i e l d M a r s h a l V i s c o u n t M o n t g o m e r y o f A l a m e i n , n o less (ironically, a m a n w h o w a s to b e p o s t h u m o u s l y a n d c o n t r o v e r s i a l l y ' o u t e d ' ) , w a s fulminating that to v o t e for the B i l l w a s to ' c o n d o n e the D e v i l a n d all his w o r k s ' . It w o u l d sap the m o r a l fibre o f the y o u t h o f the nation, h e said - ' A n d , H e a v e n k n o w s ! it w a n t s i m p r o v i n g . ' O n the o t h e r there w e r e m e n l i k e ' R i c h a r d ' , w h o h a d b e e n h a v i n g r a m p a n t s e x for years, a n d J o e O r t o n . I n a radio play first broadcast as early as 1 9 6 4 , t w o years b e f o r e h e c a m e to p u b l i c n o t i c e w i t h his stage play Loot, the latter h a d matter-of-factly i n c o r p o r ated ' h o m o s e x u a l ' r h y t h m s i n t o o t h e r w i s e h e t e r o s e x u a l situations. The Ruffian on the Stair w a s quintessential ' k i t c h e n - s i n k ' d r a m a , v e r y m u c h o f its t i m e . S e t in a L o n d o n bed-sit, it o p e n s at breakfast-time w h d e its p r o t a g o n i s t , M i k e , is s h a v i n g a n d his partner J o y c e w a s h i n g u p : J O Y C E : H a v e y o u g o t an a p p o i n t m e n t t o d a y ? M I K E : Y e s . I ' m to b e at K i n g ' s C r o s s Station at e l e v e n . I ' m m e e t i n g a m a n in the todet. He puts away his shaving the v a n ? M I K E puts on a made-up bow tie. M I K E : N O . It's still u n d e r repair. materials. J O Y C E : Y o u a l w a y s g o to such interesting places. A r e y o u taking

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J O Y C E takes the tray to the sink and puts the dishes into a bowl. She pours water on them. J O Y C E (putting on a pair of rubber gloves): W h e r e d i d y o u g o yesterday? M I K E : I w e n t to M i c k e y P i e r c e ' s . I ' d a m e s s a g e to d e l i v e r . I h a d a chat w i t h a m a n w h o travels in electrically o p e r a t e d m a s s a g e m a c h i n e s . H e b o u g h t m e a h a m roll. It turns o u t h e ' s o n the run.
17

W I L S O N : . . . W e w e r e h a p p y , t h o u g h . [ M y b r o t h e r a n d I] w e r e y o u n g . H e was seventeen. I was twenty-three. Y o u can't do better for y o u r s e l f than that, c a n y o u ? (He shrugs) W e w e r e b o s o m friends. I ' v e n e v e r told a n y o n e that b e f o r e . I h o p e I haven't shocked you. M I K E : A S close as that? W I L S O N : W e h a d separate beds - h e w a s a stickler f o r c o n v e n t i o n , b u t that's as far as it w e n t . W e spent e v e r y n i g h t in e a c h other's c o m p a n y . It w a s the reason w e n e v e r g o t a n y w o r k done. M I K E : T h e r e ' s n o w o r d in the Irish l a n g u a g e for w h a t y o u w e r e doing.'
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T h i s j u x t a p o s i t i o n o f the ostensibly bizarre w i t h the p r o s a i c ( ' H a v e y o u taken u p transvestism? I ' d n o idea o u r m a r r i a g e t e e t e r e d o n the e d g e o f fashion') w a s to b e o n e o f the trademarks o f O r t o n ' s w o r k b u t it o n l y reflected the reality w h i c h , as a y o u n g h o m o s e x u a l m a n , h e saw in the w o r l d a r o u n d h i m . H i s diaries are full o f strange e p i p h a n i e s , a l t h o u g h perhaps n o n e is stranger than the l o n g a c c o u n t o f a n o r g y w h i c h h e e n c o u n t e r e d b y c h a n c e in a n o r t h L o n d o n p u b l i c l a v a t o r y : . . . A s e v e n t h m a n c a m e in, b u t b y n o w n o b o d y cared. T h e n u m b e r o f p e o p l e in the place w a s so large that d e t e c t i o n w a s q u i t e i m p o s s ible. A n d a n y w a y , as s o o n b e c a m e apparent w h e n the s e v e n t h m a n stuck his h e a d d o w n o n a l e v e l w i t h m y fly, h e w a n t e d a c o c k in his m o u t h t o o . F o r s o m e m o m e n t s n o t h i n g h a p p e n e d . T h e n an eighth m a n , b e a r d e d a n d s t o c k y , c a m e in. H e p u s h e d the sixth m a n r o u g h l y a w a y f r o m the fair-haired m a n a n d q u i c k l y s u c k e d o v e r m y b u t t o c k s a n d w a s t r y i n g to p u s h his p r i c k b e t w e e n the my fair-haired m a n o f f T h e m a n b e s i d e m e h a d p u l l e d m y j e a n s d o w n

2l6

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legs. T h e fair-haired m a n , h a v i n g b e e n s u c k e d o f f hastily left the p l a c e . T h e b e a r d e d m a n c a m e o v e r a n d n u d g e d a w a y the s e v e n t h m a n f r o m m e and, o p e n i n g w i d e m y fly, b e g a n s u c k i n g m e l i k e a m a n i a c . T h e l a b o u r e r , g e t t i n g v e r y e x c i t e d b y m y feeling his c o c k w i t h b o t h hands, s u d d e n l y g l u e d his m o u t h to m i n e . The little pissoir under the bridge had become the scene of a frenzied ordinary business. homosexual saturnalia. man's No more than two feet away the citizens of Holloway m o u t h , and quickly pulled up m y j e a n s .
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moved about their

I c a m e , squirting c o m e into the b e a r d e d

E v e r y t h i n g w a s in a mess, as G r y t p y p e - T h y n n e m i g h t h a v e said. In essence, O r t o n ' s diary entry encapsulates the g e n e r a l situation in w h i c h h o m o s e x u a l s f o u n d t h e m s e l v e s as 1 9 6 6 b e c a m e 1 9 6 7 a n d the ' s w i n g i n g S i x t i e s ' c a m e o f a g e . J u s t l i k e the citizens o f H o l l o w a y , the w o r l d g o t o n w i t h its o w n business protests e r u p t e d o n b o t h sides o f the the A d a n t i c at the i n c r e a s i n g l e v e l o f A m e r i c a n military i n v o l v e m e n t in V i e t n a m , the B e a t l e s released Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, g o v e r n m e n t w a s f o r c e d to sanction a d e v a l u a t i o n o f the p o u n d largely u n a w a r e o f the 'frenzied h o m o s e x u a l saturnalia' w h i c h w a s t a k i n g p l a c e in its midst. R e a l life w a s upstaging the legislators. T h e W o l f e n d e n proposals a n d successive versions o f the S e x u a l Offences B i l l , w i t h their i m p l i c i t l y c o n s e r v a t i v e a s s u m p t i o n that d e c r i m i n a l i z e d h o m o s e x u a l i t y w o u l d b e p r e d i c a t e d o n adult, m o n o g a m o u s , ( T h u s far a n d n o farther, the e v e r - c i r c u m s p e c t K e n n e t h hetero Williams s e x u a l lines, s e e m e d irrelevant at the d a w n i n g o f the A g e o f A q u a r i u s . s e e m e d to b e s a y i n g w h e n , in 1 9 7 7 , h e told a C a m p a i g n for H o m o sexual E q u a l i t y g r o u p : ' T h e o n l y m o v e m e n t to w h i c h I e v e r attached m y s e l f w a s the A l b a n y T r u s t , b e c a u s e its espoused aim was to change the law concerning cohabitation between consenting male adults.' c a u g h t b e t w e e n t w o cultures at a r o u n d this t i m e : I g o t arrested in a g a y sauna. It w a s r u n b y s o m e stupid q u e e n w h o w a s pissed h a l f the t i m e - a c l u b , y o u k n o w . A n d s o m e w r e t c h e d p o l i c e m a n m a n a g e d to j o i n a n d spent a d a y o b s e r v i n g . T h e n o n e F r i d a y e v e n i n g thirty o f t h e m c a m e in. T h i s u n d e r c o v e r p o l i c e m a n o p e n e d the d o o r to t h e m a n d w e w e r e all arrested. I w a s c h a r g e d w i t h b u g g e r y a n d a r r a i g n e d to appear at the O l d B a d e y , w o u l d y o u believe! ( m y italics)) ' F r a n c i s ' w a s o n e o f m a n y h o m o s e x u a l m e n w h o f o u n d themselves

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I d i d n ' t h a v e a n y m o n e y at the t i m e so I g o t L e g a l A i d . F i v e o f us w e r e there for s e v e n days, c o s t i n g the c o u n t r y h u n d r e d s of thousands o f p o u n d s , I ' d h a v e t h o u g h t ; an e n o r m o u s s u m o f m o n e y . After a w e e k o n e case w a s dismissed. A n o t h e r g u y w a s f o u n d guilty o f i n d e c e n t b e h a v i o u r o r w h a t e v e r - h e w a s s u p p o s e d to h a v e b e e n w a n k i n g s o m e b o d y o n the stairs a n d the j u d g e g a v e h i m a c o n d i t i o n a l discharge a n d o r d e r e d h i m to p a y s e v e n t y - f i v e p o u n d s costs. T h a t ' s w h a t h e t h o u g h t o f it! T w o p e o p l e w e r e f o u n d n o t guilty, a n d the j u r y c o u l d n ' t a g r e e in m y case, e v e n o n a m a j o r i t y v e r d i c t . S o t h e y b r o u g h t m e there. T h i s t i m e I w e n t a l o n g a n d t h e y a s k e d for an up again - the sods! T h e original case h a d taken e l e v e n m o n t h s to g e t adjournment funeral the because o n e o f the witnesses h a d to g o to his g r a n d m o t h e r ' s

in G e r m a n y . S o the j u d g e said that, in v i e w o f the trivial n a t u r e o f the offence a n d the cost to the C r o w n a n d all that, w o u l d p r o s e c u t i o n l i k e to . . . S o t h e y w e n t o f f a n d p h o n e d the D . P . P . [ D i r e c t o r o f P u b l i c P r o s e c u t i o n s ] a n d c a m e b a c k a n d said t h e y w o u l d b e offering n o further e v i d e n c e . S o the j u d g e said, In that case I shall enter a v e r d i c t o f n o t guilty, a n d I s t e p p e d f r o m the court a free m a n ! It w a s n ' t really v e r y traumatic b e c a u s e I d i d n ' t feel guilty at all. I t h i n k the w h o l e thing w a s j u s t a n o n s e n s e . I w a s o b v i o u s l y technically guilty b u t so w h a t ?
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D e s p i t e L o r d A r r a n ' s f o r e b o d i n g s a n d the i m p l a c a b l e corps o f o p p o n ents b o t h inside a n d outside P a r l i a m e n t , the c h a m p i o n s o f l a w r e f o r m r e m a i n e d o b d u r a t e in their c a m p a i g n to get the S e x u a l O f f e n c e s B i l l o n to the statute b o o k , o r at least d e b a t e d o n the floor o f the H o u s e o f C o m m o n s . B u t , for session after session, g o v e r n m e n t t i m e w a s d e n i e d t h e m . A n y further progress d e p e n d e d o n the c h a n c e that o n e o f their n u m b e r w o u l d b e successful in the p e r i o d i c ballot o f M P s w i s h i n g to i n t r o d u c e P r i v a t e M e m b e r ' s Bills. T h a t c h a n c e c a m e o n 1 1 February 1966 w h e n H u m p h r e y Berkeley, a left-wing Conservative MP ( w h o later j o i n e d the L a b o u r P a r t y ) , struck l u c k y a n d o p t e d to major i n t r o d u c e the S e x u a l Offences B i l l . S u p p o r t e r s f r o m all the

parties rallied r o u n d : L i b e r a l leader J o G r i m o n d ; C h r i s t o p h e r C h a t a w a y a n d N i c h o l a s R i d l e y f r o m the C o n s e r v a t i v e s , B a r b a r a C a s d e , S h i r l e y W i l l i a m s a n d D i c k T a v e r n e f r o m the L a b o u r P a r t y . U p in the p u b l i c

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gallery representatives o f the H o m o s e x u a l L a w R e f o r m S o c i e t y c o u l d o n l y h o l d their breath as the C o m m o n s b e g a n w h a t w a s , u n b e l i e v a b l y , their first 'full-dress' debate o n the subject o f h o m o s e x u a l l a w r e f o r m since 1 9 6 2 . A l l the w e l l - w o r n a r g u m e n t s o n b o t h sides w e r e aired, albeit that this t i m e the r e f o r m e r s ' w e r e c l o a k e d in the subfusc o f social c o n c e r n . A c c e p t a n c e o f e v e n the bare b o n e s o f w h a t W o l f e n d e n h a d r e c o m m e n d e d , t h e y p l e a d e d , w a s a m a t t e r o f basic h u m a n rights. It w o u l d o b v i a t e the threat o f b l a c k m a i l w h i c h h u n g o v e r e v e r y h o m o s e x u a l m a n a n d m a k e it easier for h i m to ask for p s y c h o l o g i c a l o r social ' t r e a t m e n t ' , s h o u l d h e so desire it. It w o u l d e v e n o p e n the w a y for m e a s u r e s d e s i g n e d to save small b o y s f r o m w h a t L e o A b s e , M P , a l e a d i n g a d v o c a t e o f r e f o r m , w a s to call 'the terrible fate o f g r o w i n g up homosexual'. A f t e r five h o u r s d u r i n g w h i c h the authors o f this cautious, a priori a r g u m e n t s o u g h t to present the utilitarian benefits o f r e f o r m w h i l e d o w n - p l a y i n g (or c o n s c i o u s l y i g n o r i n g ) the m o r e sensational c o n s e q u e n c e s , the H o u s e d i v i d e d o n w h e t h e r to a l l o w B e r k e l e y ' s B i l l to p r o g r e s s to a S e c o n d R e a d i n g . T h i s t i m e , the S p e a k e r a n n o u n c e d , o f the m o t i o n , 1 0 7 (96 o f t h e m C o n s e r v a t i v e s ) h a d o p p o s e d it. A l m o s t u n e x p e c t e d l y a n d m o r e than ten years after the m e n t o f the W o l f e n d e n C o m m i t t e e the first a n d m o s t appoint one the A y e s h a d it. O n e h u n d r e d a n d s i x t y - f o u r M P s h a d v o t e d in f a v o u r

forbidding

h u r d l e o n the p a t h to d e c r i m i n a l i z a t i o n h a d b e e n cleared. N o

c o u l d quite b e l i e v e it. 'It certainly surprised m e , ' K e n n e t h W i l l i a m s n o t e d in his diary. ' I w o u l d n e v e r h a v e d r e a m e d it w o u l d get b y in a c o u n t r y l i k e this. C e r t a i n l y it w i l l b e e n o r m o u s l y e n c o u r a g i n g to the p e o p l e w h o h a v e w o r k e d so hard o n the A l b a n y T r u s t . '
21

It w a s . A l l s e e m e d set fair for c a m p a i g n e r s there a n d in the H L R S . B u t their c e l e b r a t i o n w e r e s h o r t - l i v e d . O n l y a m a t t e r o f days after the v o t e D o w n i n g Street a n n o u n c e d that the Q u e e n h a d a p p r o v e d P r i m e M i n i s t e r H a r o l d W i l s o n ' s request for a dissolution o f P a r l i a m e n t . W e s t m i n s t e r e m p t i e d as M P s h u r r i e d b a c k to their constituencies to prepare for the ' s n a p ' G e n e r a l E l e c t i o n w h i c h w a s to take place o n 3 1 M a r c h . N e a r the b o t t o m o f a pile o f unfinished business the S e x u a l O f f e n c e s B i l l l a n g u i s h e d , n o w a b a n d o n e d a n d forgotten. In parliamentary terms it w a s 'lost'. T h a t w a s 'a b l o w ' , A n t o n y G r e y c o m m e n t e d laconically. O t h e r s

'YOU'LL

PARDON THE MESS

219

t o o k the technical k n o c k - o u t rather harder. It w a s as i f all the effort h a d b e e n in v a i n . ' I d o n ' t particularly r e m e m b e r the e l e c t i o n - W i l s o n won, so that w a s g o o d I j u s t r e m e m b e r the d i s a p p o i n t m e n t , the flatness,' o n e b a c k - s t a g e c a m p a i g n e r recalled. 'It w a s an u n e x p e c t e d

turn o f events, b u t it w a s still a tragedy. T h e g e n e r a l f e e l i n g w a s : w o u l d w e ever get it?'

'Doing Our Bit for the Boys'

L A B O U R W O N T H E G E N E R A L E L E C T I O N o f M a r c h 1 9 6 6 w i t h an o v e r a l l m a j o r i t y o f n i n e t y - s e v e n seats. ' T h i s is m a k e - o r - b r e a k y e a r , ' H a r o l d W i l s o n h a d told party colleagues shortly b e f o r e p o l l i n g day; a n d , a l t h o u g h the progress o f a swiftly resurrected S e x u a l Offences B i l l ( n o w b e i n g p d o t e d b y L e o A b s e ) w a s hardly g o i n g to m a k e o r b r e a k his g o v e r n m e n t , b o t h h e a n d t h e y k n e w it w a s hardly g o i n g t o c o v e r t h e m w i t h g l o r y either. T h u s , in an a t m o s p h e r e o f public indifference o r w o r s e , t h e y w a t c h e d rather g l u m l y as, o n c e again, it r e c e i v e d a First R e a d i n g . In his diary R i c h a r d C r o s s m a n , the L e a d e r o f the H o u s e o f C o m m o n s , n o t e d : F r a n k l y , it's an e x t r e m e l y unpleasant B i l l a n d I m y s e l f d o n ' t l i k e it. It m a y w e l l b e t w e n t y years a h e a d o f p u b l i c o p i n i o n ; certainly w o r k i n g - c l a s s p e o p l e in the n o r t h j e e r at their M e m b e r s at the w e e k e n d a n d ask t h e m w h y t h e y ' r e l o o k i n g after the b u g g e r s at W e s t m i n s t e r instead o f l o o k i n g after the u n e m p l o y e d at h o m e . It has g o n e d o w n v e r y b a d l y that the L a b o u r Party s h o u l d b e associated with such a Bill.
1

new

S i m d a r l y , in her diary B a r b a r a C a s d e has left a r e c o r d o f h o w , again a n d again, the ultimate passage o f the B i l l w a s d u e to o l d - f a s h i o n e d F a b i a n c o n c e p t s o f D u t y a n d Fairness - or, n o t infrequently, to sheer p r o v i d e n c e : ' I a s k e d D i c k [ C r o s s m a n ] h o w the S e x u a l O f f e n c e s B i l l h a d g o t t h r o u g h [its First R e a d i n g ] w i t h o u t a v o t e . H e said that [the C o n s e r v a t i v e M P , J a m e s ] D a n c e , leader o f the o p p o s i t i o n to it, h a d b e e n so s o z z l e d h e h a d failed to rise at the right m o m e n t ! '
2

There was

also a certain a m o u n t o f h o n e - t r a d i n g a r o u n d the C a b i n e t table - ' I a p p e a l e d to R o y [ J e n k i n s ] : " B a c k m e u p . " A n d , p u r e l y o n quid pro

220

'DOING

OUR B I T FOR T H E B O Y S '

221

quo g r o u n d s for m y s u p p o r t o f the S e x u a l O f f e n c e s B i l l , h e d i d ! ' b u t there w a s certainly n o general enthusiasm for it: A t 3 p m I said m i l d l y I h o p e d I s h o u l d n ' t b e p r e v e n t e d f r o m v o t i n g at 4 p m o n the S e c o n d R e a d i n g o f the S e x u a l O f f e n c e s B i l l . T h i s set G e o r g e [ B r o w n ] o f f o n a r e m a r k a b l e diatribe against h o m o s e x u ality. A s an A n g l o - C a t h o l i c a n d Socialist, h e t h o u g h t s o c i e t y o u g h t to h a v e h i g h e r standards. A s E r i c R o l l a n d officials a r g u e d w i t h h i m g o o d - n a t u r e d l y , h e g o t v e r y passionate: ' T h i s is h o w R o m e c a m e d o w n . A n d I care d e e p l y a b o u t it in o p p o s i t i o n to m o s t o f m y C h u r c h . D o n ' t t h i n k teenagers are able to evaluate y o u r liberal ideas. Y o u w i l l h a v e a totally d i s o r g a n i z e d , i n d e c e n t a n d unpleasant society. Y o u m u s t h a v e rules! W e ' v e g o n e t o o d a m n e d far o n s e x already. I d o n ' t r e g a r d a n y sex as pleasant. It's pretty and I ' v e a l w a y s t h o u g h t s o . '
4

undignified

E v e n in the face o f this, Castle's support stayed c o m m e n d a b l y solid. In a similar fashion to m a n y o f her c o l l e a g u e s , she k n e w she w a s D o i n g the R i g h t T h i n g , w h a t e v e r the w i d e r w o r l d t h o u g h t : ' A l l - n i g h t sitting o n the S e x u a l O f f e n c e s B i l l . It w a s a g o o d j o b I stayed, tired as I w a s . A t o n e stage w e o n l y carried the closure b y t h r e e v o t e s . T r a i l i n g t h r o u g h the l o b b y at 4 a m , I ran into [ L a b o u r M P ] L e n a J e g e r w h o p u t her arms a r o u n d m e a n d said in a p i e r c i n g v o i c e , " A r e n ' t w e g o o d , d o i n g o u r bit for the b o y s ! " '
5

T h e y w e r e ; the B i l l w a s passed at a r o u n d 5 . 5 0 a . m . o n the m o r n i n g o f 4 j u l y 1 9 6 7 . It finally r e c e i v e d R o y a l A s s e n t o n 2 7 J u l y 1 9 6 7 . H o m o sexual acts u n d e r t a k e n in p r i v a t e b y t w o c o n s e n t i n g m e n o f t w e n t y - o n e years o f a g e o r o v e r w e r e legalized. A b s e , C a s t l e , J e n k i n s a n d the o t h e r n i n e t y - s i x M e m b e r s o f P a r l i a m e n t w h o h a d v o t e d A y e in the T h i r d R e a d i n g d i v i s i o n (there w e r e j u s t f o u r t e e n v o t e s against), a l o n g w i t h such d e c o r o u s 'activists' as L o r d A r r a n , A n t o n y G r e y a n d Humphrey B e r k e l e y h a d o v e r t u r n e d five centuries o r m o r e o f legal c e n s u r e . T h a t s h o u l d h a v e b e e n the e n d o f matter. H o m e S e c r e t a r y R o y J e n k i n s certainly t h o u g h t s o . T h e B i l l h a d b e e n an ' i m p o r t a n t and civilising m e a s u r e ' , h e a n n o u n c e d . E v e r y t h i n g h a d b e e n n e a d y tidied u p - e v e n i f that t i d y i n g - u p process w a s in n o w a y , as h e p u t it, 'a v o t e o f c o n f i d e n c e o r c o n g r a t u l a t i o n to h o m o s e x u a l i t y ' .

222

ORDINARY

PEOPLE

O n c e again, t h o u g h , it h a d b e e n ' t h e m u p t h e r e ' d e c i d i n g w h a t w a s best for 'the b u g g e r s at W e s t m i n s t e r ' a n d L e n a J e g e r ' s ' b o y s ' ; e v e n legislation passed a n d an A c t enacted w e r e still n o t h i n g m o r e than palliatives. N e i t h e r the W o l f e n d e n R e p o r t n o r the passing into l a w o f the S e x u a l O f f e n c e s A c t per se actually c h a n g e d a n y t h i n g . N o r , effec t i v e l y , c o u l d t h e y . T h e y certainly d i d n ' t c h a n g e attitudes o v e r n i g h t s o c i e t y ' s o r e v e n the i n d i v i d u a l h o m o s e x u a l ' s . T h e disc j o c k e y D a v e C a s h r e m e m b e r s his c o l l e a g u e K e n n y E v e r e t t at this t i m e : ' H e w a s in a d i c h o t o m y first a n d f o r e m o s t , b e c a u s e o f his sexuality. T h a t w a s a l w a y s in e v i d e n c e ; it w a s a l w a y s there from D a y O n e . F o r the first c o u p l e o f years, w h e n w e w o r k e d t o g e t h e r o n the [pirate radio] ships it w a s b e i n g suppressed, a n d so therefore h e l i v e d a dual life until he c a m e o u t o f the closet, w h i c h w a s not until w e l l into the S e v e n t i e s . ' A n o t h e r friend (actually his b a n k m a n a g e r ) also r e m e m b e r s this perhaps u n e x p e c t e d side to E v e r e t t ' s character. ' H e often used to rant a n d rave a b o u t w h y G o d h a d m a d e h i m l i k e this. I said to h i m , L o o k , K e n n y , y o u c a n ' t q u e s t i o n w h a t G o d d i d o r his reasons for d o i n g it. Y o u k n o w that as w e l l as I d o . H e said, B u t w h y d i d h e p u n i s h m e like this, m a k e m e l i k e this? W h y can't I b e n o r m a l ? '
6

W e h a v e already seen the e x t e n t o f this self-loathing in the slighdy earlier case o f ' N i c h o l a s ' . W e h a v e seen, t o o , h o w t h e r e w a s a palpable i f discreet a n d possibly o n l y retrospectively v o i c e d h o m o s e x u a l antag o n i s m t o the c a m p a i g n for legalization. N o w , from 1 9 6 7 onwards, things b e g a n to g e t e v e n m o r e c o m p l i c a t e d . In large m e a s u r e this w a s d u e to the fact that, w h i l e w h a t w a s p r o b a b l y a m a j o r i t y o f gay m e n - a n d the t e r m ' g a y ' c a m e into g e n e r a l B r i t i s h usage at a r o u n d this t i m e w e r e c o n t e n t to r e m a i n 'in the closet', a significant m i n o r i t y s a w w h a t t h e y h a d b e e n g i v e n as an i n c h , a n d b e g a n d e m a n d i n g a mile. T h u s in Quest for Justice, h a v i n g m i n u t e l y c h r o n i c l e d his a n d o t h e r

p e o p l e ' s fight to g e t ( e v e n a l i m i t e d d e g r e e o f ) legalization o n to the statute b o o k , A n t o n y G r e y c h o s e to e n t i d e the chapter w h i c h described the i m m e d i a t e aftermath o f the passing o f the B i l l ' M e a n w h i l e , B a c k at the R a n c h . . .'. L e s t the i m p l i c a t i o n w a s lost there, h e also prefaced it w i t h a c o m m e n t from L e o A b s e : ' N o t h i n g fads l i k e success.' S i m i l a r l y , w r i t i n g fifteen years after the passing o f the 1 9 6 7 S e x u a l Offences A c t , N i g e l W a r n e r still f o u n d it necessary to h i g h l i g h t h o w little h a d actually been w o n :

'DOING

OUR B I T FOR T H E

BOYS'

223

T w o e x a m p l e s o f i n c o n s i s t e n c y in l o g i c stand o u t particularly: o n the m a l e age o f consent, h a v i n g dismissed the ' s e d u c t i o n theory', the [ W o l f e n d e n ] c o m m i t t e e o p t e d for 2 1 b e c a u s e to f i x the l o w e r age w o u l d lay y o u n g m e n ' o p e n to attentions a n d pressures o f an undesirable k i n d ' . A n d y e t , f o u r paragraphs earlier, the committee h a d c o m m e n t e d , 'there c o m e s a t i m e w h e n a y o u n g m a n c a n p r o p erly b e e x p e c t e d to "stand o n his o w n f e e t " a n d w e find it h a r d to b e l i e v e that h e needs to b e p r o t e c t e d f r o m w o u l d - b e seducers m o r e carefully than a girl d o e s ' , clearly i m p l y i n g that 1 6 w a s the appropriate a g e . ' D u r i n g the
7

1 9 7 0 s ' , W a r n e r w e n t o n , 'the full i m p l i c a t i o n s o f the

discriminatory p h i l o s o p h y i n h e r e n t in the 1 9 6 7 S e x u a l O f f e n c e s A c t b e c a m e apparent.' H e cited specific instances o f this: h o w the A c t set the age o f c o n s e n t for h o m o s e x u a l m e n at t w e n t y - o n e , w h i l e that for heterosexuals a n d lesbians w a s sixteen; h o w the p r o v i s i o n s o f the A c t did n o t apply to m e m b e r s o f the a r m e d forces, m e r c h a n t s e a m e n o r the residents o f the C h a n n e l Islands a n d the Isle o f M a n ; and, m o r e legalistically, h o w the A c t d o g m a t i c a l l y stated: It is an offence for a m a n 'persistendy to solicit o r i m p o r t u n e in a p u b l i c place for an i m m o r a l p u r p o s e ' (s.32 o f the 1956 Sexual O f f e n c e s A c t ) . H o m o s e x u a l b e h a v i o u r is d e e m e d an ' i m m o r a l p u r p o s e ' b y the l a w . W h d e in t h e o r y s . 3 2 can b e a p p l i e d to b o t h h o m o s e x u a l a n d h e t e r o s e x u a l soliciting, in practice it is a p p l i e d almost e x c l u s i v e l y to the f o r m e r . It n e e d take the f o r m o f n o m o r e than s m i l i n g at a n o t h e r m a n a c o u p l e o f t i m e s .
8

Ironically, ' g a y l i b e r a t i o n ' h a d its roots in d i s c o n t e n t w i t h the v e r y legislation w h i c h h a d tried to b r i n g it a b o u t .

O r m a y b e it didn't; m a y b e it w a s in the death o f J u d y G a r l a n d in the last w e e k o f J u n e 1 9 6 9 . O r , m o r e specifically, h e r funeral o n F r i d a y 26 J u n e . O r , e v e n m o r e specifically, the aftermath o f that funeral. Far m o r e so than she e v e r w a s in B r i t a i n at least u n t d she b e c a m e a staple part o f the act o f e v e r y m e t r o p o l i t a n d r a g - a c t : q u i c k c o s t u m e changes for M o n r o e , B a s s e y a n d G a r l a n d - ^ / / e L i z a M i n n e l l i in h e r Cabaret schtik - G a r l a n d w a s e v e n t h e n an i c o n , an i m a g e a n d a r o l e

224

ORDINARY

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m o d e l f o r the g a y s c e n e in m e t r o p o l i t a n N e w Y o r k . A w e i r d a m a l g a m o f Miss Haversham, Bette Davis, J o a n C r a w f o r d and Shirley M a c L a i n e (on g o o d nights t h e r e w e r e also shades o f J a y n e M a n s f i e l d a n d D o r i s D a y ) , e v e n b e f o r e she d i e d , almost in spite o f herself she h a d b e e n a d o p t e d as a sort o f materfamilias b y N e w Y o r k ' s b u r g e o n i n g g a y c o m m u n i t y . H e n c e the headlines in the l o n g h o t s u m m e r o f 1 9 6 9 :
T H O U S A N D S L I N E UP TO JUDY GARLAND'S VIEW

BODY

H e r fans said g o o d - b y [sic] to J u d y G a r l a n d y e s t e r d a y . T h e y a r r i v e d before dawn . . .


9

B u t that F r i d a y funeral w a s o n l y the start o f a w e e k e n d o f v i o l e n c e w h o s e repercussions w o u l d spread a r o u n d the w o r l d . East C o a s t n e w s papers c o v e r e d it w i t h s o m e t h i n g a p p r o a c h i n g bewdderment:
RAID

4 P O L I C E M E N HURT IN V I L L A G E

Melee Near Sheridan Square Follows Action at Bar H u n d r e d s o f y o u n g g a y m e n w e n t o n the r a m p a g e in G r e e n w i c h V i l l a g e shortly after 3 a m yesterday after a force o f plain clothes m e n r a i d e d a bar that the p o l i c e said w a s w e l l k n o w n for its h o m o s e x u a l clientele. T h i r t e e n persons w e r e arrested a n d f o u r p o l i c e m e n w e r e injured. . . . H e a v y p o l i c e r e i n f o r c e m e n t s cleared the S h e r i d a n S q u a r e area o f G r e e n w i c h V i l l a g e again yesterday m o r n i n g w h e n large c r o w d s o f y o u n g m e n , a n g e r e d b y a p o l i c e raid o n an inn frequented b y h o m o s e x u a l s , s w e p t t h r o u g h the area. T h e i r arms l i n k e d , a r o w o f h e l m e t e d p o l i c e m e n stretching the w i d t h o f the street m a d e several s w e e p s u p a n d d o w n C h r i s t o p h e r S t r e e t b e t w e e n the A v e n u e o f the A m e r i c a s a n d S e v e n t h A v e n u e S o u t h . T h e c r o w d retreated b e f o r e t h e m , b u t m a n y g r o u p s lines. . . . S h e r i d a n S q u a r e this w e e k e n d l o o k e d l i k e s o m e t h i n g f r o m a W i l l i a m B u r r o u g h s n o v e l as the s u d d e n spectre o f ' g a y p o w e r ' e r e c t e d its b r a z e n h e a d a n d spat o u t a fairy tale the likes o f w h i c h the area has n e v e r seen. fled i n t o the n u m e r o u s small side streets a n d r e f o r m e d b e h i n d p o l i c e

'DOING

OUR B I T FOR T H E B O Y S '

225

. . . S h e sat t h e r e w i t h h e r legs crossed, the lashes o f h e r m a s c a r a c o a t e d eyes b e a t i n g l i k e the w i n g s o f a h u m m i n g b i r d . S h e w a s angry. S h e w a s so upset she h a d n ' t b o t h e r e d to s h a v e . A d a y o l d stubble w a s b e g i n n i n g to push t h r o u g h the p a n c a k e m a k e u p . was a he.'
0

She

R a t h e r t o o hastily, perhaps, later in 1 9 6 9 the radical N e w magazine Village Voice tried to s u m u p w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d three nights o f n e a r - r i o t i n g in the city:

York during

T h e forces o f faggotry, spurred b y a F r i d a y n i g h t raid o n o n e o f the city's largest, m o s t p o p u l a r a n d l o n g e s t - l i v e d g a y b a n , the S t o n e w a l l Inn, rallied Saturday night in an u n p r e c e d e n t e d protest against the raid a n d c o n t i n u e d S u n d a y night to assert p r e s e n c e , p o s s i b d i t y a n d pride u n t d the early h o u r s o f M o n d a y m o r n i n g . ' I ' m a f a g g o t a n d p r o u d o f it', ' G a y P o w e r ! ' , ' I l i k e b o y s ! ' - these a n d m a n y o t h e r slogans w e r e h e a r d all three nights as the s h o w o f f o r c e b y the city's finery m e t the force o f the city's finest. T h e result w a s a k i n d o f liberation, as the g a y b r i g a d e e m e r g e d from the bars, b a c k r o o m s a n d b e d r o o m s o f the V i l l a g e a n d b e c a m e street p e o p l e . N o t h i n g quite l i k e this h a p p e n e d in B r i t a i n the S t o n e w a l l w e r e t o o intensely American riots

an e x p e r i e n c e , t o o closely tied to, o r

m o d e l l e d o n , the civil rights protests w h i c h h a d e r u p t e d across the c o u n t r y d u r i n g the 1 9 6 0 s b u t d e c o r o u s e c h o e s o f this latest m a n i f e s tation o f A m e r i c a n p o p u l a r culture s o o n m a d e t h e m s e l v e s felt w i t h i n B r i t a i n ' s o w n ' g a y b r i g a d e ' . In N o v e m b e r 1 9 7 0 L o n d o n h o m o s e x u a l s b e c a m e 'street p e o p l e ' w h e n w h a t w a s in all l i k e l i h o o d B r i t a i n ' s first gay rights m a r c h t o o k place in the capital. N o v e m b e r w a s h a r d l y the m a r c h i n g season, b u t 1 5 0 m e n t u r n e d u p to w a l k , n o t t h r o u g h S o h o , say, o r W e s t m i n s t e r , b u t across H i g h b u r y Fields in n o r t h L o n d o n . It w a s litde m o r e than gesture politics i f it w a s politics at all a n d it w a s certainly not m o t i v a t e d b y the p e n t - u p a n g e r w h i c h h a d fuelled the S t o n e w a l l riots. Indeed, the event had more effect on the marchers t h e m s e l v e s than o n the m e d i a o r the g e n e r a l p u b l i c . A l l the s a m e , in retrospect it c a m e to b e seen as a n o t h e r d e f i n i n g m o m e n t , the t i m e w h e n a fresh infusion o f steel e n t e r e d the soul. ' Y o u g o t this light g o i n g o n in p e o p l e ' s e y e s , ' o n e o f the o r i g i n a l m a r c h e r s w a s to recall. 'It w a s almost as i f y o u ' d started a n e w r e l i g i o n . '

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It w a s a h e a d y , a d d i c t i v e feeling a n d s o o n m a r c h i n g rather than b a c k s t a g e l o b b y i n g b e c a m e the f a v o u r e d m e t h o d o f gay ' c o n s c i o u s n e s s raising'. W i t h i n t w o y e a n o f that almost-casual a m b l e across H i g h b u r y Fields the first 'official' G a y P r i d e m a r c h w a s a n n o u n c e d . H e l d o n i J u l y 1 9 7 2 (the nearest S a t u r d a y to the third anniversary o f the already fabled S t o n e w a l l riots), it attracted 2 , 0 0 0 m e n , b e g a n w i t h a p u b l i c rally i n the W e s t E n d o f L o n d o n a n d e n d e d w i t h a b i g party a n d p i c n i c in H y d e P a r k . T h i s ostensibly u n n a t u r a l c o n j u n c t i o n o f a g i t p r o p m a r c h i n g and self-satisfied p a r t y i n g set the t o n e for the n e x t quarter o f a c e n t u r y o f h o m o s e x u a l l o b b y i n g . B a n n e r s a l w a y s w e n t w i t h bands as y e a r b y y e a r the n u m b e r s o f those t a k i n g part in the m a r c h i n e x o r a b l y rose; to 1 2 0 , 0 0 0 in 1 9 9 3 a n d to m o r e than 1 5 0 , 0 0 0 in 1 9 9 4 . O l d scores w e r e f o r g o t t e n - i n 1 9 8 3 the e v e n t w a s officially r e n a m e d ' L e s b i a n and G a y P r i d e ' a n d , as it b e c a m e m o r e o v e r t l y political, e v e n the a l w a y s v a g u e intentions o f the o r i g i n a l m a r c h e r s w e r e s u b s u m e d i n t o w h a t b y the early nineties h a d b e c o m e a general, t w e n t y - f o u r - h o u r carnival o f N e w A g e l i v i n g , h a r d - L e f t politics a n d ' h i - N R G ' m u s i c , albeit o n e at w h i c h the authorities t a c i d y c o n d o n e d m e n h o l d i n g hands and s a m e - s e x kissing. Y e a r after y e a r , i n the w e e k s f o l l o w i n g the e v e n t , the c o r r e s p o n d e n c e c o l u m n s o f the g a y press ran letters praising the drag, d i s c o a n d A u s t r a l i a n s o a p - o p e r a celebrities w h o m a d e 'personal a p p e a r a n c e s ' side b y side w i t h others d e p l o r i n g the p r e s e n c e o n the m a r c h o f p r o s e l y t i z i n g m e m b e r s o f the Socialist W o r k e r s ' P a r t y . I n essence, this bifurcation o n l y m i r r o r e d w h a t h a d b e e n g o i n g o n aU the t i m e w i t h i n the central e c h e l o n s o f the ' g a y b r i g a d e ' . A l m o s t as s o o n as the 1 9 6 7 S e x u a l O f f e n c e s B i l l passed i n t o l a w a c h i v v y i n g , i m p a t i e n t , far f r o m c o m p l a c e n t c l i q u e o f guerrillas e m e r g e d , w h o s e M a r x i s t - i n s p i r e d a g e n d a w a s as confrontationalist HLRS as those of the a n d the A l b a n y T r u s t h a d b e e n ' r e a s o n a b l e ' a n d e m o l l i e n t .

T h e C a m p a i g n for H o m o s e x u a l E q u a l i t y ( C H E , a n d n o r e t i c e n c e a b o u t the allusion to the n a m e o f the r e c e n d y e x e c u t e d C h e G u e v a r a ) w a s an o f f - s h o o t o f the less felicitously n a m e d N o r t h - W e s t e r n H o m o s e x u a l L a w R e f o r m C o m m i t t e e ( N W H L R C ) a n d the first to attract p u b l i c n o t i c e . I n C h e G u e v a r a ' s r h e t o r i c , h o w e v e r , it w a s s o m e t h i n g o f a p a p e r tiger. It w a s m o r e than a d e c a d e a h e a d o f its t i m e w h e n it d e m a n d e d (rather than requested) that, a m o n g o t h e r things, m a j o r b r e w e r i e s s h o u l d u n d e r w r i t e its plans for a n a t i o n w i d e n e t w o r k o f gay

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v e n u e s to b e r u n b y an e x c r u c i a t i n g l y pi enterprise called E s q u i r e C l u b s ; it w a s n o t u n t d the early 1 9 8 0 s that b r e w e r i e s c a m e to r e c o g n i z e the p o w e r o f the ' p i n k p o u n d ' . B a c k at the A l b a n y T r u s t , A n t o n y G r e y w a s appalled. T h e best part o f a d e c a d e ' s w o r k w a s , h e t h o u g h t , b e i n g insidiously undermined:

. . . the p r o b l e m s b e t w e e n the A l b a n y T r u s t a n d C H E arose o u t o f differences o f p e r c e p t i o n c o n c e r n i n g strategy a n d t i m i n g that gradually b a l l o o n e d i n t o m u t u a l mistrust. eman [. . .] m y close e n c o u n t e r s w i t h the irrational h o m o p h o b i a careful preparation,

ating f r o m the o p p o n e n t s o f l a w r e f o r m h a d c o n v i n c e d m e that a n d n o t least a possibly p r o t r a c t e d p e r i o d o f l o b b y i n g for b r o a d l y - b a s e d religious, political a n d social w o r k s u p port, w a s essential b e f o r e [a v i a b l e , realistic social o r g a n i s a t i o n ] c o u l d b e successfully established in this c o u n t r y . " W o r m s can turn, h o w e v e r ; and b y the e n d o f 1 9 7 0 G r e y h i m s e l f h a d left the A l b a n y T r u s t a n d m a d e n e w friends in the r e c e n t l y f o u n d e d G a y L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t ( G L F ) . T h i s w a s far m o r e radical, a direct c o p y o f the p o s t - S t o n e w a l l i n - y o u r - f a c e gay protest w h i c h t w o l e f t - w i n g British students h a d d i s c o v e r e d in A m e r i c a . O n e o f t h e m , A u b r e y W a l t e r , recalls: ' I g o t i n v o l v e d in the l o c a l politics in N e w Y o r k . A n d it w a s there that I m e t B o b M e l l o r s , a n o t h e r E n g l i s h g u y w h o ' d b e e n g o i n g a l o n g w i t h gay liberation in N e w Y o r k . B o b a n d I, y a k k i n g together, d e c i d e d that w e o u g h t to d o s o m e t h i n g w h e n w e g o t b a c k to E n g l a n d , fry to d o s o m e t h i n g similar, set s o m e t h i n g up.'
1 2

T h e i r resolution h e l d and, after t h e y g o t h o m e , the first B r i t i s h m e e t i n g o f the G L F w a s c o n v e n e d fatefully, perhaps, at the t h e n ultra-radical L o n d o n S c h o o l o f E c o n o m i c s , w h e r e M e l l o r s w a s c o n t i n u i n g his studies: W e b o t h s p o k e a b o u t o u r activities in the States a n d w h a t w a s g o i n g o n . W e d i d talk a b o u t g a y pride a n d the necessity o f j o i n i n g u p to fight b a c k [against] o u r o p p r e s s i o n , etcetera. I t h i n k w e w e r e a litde bit dictatorial in the w a y w e s p o k e to p e o p l e , l i k e o n e a l w a y s is w h e n o n e ' s d r u n k o n these things. B u t [ e v e r y o n e ] a g r e e d to g o o n a n d h a v e a m e e t i n g the f o l l o w i n g w e e k a n d the f o l l o w i n g w e e k , a n d it all started f r o m there.
13

T h e G L F m e e t i n g s certainly t o u c h e d a n e r v e . ' I ' d n e v e r b e f o r e

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seen gatherings o f g a y p e o p l e w h e r e there w a s this i m m e n s e feeling o f c o m r a d e s h i p a n d interest a n d m u t u a l w a r m t h w h i c h w a s n o t solely, o r e v e n p r i m a r i l y , s e x u a l , ' G r e y later recalled. N i n e t e e n p e o p l e h a d t u r n e d u p for the first m e e t i n g , there w e r e a r o u n d sixty at the third; a n d right f r o m the start there w a s a n e w charge in the air, s o m e t h i n g a k i n to the ' p r e s e n c e , possibility a n d p r i d e ' w h i c h Village Voice h a d d i s c e r n e d o n the streets o f G r e e n w i c h V i l l a g e a c o u p l e o f years p r e v i o u s l y : ' [ T h e G L F ] created a n e w l a n g u a g e , a n e w style, a n e w v o c a b u l a r y for b e i n g g a y . It was about being contemporary, about being incredibly, outrageously, exquisitely radical a n d o f c o u r s e a n d m o s t i m p o r tant o f all visible; c e l e b r a t i n g b e i n g g a y rather than l i v i n g an endless e x i s t e n c e c o d i f i e d as " s o m e t h i n g e l s e " . ' and Mellors, k n e w where
1 4

N o b o d y , least o f all W a l t e r radicalism w o u l d lead.

this n e w f o u n d

N o b o d y , it seems, actually set o u t to b e r e v o l u t i o n a r y ; b u t the n e w m o o d o f e x q u i s i t e radicalism i n e v i t a b l y t o o k t h e m in the o f confrontational street politics. W i t h i n six m o n t h s o f the f o r m a t i o n , the G L F ' s L o n d o n m a g a z i n e w a s reporting: L e g a l r e f o r m a n d e d u c a t i o n against p r e j u d i c e , t h o u g h possible a n d necessary, c a n n o t b e a p e r m a n e n t s o l u t i o n . W h i l e e x i s t i n g social structures r e m a i n , social p r e j u d i c e a n d o v e r t repression can a l w a y s r e - e m e r g e [. . .] W e s h o u l d n o t confuse legal changes w i t h real structural illegality. W e are starting to w o r k alongside w o m e n , b l a c k p e o p l e , a n d n o w those sections o f y o u t h a n d the w o r k i n g class w h o see the i m p o r tance o f our d e m a n d s as w e l l as their o w n , to b r e a k the o l d society w h i c h puts us all d o w n a n d to b u i l d a n e w o n e o n the basis o f all our needs.
15

direction group's

c h a n g e . Legality

can always

at some point

be changed

to

N o g a y orgies at the L S E t h e n - n o t i m e , n o time! N o r in the r e g i o n a l m e e t i n g s o f C H E , w h i c h the G L F increasingly a n d i n e v i tably c a m e to see as 'hilariously o v e r - r e s p e c t a b l e a n d prissy': . . . s o m e o n e w h o w a s g a y c a m e to see m e a n d t h e y said, ' D o y o u k n o w there's a C H E h e r e ? ' A n d I said, N o , I d i d n ' t . S o h e said, ' I k n o w the secretary, I'll get in t o u c h w i t h h i m a n d tell h i m to c o n t a c t y o u . ' H e said t h e y m e t t w i c e a w e e k . I said, ' W e l l , i f y o u ' r e

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g o i n g , take m e w i t h y o u , b e c a u s e I d o n ' t w a n t t o g o o n m y o w n . ' H e said, ' R i g h t , I'll ring the secretary a n d tell h i m [and he'll] p i c k y o u u p in the car,' a n d told m e w h a t his n a m e w a s . H e t o o k m e into w h e r e t h e y h a d g o t a r o o m o v e r a p u b . W e all w e n t in the bar first, w h i c h breaks the ice a n d the secretary i n t r o d u c e s y o u all r o u n d , to the c o n v e n o r a n d e v e r y b o d y a n d t h e y ' r e all so n i c e . W h e n y o u get in the r o o m they say, 'first o f all let us w e l c o m e a n e w m e m b e r to the m e e t i n g . ' F r o m t h e n o n it's v e r y n i c e . O f c o u r s e , t h e y all c o m e here to m y h o u s e . I h a v e an o p e n night o n c e a m o n t h , a n d t h e y all c o m e h e r e . I ' v e g o t a b r i n g - a n d - b u y c o m i n g u p b e f o r e I g o to B e n i d o r m . T h e n w e h a v e a raffle and, o f c o u r s e , that's h o w w e g e t a lot o f o u r m o n e y . In the s u m m e r w e g e t a small m i n i b u s a n d g o o u t to places for picnics, to places l i k e K e w G a r d e n s , H a m p t o n C o u r t . A n d t h e n w e h a v e discos. W e h i r e the hall a n d d o all o u r o w n catering. A b o u t a h u n d r e d o r so c o m e f r o m all a r o u n d . W e get t h e m f r o m Hastings a n d B r i g h t o n a n d f r o m the M e d w a y t o w n s . W e get t h e m f r o m as far as T u n b r i d g e W e l l s .
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It w a s the s a m e o l d story. W h i l e the activists g o t o n w i t h it, the vast majority o f g a y m e n j u s t g o t o n w i t h their lives: I n e v e r g o t short o f s e x . I d o n ' t b e l i e v e in regretting a n y t h i n g a n d o n the w h o l e I t h i n k I w e l c o m e d [the legislation o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y ] . I w a s n ' t v e r y s y m pathetic to the G L F . T h e y w e r e t o o L e f t - w i n g a n d I ' m not. I hate S o c i a l i s m . I hate any k i n d o f state c o n t r o l . I ' m a libertarian. S o G L F a n d I d i d n ' t see e y e - t o - e y e . I did j o i n C H E , b u t it w a s j u s t t o o d a m n e d m i d d l e - c l a s s . Y o u c o u l d n ' t get a n y o n e interesting to j o i n the g r o u p ! I w a s a l o n e r . I h a d m y life to lead. A n d e n j o y : t h e r e w a s n o t i m e for that sort o f c r a p !
17

' W e l l , ' said ' R i c h a r d ' , ' I w a s o n l y a c h o r u s b o y , w a s n ' t I? P r e t t y m u c h the oldest in the business b y that t i m e , t o o ! Life - y o u k n o w w h a t I m e a n h a d n e v e r b e e n v e r y difficult for us. W e ' d a l w a y s k n o w n w h e r e to g o , a n d w h o w a s w h o , w h o offered w h a t ; w h i c h bars, w h i c h c l u b s . . .' H e h a d a l w a y s b e e n , h e i m p l i e d , o n e o f the l u c k y o n e s a n d as such w e l l - p l a c e d to o b s e r v e w h a t w a s h a p p e n i n g at a r o u n d this

230

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t i m e : ' I s u p p o s e in the late sixties and early seventies things d i d get easier. N o t h i n g m u c h changed, b u t it w a s as i f all the pressure had b e e n t a k e n o f f A n d t h e n s u d d e n l y there w e r e papers and m a g a z i n e s listings m a g a z i n e s I s u p p o s e y o u ' d call t h e m today. It all g o t easier . . , '
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P e r h a p s it e v e n g o t t o o easy. C e r t a i n l y it w a s n o t difficult to find m e n f o r w h o m the m e r e fact o f their o w n h o m o s e x u a l i t y had ceased to h a v e any i m p o r t a n c e at this t i m e , so fully integrated had it already b e c o m e in their d a y - t o - d a y lives. ' S a m ' w a s o n e for w h o m gayness in others as m u c h as in h i m s e l f had virtually b e c o m e the n o r m : ' I a p p l i e d for this j o b , s u p p o s e d l y a sales rep for e n c y c l o p a e d i a s . I t h o u g h t , I'd try that. W e l l , the y o u n g m a n w h o w a s to s h o w m e h o w it w a s d o n e , he t u r n e d o u t to b e g a y . ' It is m i s l e a d i n g a n d t o o simplistic to say that it w a s s i m p l y 'fashionable' to b e g a y (or e v e n e x p e r i m e n t w i t h g a y sex) at a r o u n d this t i m e , b u t in L o n d o n at least it d i d s e e m to b e a part o f the g e n e r a l p s y c h e d e l i a : I g o t friendly w i t h t w o y o u n g lads in the R a i n b o w C o r n e r C a f F o r t e p l a c e . It's s o m e t h i n g different n o w . I d i d n ' t k n o w that these t w o lads w e r e r e n t - b o y s . T h e n o n e o f t h e m s a w s o m e o n e a n d said, ' Y o u w e n t w i t h h i m last night, d i d n ' t y o u ? W h a t w a s h e l i k e ? ' I w a s talking a w a y to t h e m , b u t it d i d n ' t strike m e w h a t t h e y w e r e s a y i n g at first. I said, ' D o y o u sell yourselves then?' ' C o u r s e w e f u c k i n g d o ! D i d n ' t y o u k n o w that?' ' A r e y o u g a y , then?' ' O h n o ! W e ' r e n o t g a y . ' I w a s i n v o l v e d in all sorts o f radical things, like the
1 9

Shaftesbury A v e n u e it w a s , almost into P i c c a d i l l y C i r c u s . It w a s a

anti-Vietnam

struggle, w h i c h w a s the largest struggle g o i n g o n at that t i m e in the Sixties. I w a s l i v i n g w i t h m y g a y l o v e r D a v i d for years, n e v e r h i d i n g a n y t h i n g , a n d d u r i n g that t i m e the 1 9 6 7 A c t d i d n ' t e v e n t o u c h m e . I w a s n ' t really a w a r e o f it. I m u s t h a v e b e e n l i v i n g in a dream-world, or something. " F u l l y to r e - c r e a t e the d r e a m - w o r l d o f the late sixties, early seventies w e n e e d to r e m e m b e r a t i m e in w h i c h , largely w i t h o u t o u r k n o w i n g it, the o l d w o r l d w a s g i v i n g w a y to the n e w ; the Zeitgeist changing. It w a s in 1 9 6 8 , for e x a m p l e , that theatre censorship w a s finally abolished a n d the L o r d C h a m b e r l a i n w a s r e l i e v e d o f a right w h i c h h a d existed since T u d o r times - to b l u e - p e n c d the script o f e v e r y n e w play p r o 2

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d u c e d in E n g l a n d . ( T h e 'tribal l o v e r o c k m u s i c a l ' Hair a n n o u n c e d the d a w n i n g o f this n e w A g e o f A q u a r i u s w i t h a b r i e f n u d e s c e n e w h e n it o p e n e d in L o n d o n the day after a b o l i t i o n c a m e i n t o effect.) A n d that w a s j u s t the start. Y e a r after y e a r , the c o n j u n c t i o n s b e c o m e m o r e a n d m o r e m a r k e d . T h u s , in the s a m e y e a r ( 1 9 6 9 ) that the B B C d r o p p e d its c o s y radio s o a p - o p e r a The Dales Dale's test (it h a d b e g u n its life, m o r e than t w e n t y years p r e v i o u s l y , o n the L i g h t P r o g r a m m e as Mrs Diary) - a bare fortnight later i n d e e d - C o n c o r d e m a d e its first flight. P r o p i t i o u s l y , T h u n d e r c l a p N e w m a n also h a d a N u m b e r closure Sketch s e e m e d to

O n e hit w i t h ' S o m e t h i n g in the A i r ' . T w o years later the o f the d e c e n t b u t desperately o l d - f a s h i o n e d Daily

s y m b o l i z e a final b r e a k w i t h the cloth caps, C l e m e n t A t t l e e , A u s t e r i t y a n d the a n x i e t y o f the fifties. It did: 1 9 7 1 w a s also the y e a r in w h i c h the s e l f - p r o c l a i m e d A n g r y B r i g a d e b l e w u p the h o m e o f R o b e r t C a r r , t h e n Secretary o f State for E m p l o y m e n t , a n d b r o u g h t t e r r o r i s m to m a i n l a n d B r i t a i n . It w a s the y e a r , t o o , in w h i c h S l a d e , T R e x ( f o r m e r l y T y r a n n o s a u r u s R e x ) , their l e a d singer M a r c B o l a n a n d an e p i c e n e , d r a g - i n f l u e n c e d ' g l a m r o c k ' b e g a n to d o m i n a t e the r e c o r d charts. Pace the a n g r y fulminations o f the G L F , the d e m a n d s for M O R E ! a n d M O R E N O W ! (or at least t o m o r r o w ) , the late 1 9 6 0 s a n d early 1 9 7 0 s were the b e g i n n i n g o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y ' s b r i e f g o l d e n a g e ; the start o f a fifteen-year Indian s u m m e r w h i c h b e g a n w i t h legalization in 1 9 6 7 a n d e n d e d so abruptly in a w e l t e r o f l u r i d antagonistic press reports a b o u t the first B r i t i s h A I D S death in the early 1 9 8 0 s . W i t h M a r c B o l a n o r S i m o n and Garfunkel ('Bridge O v e r T r o u b l e d Water', 1 9 7 0 ) playing in the b a c k g r o u n d , for the first t i m e it w a s possible for m e n t o m e e t u p a n d talk a b o u t 'the g a y c o m m u n i t y ' , since it ready d i d s e e m t o b e d e v e l o p i n g . A w a y f r o m the A g i t p r o p h o t h o u s e s o f the L o n d o n S c h o o l o f E c o n o m i c s a n d o t h e r far-left cells, ' o r d i n a r y ' g a y m e n w e r e g r o w i n g in c o n f i d e n c e a n d quite as i m p o r t a n t l y a n d j u s t as the parliamentarians h o p e d it w o u l d - p u b l i c o p i n i o n w a s also b e g i n n i n g to c h a n g e , o r at least to m e l l o w . O n e G L F activist from this t i m e has r e c a l l e d the reactions w h e n the c a m p a i g n t o o k its increasingly r a u c o u s protests o n to the streets, o n l y to find t h e m s e l v e s p r e a c h i n g to the c o n v e r t e d : T h e a m a z i n g t h i n g w a s that the p u b l i c actually r e s p o n d e d with

h u m o u r . T h a t w a s the crazy t h i n g a b o u t it. O c c a s i o n a U y w e g o t attacked - s o m e p e o p l e g o t really o u t r a g e d a n d hit us w i t h r o l l e d - u p

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n e w s p a p e r s a n d things l i k e that, b u t m o s t l y t h e y s t o p p e d a n d stared. A n d t h e n gradually the smiles c a m e o v e r their faces a n d they w e n t a w a y l a u g h i n g to e a c h o t h e r a n d s h a k i n g their heads. T h e w h o l e thing w a s defused; it w a s l i k e taking e x p l o s i v e s o u t o f a b o m b , o r s o m e t h i n g . P e r h a p s the m o s t g r a p h i c illustration o f this n e w p u b l i c broad-

m i n d e d n e s s w a s the m a n n e r in w h i c h W e s t E n d theatre audiences w e r e p r e p a r e d to a c c e p t the d e p i c t i o n o f e x p l i c i d y h o m o s e x u a l lifestyles (if n o t o f e x p l i c i d y h o m o s e x u a l acts) o n stage. Little has b e e n m a d e o f this b e f o r e , b u t it is w o r t h y o f n o t e that the first m a j o r p r o d u c t i o n w i t h an u n m i s t a k a b l e g a y t h e m e w a s p r e s e n t e d b y the R o y a l S h a k e s p e a r e C o m p a n y as early as 1 9 6 6 , i.e. b e f o r e either the 1 9 6 7 legislation o r the abolition o f censorship.
21

(Significantly, t o o , the script w a s p u b l i s h e d as Volume One to c o i n c i d e w i t h its o p e n i n g . )

Penguin Modern Playwrights:

C h a r l e s D y e r ' s Staircase w a s d e s c r i b e d b y the a u t h o r as 'the story o f t w o m i d d l e - a g e d m e n ' a n d is i n d e e d a t w o - h a n d e r . It takes place in a barber's s h o p a n d as the curtain rises C h a r l i e is s h a v i n g his partner H a r r y . T h e i r o p e n i n g e x c h a n g e sets the p r e d o m i n a n d y a n d perhaps p r e d i c t a b l y b i t c h , ' q u e e n l y ' tone: C H A R L I E : F u n n y day, S u n d a y . ( H A R R Y mumbles trouble. (HARRY flame mumbles) O h l o v e l y . L o v e l y . W h a t ! E a c h t i m e y o u o p e n the d o o r the g o e s puff. H A R R Y : A l l n i c e a n d h o m e l y , dear. C H A R L I E : O h witty! Witty. Let's hope y o u ' r e laughing w h e n t h e y find us stiff a n d c a r b o n i z e d o r w h a t e v e r h a p p e n s . H A R R Y : C a n y o u d o that b l a c k h e a d b y m y j a w b o n e ? C H A R L I E : O h y o u are an o b s c e n e bag. W h e r e ' s y o u r culture? Ssssh! H A R R Y : What? C H A R L I E : T h e r e she g o e s ! (He moves to the staircase) ( H A R R Y m e s and follows. They listen like two little gnomes)
22

through the hot towel)

O u g h t to g e t that gas m a n in. T h a t gas m a n . O n l y asking for

T h r e e y e a n later, in 1 9 6 9 (and therefore after b o t h legislation a n d the e n d o f stage c e n s o r s h i p ) , c a m e M a r t C r o w l e y ' s Tlie Boys in the

'DOING

OUR B I T FOR T H E B O Y S '

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Band.

O r i g i n a l l y an O f f - B r o a d w a y s h o w , it is a lacerating r e a l - t i m e

a c c o u n t o f the tensions w h i c h exist in a g r o u p o f e i g h t y o u n g , p r o fessional g a y N e w Y o r k e r s w h o gather t o g e t h e r to celebrate the t h i r t y s e c o n d birthday o f H a r o l d , o n e o f their n u m b e r . O n e has b r o u g h t a l o n g C o w b o y ( ' t w e n t y - t w o , light b l o n d , m u s c l e - b o u n d , t o o pretty') as a present for H a r o l d : E M O R Y (indicates C O W B O Y L A R E Y : S p e a k i n g o f beasts. E M O R Y : F r o m m e to y o u , darlin'. H o w d o y o u l i k e it? H A R O L D : O h , I s u p p o s e h e has an interesting face a n d b o d y b u t it turns m e right o f f b e c a u s e h e can't talk intelligently a b o u t art. E M O R Y : Y e a h , ain't that a s h a m e . H A R O L D : I c o u l d n e v e r love a n y o n e l i k e that. E M O R Y : N e v e r . Who could? H A R O L D : / c o u l d a n d you c o u l d , that's w h o c o u l d ! O h , M a r y , she's gorgeous] E M O R Y : S h e m a y b e d u m b , b u t she's all y o u r s ! H A R O L D : In affairs o f the heart, there are n o rules! W h e r e ' d y o u e v e r find h i m ?
2 3

to H A R O L D ) : That's y o u r surprise.

C o i n c i d e n t a l l y , an e d i t i o n o f the script o f The Boys in the Band

too

was p u b l i s h e d w h i l e the s h o w w a s r u n n i n g ( S e e k e r & W a r b u r g , 1 9 6 9 ) . N o t quite so c o i n c i d e n t a l l y , P e n g u i n p i c k e d it u p a n d p r o d u c e d a p a p e r b a c k edition the f o l l o w i n g y e a r . R e t r o s p e c t i v e l y , the b l u r b o n the b a c k c o v e r o f this explains w h y a n d h o w , in b o t h c o m m e r c i a l a n d s o c i o l o g i c a l terms, it m a d e perfect sense: ' T o say The Boys in the Band is a play a b o u t h o m o s e x u a l s is w r o n g . It is a h o m o s e x u a l p l a y , and as such is the first to accept h o m o s e x u a l i t y as an o r d i n a r y fact o f life, a n d t h e n g o o n to e x p l o r e the hates, doubts a n d a g o n i e s o f l o v e between men.' D e s p i t e this s u g g e s t i o n that the play is n o m o r e than a l o v e story, it is difficult today to understand h o w , w i t h the density o f its A m e r i c a n isms, its references to b a t h - h o u s e s a n d its s h e / h e a m b i g u i t i e s , Boys in the Band Song But at Twilight The c o u l d h a v e b e e n a n y t h i n g o t h e r than in a d v a n c e o f had, after all, o p e n e d o n l y t h r e e y e a n p r e v i o u s l y . the e x t e n t to w h i c h curiosity about

c o n v e n t i o n a l W e s t E n d taste in 1 9 6 9 N o l C o w a r d ' s final p l a y A that is to u n d e r e s t i m a t e

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h o m o s e x u a l i t y a n d a c o n c o m i t a n t fascination w i t h ' g e n d e r issues' h a d p e r m e a t e d b o t h the theatre a n d its a u d i e n c e b y that t i m e . T h e y really d i d b e l i e v e that, in the w o r d s o f the u r g e n t , front-line j a c k e t n o t e o n a c h e a p , w i d e l y available p a p e r b a c k , h o m o s e x u a l i t y w a s 'an ordinary fact o f life'. T h u s in 1 9 6 7 - the y e a r w h i c h s a w the m u r d e r o f J o e O r t o n b y his l o v e r K e n n e t h H a l l i w e l l the N a t i o n a l T h e a t r e had p r o d u c e d an aU-male v e r s i o n o f As You Like It, w h i c h w a s originally to b e d i r e c t e d b y J o h n D e x t e r as a sort o f ' m a g i c a l release f r o m material d o m i n i o n ' . A c c o r d i n g to o n e history o f the N a t i o n a l T h e a t r e c o m p a n y , it w a s also specificaUy i n t e n d e d to b e 'a p r o d u c t i o n w h i c h w o u l d reflect the n e w m o o d o f s w i n g i n g L o n d o n . [ D e x t e r ] b r o u g h t in D o n o v a n , the f o l k - s i n g e r , to w r i t e s o m e songs. W h e n e v e n t u a l l y C l i f f o r d W i l l i a m s t o o k o v e r f r o m D e x t e r , R o n a l d P i c k u p , a D e x t e r c h o i c e for R o s a l i n d , p l a y e d the part l o o k i n g surprisingly l i k e T w i g g y . '
2 4

T h e r e w e r e theatrical precedents for such a p r o d u c t i o n , b u t

none

for t w o further incursions at a r o u n d this t i m e into w h a t m i g h t o n c e h a v e b e e n called taste a n d d e c e n c y . C o n t i n u i n g its e x p l o r a t i o n o f ' s e x u a l a m b i g u i t y ' , in 1 9 7 4 the N a t i o n a l T h e a t r e g a v e serious c o n s i d e r a t i o n to D r J o n a t h a n M i l l e r ' s plan for a n o t h e r aU-male p r o d u c t i o n ; this t i m e it w a s to b e o f W i l d e ' s The Importance of Being Earnest. ('I s u m m e d u p [the m e e t i n g ] b y saying I h o p e d J o n a t h a n w o u l d feel h e d i d n o t n e e d to d o the play w i t h an a l l - m a l e cast b u t that i f h e d e c i d e d h e m u s t , I a n d e v e r y b o d y else w o u l d b a c k his right to d o s o , ' P e t e r H a l l n o t e d in his diary, b o w i n g to the m o o d o f the t i m e s . ) In the e v e n t , M i l l e r ' s Importance equally audacious production spectrum. n e v e r r e a c h e d the stage at the o p p o s i t e e n d o f the u n l i k e an theatrical
25

T h e r e , plans for a w h o l e season o f g a y theatre c a m e to Acts. It did n o t 'to

fruition in 1 9 7 5 w h e n the A l m o s t F r e e T h e a t r e , a fringe v e n u e in the W e s t E n d , staged the u n e q u i v o c a l l y titled Homosexual m a t t e r that it w a s ad part o f 'a crusade' b y the n e w l y established G a y S w e a t s h o p theatre c o m p a n y , w h i c h h a d b e e n specifically set u p c h a n g e the w o r l d ' for g a y m e n . O n c e again, audiences w e r e u n d a u n t e d a n d flocked to the v a r i o u s p r o d u c t i o n s ; attendances at the tiny A l m o s t F r e e T h e a t r e h a d t o p p e d 6,000 b y the e n d o f the season.

E v e r y o n e s e e m e d intent o n d o i n g their bit for 'the b o y s ' . ' R i c h a r d ' 's c o m m e n t a b o u t t h e r e a l w a y s b e i n g plenty o f s e x for m e n l i k e h i m

' D O I N G

O U R

B I T

F O R

T H E

B O Y S '

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still h e l d true there w a s . B u t there w a s also m o r e to it than that. S e x w a s n ' t e v e r y t h i n g . F o l l o w i n g legalization m a n y m o r e frightened hitherto g a y m e n ( w e m i g h t think o f the luckless ' N i c h o l a s ' ) p l u c k e d

u p the c o u r a g e to visit pubs l o n g k n o w n a n d e v e n quasi-officially tolerated as the m e e t i n g - p l a c e s o f ' t h e likes o f t h e m ' . In L o n d o n there w a s , m o s t f a m o u s l y , the Salisbury ( w h i c h h a d featured in the 1 9 6 1 f d m The Victim), b u t there w e r e a d o z e n o r so others t o o the R o y a l V a u x h a l l T a v e r n , B o l t o n ' s a n d the C o l e h e r n e in Earls C o u r t , the M a r q u i s o f G r a n b y in R a t h b o n e P l a c e , the Q u e e n ' s H e a d in C h e l s e a - all offering their o w n discreet w e l c o m e s to m e n in search o f e v e r y t h i n g f r o m drag/transvestite e n t e r t a i n m e n t to r o u g h trade a n d the ( n o w fast-disappearing) c o m p a n y o f g u a r d s m e n . In M a n c h e s t e r t h e r e w a s the R e m b r a n d t , w h i l e similar establishments also q u i e t l y and Brighton. B i n d i n g all this t o g e t h e r w a s a sense o f c o m m u n a l i t y w h i c h h a d little o r n o t h i n g to d o w i t h the (increasingly political) solidarity o f the G a y L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t . W h e r e their fathers (or uncles) had, l i k e ' N i c h olas' a n d E . M . Forster's M a u r i c e H a l l , g o n e t h r o u g h the best years o f their lives b e l i e v i n g t h e y w e r e u n i q u e , freakish b e i n g s , a n e w g e n e r a tion o f m e n w e r e l e a r n i n g w i t h i n m o n t h s that t h e y w e r e n o t a l o n e . S u d d e n l y , in the pages o f Gay News m a g a z i n e (found in 1 9 7 2 ) t h e y f o u n d stories a b o u t p e o p l e l i k e t h e m s e l v e s , a d v e r t i s e m e n t s for pubs w h i c h actually w a n t e d their c u s t o m , invitations to m e e t i n g s a n d parties b e i n g t h r o w n b y l i k e - m i n d e d souls. T h e y h a d e v e r y r e a s o n to b e ' G l a d to B e G a y ' . A l t h o u g h the slogan d i d n o t b e c o m e c u r r e n t f o r a n o t h e r d e c a d e , it w e l l expresses the m o o d o f o p t i m i s m w i t h w h i c h t h e y a n d they w e r e p r e d o m i n a n t l y y o u n g a n d w e l l e d u c a t e d m a r c h e d o f f to take u p their places as students a n d u n d e r g r a d u a t e s at O x f o r d a n d C a m b r i d g e , the r e d - b r i c k universities a n d any n u m b e r o f the t h e n proliferating ' g l a s s - a n d - c o n c r e t e ' p o l y t e c h n i c s : I r e m e m b e r o n m y first day at I w a s l o o k i n g a r o u n d at this g r o u p o f t w o o r three h u n d r e d freshers l o o k i n g at the m e n , o f course! a n d t h i n k i n g , H e ' s cute! o r w h a t e v e r w e said at the t i m e ; H e ' s nice!; M m m ! h u n k y ! I w a n t e d to h a v e t h e m all. I k n e w a lot w o u l d n ' t b e g a y . B u t I fancied m y c h a n c e s . I r e c k o n I slept w i t h a b o u t three o r f o u r m e n , o t h e r students, w h i l e I w a s at u n i v e r s i t y . flourished in t o w n s a n d cities i n c l u d i n g O x f o r d , N o r w i c h , L i v e r p o o l , P l y m o u t h

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O n e fairly r e g u l a r l y for a y e a r o r so. A lot o f m y friends w e r e g a y o r b i - , b u t strangely it w a s o n l y rarely w i t h t h e m . ( O n e , w h o I k e p t in c o n t a c t w i t h , I d i d n ' t actually g o to b e d w i t h until t w e n t y y e a n later, w h e n w e w e r e b o t h c o m i n g u p to forty!) T h i s w a s w h a t ? 1 9 7 2 until 1 9 7 5 o r 1 9 7 6 . Y o u c o u l d get a w a y w i t h it t h e n , b e f o r e A I D S and everything. W e didn't
26

flaunt

it

t h o u g h , o r f o r c e it d o w n p e o p l e ' s throats, to c o i n a phrase; w e j u s t felt easy a b o u t o u r s e l v e s , I g u e s s .

T w o q u i t e separate episodes, entirely u n c o n n e c t e d in t h e m s e l v e s , m a y s e r v e to s u m u p the spirit o f the 1 9 7 0 s w h i c h the last f e w pages h a v e p e r f o r c e e x p l o r e d o n l y b y snapshots a n d hasty bulletins f r o m the front. U n i t i n g ad the v a r i o u s strands the h o m o s e x u a l ' s g r o w i n g feeling o f s e l f - c o n f i d e n c e , the g r o w i n g m o o d o f p u b l i c a c c e p t a n c e - they g i v e a grassroots a c c o u n t o f a s o c i e t y w h i c h , i f n o t entirely at ease w i t h itself, b o t h internaUy a n d e x t e r n a l l y w a s fast c o m i n g to terms w i t h o n e facet o f its identity. T h u s , l i k e the f o r m e r student q u o t e d a b o v e , e v e n in D e v o n in the spring o f 1 9 7 3 undergraduates w e r e f e e l i n g easy a b o u t themselves. S t u d e n t U n i o n G a y S o c i e t i e s ( G a y S o c s ) w e r e s p r i n g i n g u p in E x e t e r e v e r y bit as q u i c k l y as t h e y w e r e in L o n d o n , M a n c h e s t e r , L e e d s , B r i g h t o n o r a n y o f the c o u n t r y ' s o t h e r m o r e ostensibly c o s m o p o l i t a n student n e x i . T h e l o c a l n e w s p a p e r in E x e t e r w a s p r e d i c t a b l y appalled - b u t o n l y superficially s o . It r e p o r t e d this latest manifestation o f the spirit o f the a g e w i t h a bizarre m i x t u r e o f o l d - f a s h i o n e d and up-to-the-minute broad-mindedness: abhorrence

W e l e a r n that at the U n i v e r s i t y , that seat o f l e a r n i n g [. . .] a G a y S o c i e t y w a s f o r m e d last t e r m . It has, a c c o r d i n g to its v i c e - p r e s i d e n t , a m e m b e r s h i p o f 1 0 a n d is still g r o w i n g . A t S t L u k e ' s C o l l e g e , E x e t e r , a n o t h e r p r o u d institution that has t u r n e d o u t m a n y g o o d teachers in the past, 'there is a m o v e m e n t t o w a r d s g a y rights' a n d at E x e t e r C o l l e g e there is 'a fair c h a n c e ' o f a g a y s o c i e t y b e i n g f o r m e d in the future. W h a t is so n a u s e a t i n g a b o u t these disclosures is n o t that s u c h a situation exists in E x e t e r [. . .] b u t that the students are so b r a z e n a b o u t it. T h e y w a n t the w o r l d to k n o w , a p p a r e n d y , a b o u t the

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activities a n d proclivities o f s o m e o f their n u m b e r [. . .] We are not moralising here; everyone to his own choice, but. . .
2?

E v e n m o r e illustrative o f h o w far things h a d c o m e since 1 9 6 7 , o f h o w the v e r y h o m o s e x u a l w h o m the activists h a d s o u g h t to help ( r e m e m b e r ' N i c h o l a s ' ) h a d b e c o m e n o m o r e than the m a n in the street w i t h i n a d e c a d e , is the story o f the G a y L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t a n d P r i d e in the 1 9 7 0 s . T h e ironies are rich, a n d n o w h e r e richer than in the uncertain fortunes o f the P r i d e m a r c h o v e r that p e r i o d . T h e essential facts are clear e n o u g h . W e h a v e seen that in 1 9 7 2 the m a r c h attracted a r o u n d 2 , 0 0 0 p e o p l e ; the v e r y n e x t y e a r a m e r e 3 0 0 turned up. M a n y reasons can b e a d v a n c e d for this apparent fickleness, n o t least a failure o f the a l w a y s c h a o t i c p l a n n i n g a n d administration o f the e v e n t . B u t d o w n r i g h t c o m p l a c e n c y p r o b a b l y has as m u c h to d o w i t h it, for it w a s at a r o u n d this t i m e that a g r o w i n g n u m b e r o f g a y m e n h a d b e e n 'liberated', in m a n y instances in spite of themselves, who began

finding less a n d less r e l e v a n c e in pressure g r o u p s a n d street politics. W e can p i c t u r e t h e m , these children o f the r e v o l u t i o n , a l m o s t as the m i d - s e v e n t i e s precursors o f the straight ' Y u p p y ' materialists o f the eighties. T h e y f o r m a discrete g r o u p . G r a d u a t e s n o w , a n d in their m i d - t w e n t i e s the p o s t - w a r b a b y - b o o m e r w h o t u r n e d twenty-one a n d b e c a m e a c o n s e n t i n g adult the day the S e x u a l O f f e n c e s A c t c a m e into effect w o u l d h a v e b e e n t w e n t y - s i x in 1 9 7 2 - their i n v o l v e m e n t w i t h e x q u i s i t e radicalism a n d the gaysocs o f their u n i v e r s i t y days is l o n g b e h i n d t h e m . F o r these beneficiaries o f nearly t w o decades o f ' a c t i o n ' are n o w salaried y o u n g professionals, affluent, aspirational and fundamentally g r o w n up. T h e y h a v e little in c o m m o n w i t h , little s y m p a t h y for, the G L F street-fighters and their batde against 'social p r e j u d i c e and overt repression' b e c a u s e they d o n o t t h e m s e l v e s feel p r e j u d i c e d against o r u n d u l y repressed. T h e y h a v e their bars - the Salisbury, the M a r q u i s , the C o l e h e m e the listings in Gay News a n d c o m p a r a t i v e a c c e p t a n c e in a range o f s y m p a t h e t i c professions i f t h e y c h o o s e to b e o p e n o r ' o u t ' a b o u t their proclivities. A lifestyle p r e d i c a t e d n o t o n solidarity w i t h ' w o m e n , black p e o p l e [. . .] y o u t h a n d the w o r k i n g class' b u t o n advertisements a n d features in the s e d u c t i v e ' L o o k ! ' pages o f the Sunday c o n s e r v a t i v e . A c y n i c m i g h t say that t h e y h a v e

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Times a n d the n e w c o l o u r supplements, o n d e s i g n e r clothes and e v e n the C a l i f o r n i a n ' p o o l c u l t u r e ' celebrated b y D a v i d H o c k n e y (the first L o n d o n r e t r o s p e c t i v e o f w h o s e w o r k t o o k place in 1 9 7 0 ) w a s theirs for the asking. E v e n b e f o r e the first w o r d s are s p o k e n , an A m e r i c a n v e r s i o n o f this ' m a t u r e ' g a y lifestyle - the full flowering o f the 'dream-world' m e n t i o n e d p r e v i o u s l y is paraded in The Boys in the Band. T h e o p e n i n g stage directions b o d it d o w n to its essentials a n d in effect present a self-contained cameo: A smartly-appointed duplex apartment in the East Fifties, New York,

consisting of a living-room the kitchen, level,

and, on a higher level, a bedroom. Bossa nova


M I C H A E L ,

music blasts from a phonograph,

wearing a robe, enters from

carrying some liquor bottles. He crosses to set them on a bar, improvised dance steps en route. In the bedroom, he

looks to see if the room is in order, moves towards the stairs to the bedroom doing a few crosses before a mirror, studies his hair sighs. He picks up a comb and a hair-drier, goes to work. The downstairs front-door living-room, in khakis buzzer sounds. A beat,
M I C H A E L

stops, dressed

listens, turns off the drier. More buzzing,

M I C H A E L

quickly goes to the


D O N A L D ,

turns off the music, opens the door to reveal

and a Lacoste shirt, carrying an airline zipper

bag.

21

T h i s is superficial intentionally so b u t i n d i c a t i v e o f s o m e t h i n g m u c h d e e p e r , a m o v e t o w a r d s an atavistic, c o m f o r t a b l e monogamy cham w h i c h w o u l d n o t necessarily h a v e offended the parliamentary g a n d i z e s o f the G L F w h o l l y failed to take into a c c o u n t . ' D o e s it s o u n d s m u g i f I say that I s a w t h r o u g h the seventies and its m o r a l i t y b e f o r e m o s t p e o p l e ? I can't help that. I tired fairly early o f p e o p l e b o a s t i n g a b o u t their o p e n relationships, v a l u e d trickle a w a y . '
2 9

p i o n s o f the 1 9 6 7 reforms b u t w h i c h P r i d e a n d the p r o m i s c u o u s p r o p a

and t h e n

com

p l a i n i n g w h e n that s a m e openness let e v e r y t h i n g t h e y c o u l d h a v e S o says the narrator o f A d a m M a r s - J o n e s ' s later New short story ' T h e C h a n g e s o f T h o s e T e r r i b l e Y e a r s ' . B u t w h a t w e r e those things t h e y c o u l d h a v e v a l u e d ? T h e s m a r d y a p p o i n t e d o r at least their B r i t i s h equivalents and all the o t h e r Y o r k d u p l e x , the p h o n o g r a p h , the l i q u o r b o t d e s , the L a c o s t e shirt appurtenances o f style l o o m e d large a m o n g t h e m . A s K e n n e t h W i l l i a m s (born in 1 9 2 6 b u t in g a y terms a l a t e - d e v e l o p e r ) w a s also d i s c o v e r i n g in 1 9 7 2 ,

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they represented security, place, identity: ' A s all m y life is an act a n d a h o l l o w s h a m , the c o n c r e t e things like m y b e l o n g i n g s & m y p r i v a c y & m y b o o k s & things are necessary - t h e y ' r e the o n l y reassurance I have.'
3 0

W i t h w h a t m u s t h a v e b e e n b e w i l d e r i n g rapidity, W i U i a m s w e n t t h r o u g h w h a t a m o u n t e d to the w h o l e g r o w i n g - u p process o f his spir itual c o e v a l s w i t h i n the space o f j u s t f o u r days w h i l e o n h o l i d a y in T a n g i e r . H i s diary charts this graphically P a u l i n e c o n v e r s i o n : Thursday, 15 June

W e w e n t to the B . H o t e l . I n the bar w e m e t N o r b e r t (the o w n e r ) a n d three b o y s . I w e n t o f f to o n e o f the r o o m s w i t h M o h a m m e d ( B a m b i ) h e a r t e n e d b y N o r b e r t ' s r e m a r k ' A U m y b o y s are c l e a n & reliable y o u k n o w ' a n d w e roUed a b o u t a m o r o u s l y & it w a s aU v e r y siUy a n d unfulfiUed. T h e setting w a s aU perfect b u t I c o u l d n ' t h a v e an ejaculation o r a n y t h i n g [. . .] Friday, 16 June p o w d e r a n d start all that] T h e n

U p at a b o u t 9 o ' c . a n d o f c o u r s e , f o u n d y o u r actual parasite so h a d to g o to the c h e m i s t for D D T f o u n d the skin o f the d i c k w a s s l i g h d y abrased! I t h o u g h t I felt the teeth last night! O h ! these adventures a l w a y s l e a v e m e disgusted and impaired. Saturday, 17 June

I think that G o d d i d n o t i n t e n d m e to h a v e a s e x u a l relationship o f a n y k i n d , a n d that is w h y aU these dire c o n s e q u e n c e s o c c u r w h e n e v e r I defy his ruling. Tuesday, 20 June

T h i s t i m e , w h e n I get b a c k to L o n d o n , I ready m u s t d o s o m e t h i n g positive a b o u t f i n d i n g a place to l i v e that is me. I reaUy m u s t start b e i n g selfish for a c h a n g e a n d create the k i n d o f s u r r o u n d i n g s w h i c h I ready w a n t , instead o f l i v i n g in c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h g i v e m e p e a c e o r aesthetic satisfaction.
31

no

I n this c o n t e x t it is n o t surprising that, as the

1970s w o r e

on,

the v e r y 'sixties' p r e o c c u p a t i o n s o f the G a y L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t s e e m e d increasingly irrelevant. O n c e p e o p l e in the street, o r d i n a r y passers-by h a d c h e e r e d t h e m o n their w a y (or at w o r s t g o n e o f f ' l a u g h i n g to

240

ORDINARY

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e a c h o t h e r a n d s h a k i n g their h e a d s ' ) . T h e activists h a d h a d reason to b e l i e v e that a battle h a d b e e n w o n , b u t hardly a n y t i m e to celebrate. I n 1 9 7 5 n o m o r e than 2 0 0 p e o p l e h a d b e e n o n the P r i d e m a r c h . A f t e r w a r d s , there w e r e suggestions that the w h o l e G L F circus h a d o u t l i v e d its usefulness, that it h a d m o r e than d o n e its bit; e v e n that P r i d e ' 7 5 s h o u l d b e the last. It m i g h t h a v e b e e n better i f it h a d b e e n . It w a s n ' t , h o w e v e r , a n d 1 9 7 7 b r o u g h t the final i r o n y . N u m b e r s h a d p i c k e d u p w e l l o v e r 1 , 0 0 0 lesbians a n d g a y m e n t o o k to the streets that y e a r - b u t e v e n the g a y press n o t e d rather ruefuUy that 'drinkers outside the w o r l d - f a m o u s g a y p u b T h e C o l e h e r n e in L o n d o n ' s E a r l ' s Court threw
32

b e e r cans at [the] demonstrators

for

flaunting

their

sexuality'.

11 T Am Perfectly Normal with One Slight Difference'

P R O B A B L Y

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B Y

a television adaptation o f Q u e n t i n C r i s p ' s The

Naked

Civil

Servant, an a n o n y m o u s g a y m a n w a s m o v e d to w r i t e to

the press in J a n u a r y 1 9 7 6 . C r i s p ' s c e l e b r a t i o n o f ' C a m p ' h a d 'set the " g a y " w o r l d back by twenty years', he fumed: H e r e w e are, all d o i n g o u r nuts, saying to the hets, ' L e t us l i v e o u r lives as w e w a n t to as n o r m a l [sic] as w e c a n b e c a u s e as far as I a m c o n c e r n e d , b e i n g ' g a y ' m e a n s that I a m perfectly n o r m a l with o n e slight difference. I prefer to l o v e a n o t h e r m a n . I a m not, a n d see n o p o i n t in t r y i n g to ape, a female. T h e r e are a great deal l i k e m e . O u r local p u b has a g o o d n u m b e r o f 'affairs' and, a l t h o u g h in the ' C a m p ' life it w o u l d b e b o r i n g , o u r l o v e r s chat a b o u t f o o d a n d clothes [ w h i l e ] the m e n [talk] a b o u t cars, t e l e v i s i o n , etc - j u s t as n o r m a l c o u p l e s d o . [This includes] n o t i c i n g a n i c e y o u n g t h i n g h o w n o r m a l w e ready are.' G r a m m a r and punctuation frequently g o t the b e t t e r o f h i m , b u t h e j u s t as D a d w o u l d fancy a y o u n g bit o f skirt. I p u t this in to s h o w

did h a v e a p o i n t . F o r the majority o f g a y m e n o r at least those w h o a c k n o w l e d g e d their gayness the m i d - s e v e n t i e s w e r e , as w e h a v e b e g u n to d i s c o v e r , a p e r i o d o f q u i e t u d e , c o n s o l i d a t i o n a n d e v e n d o m esticity. T h e r e is litde m o r e than a n e c d o t a l e v i d e n c e to g o o n (census returns a n d electoral rolls d o n o t r e c o r d the nature o f the relationship e n j o y e d b y adults sharing the s a m e address), b u t it is fair to say that s o m e t h i n g a p p r o a c h i n g w h a t o n e m i g h t cad the G a y S u b u r b a n D r e a m w a s e m e r g i n g . E v e n in 1 9 7 0 there w a s an easy, n o r m a l m u n d a n e n e s s a b o u t m a n y a g a y relationship, a c o s y d o m e s t i c i t y w h i c h frequently 241

242

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PEOPLE

s e e m e d to m i m i c a h e t e r o s e x u a l marriage's e v e n i f an t e n s i o n l u r k e d b e n e a t h the surface: - 1

inherent

w a s w a t c h i n g y o u w h i l e y o u w e r e s h a v i n g the m o r n i n g y o u

w e r e g o i n g to L e e d s . I f y o u ' d m o v e d y o u r e y e s h a l f an i n c h y o u ' d h a v e s e e n m e in the m i r r o r . I w a s standing b e h i n d y o u s t u d y i n g y o u r neck and m y j o w l s . I saw you. - A h ! W e l l , w h a t d i d y o u think o f aU that, w i t h o u r R e g , eh? I t h o u g h t it w a s c r e e p y . I w o n d e r w h a t y o u r n e x t w i l l b e l i k e . D o n ' t b e afraid to b r i n g h i m h o m e , dear, w d l y o u ? I d o w o r r y s o . - T h e r e isn't g o i n g to b e a n e x t o n e . A t least, n o t for s o m e t i m e . - H o , r e e l y ? I think that's a g o o d plan, h ' a b s t i n e n c e m a k e s the 'eart g r o w f o n d e r . I ' m m o v i n g in w i t h R e g . - 1 d o n ' t t h i n k h e ' l l h a v e y o u , dear, after y o u r indiscretions a n d sauciness. Y e s he will. - Y o u ' l l g o r u n n i n g after h i m , w d l y o u ? H o w d e m e a n i n g ! P o s s i b l y . B u t it's better than h a v i n g h i m run after m e . I ' v e b e e n t h r o u g h that o n c e , I c o u l d n ' t face it again. - Y o u l o v e h i m then, y o u r butcher's b o y ? - A c t u a l l y , h e ' s n o t a b u t c h e r ' s b o y , in p o i n t o f fact. H i s father teaches maths at the university. H i s m o t h e r ' s a social w o r k e r . T h e y l i v e in an u g l y E d w a r d i a n h o u s e . . ? W h i l e n e w s p a p e r s w e r e d o m i n a t e d b y a c c o u n t s o f the p r o s e c u t i o n o f the B r i t i s h publishers o f H u b e r t S e l b y J r ' s Last Exit to Brooklyn, an A m e r i c a n n o v e l c o n t a i n i n g several graphic descriptions o f h o m o s e x u a l s e x , ' s e r i o u s ' novelists w e r e b e g i n n i n g to e x p l o r e this moraUy a m b i g u ous X a n a d u . C h r i s t o p h e r I s h e r w o o d , b o r n in 1 9 0 4 a n d the archetypal E n g l i s h m a n a b r o a d b y this t i m e , h a d already d o n e it in his present-tense n o v e l A Single Man ( 1 9 6 4 ) b y p l a c i n g G e o r g e , a ' m i d - f i f t y i s h ' E n g l i s h academic, California. It is a d e c e p t i v e l y simple b o o k , the l i m p i d i t y o f its style p e r v e r s e l y a l m o s t o b s c u r i n g the p r o f u n d i t y o f w h a t it is t r y i n g to say. A persistent sense o f n o r m a l i t y runs t h r o u g h it, h o w e v e r , e v e n in its m o r e m e l o quite literaUy at sea in a h o m o - e r o t i c , Hockneyesque
3

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243

dramatic m o m e n t s . O n e such: o n i m p u l s e , after an e v e n i n g o f h e a v y d r i n k i n g , G e o r g e a n d o n e o f his students, K e n n y , strip o f f their clothes a n d d i v e n a k e d i n t o the Pacific for a m i d n i g h t b a t h e : A n d n o w K e n n y is d r a g g i n g h i m out, g r o g g y - l e g g e d . K e n n y ' s hands are u n d e r G e o r g e ' s armpits a n d h e is l a u g h i n g a n d s a y i n g l i k e a N a n n y , ' T h a t ' s e n o u g h for n o w ! ' A n d G e o r g e , stdl water-drunk, gasps, ' I ' m all right,' a n d w a n t s to g o straight b a c k i n t o the w a t e r . B u t K e n n y says, ' W e l l , I'm n o t - I ' m c o l d , ' a n d N a n n y - l i k e h e t o w e l s G e o r g e , w i t h his o w n shirt, n o t G e o r g e ' s , until George stops h i m b e c a u s e his b a c k is sore. T h e N a n n y - r e l a t i o n s h i p is so c o n v i n c i n g , at this m o m e n t , that G e o r g e feels h e c o u l d curl u p a n d fall i m m e d i a t e l y asleep right h e r e , s h r u n k t o child-size w i t h i n the safety o f K e n n y ' s bigness. K e n n y ' s b o d y seems to h a v e g r o w n g i g a n tic since t h e y left the w a t e r . E v e r y t h i n g a b o u t h i m is l a r g e r than life; the w h i t e teeth o f his grin, the w i d e d r i p p i n g shoulders, b e g i n n i n g to shiver. ' C a n w e g o b a c k to y o u r place, Sir?' h e asks. ' S u r e . W h e r e else?' ' W h e r e else?' K e n n y repeats, s e e m i n g to find this v e r y a m u s i n g . H e picks u p his clothes a n d turns, stdl n a k e d , t o w a r d the h i g h w a y a n d the lights. ' A r e y o u c r a z y ? ' G e o r g e shouts after h i m . ' W h a t ' s the matter?' K e n n y l o o k s b a c k , g r i n n i n g . ' Y o u ' r e g o i n g to w a l k h o m e l i k e that? A r e y o u crazy? T h e y ' d cad the cops!' K e n n y shrugs his shoulders g o o d - h u m o u r e d l y . ' N o b o d y w o u l d h a v e seen us. W e ' r e invisible - d i d n ' t y o u k n o w ? '
4

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tad slim torso w i t h its h e a v y - h u n g sex, a n d the l o n g legs, n o w

It is also so s i m p l e , so a u t o m a t i c , so m a t t e r - o f - f a c t , so mundane. laceratingly c a n d i d n o v e l A Domestic Animal

So,

t o o , is the life o f D i c k T h o m p s o n , the w r i t e r - h e r o o f Francis K i n g ' s ( 1 9 7 0 ) . A g a i n , the b o o k is ' m i d d l e - c l a s s ' this t i m e an e x p l o r a t i o n o f the d e s t r u c t i v e p o w e r o f the (unrequited) l o v e w h i c h T h o m p s o n feels for the straight, y o u n g Italian p h i l o s o p h e r h e takes in as a l o d g e r . A g a i n , t o o , its p o w e r c o m e s f r o m the sheer a m o u n t o f ' c o r r o b o r a t i v e detail'. T h o m p s o n ' s infatuation - a n d his h o m o s e x u a l i t y - is j u s t a n o t h e r aspect o f a m e s s y life d o m i n a t e d b y the i m p e r a t i v e s o f t a k i n g the d o g for a w a l k , g e t t i n g

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the builders o u t , a n d k n o c k i n g u p a q u i c k spaghetti b o l o g n e s e w h e n n e i g h b o u r s a r r i v e u n e x p e c t e d l y for supper: U n t i l t h e n i g h t o f m y h o u s e - w a r m i n g party, several days later, ' l o v e ' w a s n e v e r a w o r d either o f us used to describe m y d e v o t i o n to h i m . ' Y o u care t o o m u c h for m e , ' he w o u l d say; o r ' y o u s h o u l d n o t feel this w a y a b o u t m e ' ; o r ' I c a n n o t return the k i n d o f friendship y o u h a v e for m e . ' I n t u r n I w o u l d use simdar e u p h e m i s m s 'the affection I h a v e for y o u ' , ' I ' v e n e v e r felt l i k e this for a n y m a n b e f o r e ' , 'this absurd attachment'. I t h i n k that b o t h o f us sensed s u b c o n s c i o u s l y that i f that m o n o s y U a b l e ' l o v e ' passed b e t w e e n us t h e n this curious relationship, still d u i d b e t w e e n us b e c a u s e it w a s n e v e r defined, w o u l d c o m e to a crisis; a n d that crisis, o d d l y , w a s w h a t h e as m u c h as I w i s h e d t o a v o i d .
5

B y 1 9 7 0 , t o o , real p e o p l e w e r e l i v i n g similarly ' o r d i n a r y ' lives - j u s t as t h e y a l w a y s h a d , o n l y m o r e so: A t s c h o o l I w a s v e r y friendly w i t h a c h a p caUed . H e wasn't during

particularly attractive, b u t w e w e r e v e r y close a n d o n c e ,

the h o l i d a y s , I w a s staying w i t h h i m a n d he said, H a v e y o u e v e r masturbated? A n d I said, W e d , n o , n o t ready. W h a t d o y o u m e a n ? I w a s s u d d e n l y interested a n d w a n t e d h i m to p u r s u e this subject further! H e d e s c r i b e d e v e r y t h i n g in detad a n d I said, W e d , s h o w m e ! H e said h e w a s n ' t g o i n g to s h o w m e ' o u t front', b u t u n d e r n e a t h his d u v e t h e started f o n d l i n g h i m s e l f a n d d e s c r i b e d w h a t he w a s d o i n g . I n the e n d w e w e r e d o i n g it t o g e t h e r n e x t to e a c h o t h e r u n d e r the d u v e t , a l t h o u g h w e d i d n ' t s h o w e a c h o t h e r w h a t w e w e r e doing. A n d t h e n later w e u s e d to h a v e c o m p e t i t i o n s - w e u s e d to support o u r t o w e l s o n o u r c o c k s w h e n t h e y w e r e rigid, a n d the p e r s o n w h o c o u l d k e e p it u p the l o n g e s t w o u l d w i n . W e actuaUy g o t quite g o o d at this, b u t h e a l w a y s s e e m e d to w i n ; h e h a d a slightly b i g g e r c o c k than m e a n d a w e s o m e s t a y i n g - p o w e r . A n d t h e n I i n v e n t e d forfeits. S o m e o f t h e m w e r e c o m p l e t e l y u n s e x u a l , b u t m a n y o f t h e m i n v o l v e d h a v i n g to s n o g e a c h other. I f I lost I ' d h a v e to s n o g h i m . I used to p r e t e n d to protest at this - b u t t h e n w e n t a h e a d a n d d i d it! H e ' d say, W e d , y o u d o n ' t h a v e

'i

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to, y o u k n o w . A n d I ' d insist a n d say, Fair's fair, I h a v e lost; w e agreed. A n d w e ' d h a v e l o n g s n o g s .


6

F o r the t e e n a g e r c o m i n g o n 'the s c e n e ' at any t i m e f r o m the b e g i n n i n g o f the 1 9 7 0 s until the m i d - e i g h t i e s life p r e s e n t e d a s e e m i n g l y endless range o f opportunities. T h e l i v i n g w a s easy. G a y businesses w e r e o p e n i n g u p g a y travel agents, g a y p l u m b e r s a n d g a y builders w e r e a m o n g the first. T h e r e w e r e g a y l a w y e r s , g a y d o c t o r s , to find t h e m (Nighthawks, gay accountants a n d gay dentists. T h e r e w e r e g a y films i f o n e k n e w w h e r e the story o f a g a y s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l teacher, on His Way) Pink Narcissus, D a v i d H o c k n e y ' s A Bigger Splash, D e r e k J a r m a n ' s Sebastiane), a n d p u l p g a y n o v e l s b y D a v i d R e e s (The Milkman's a n d o t h e r writers, t o g e t h e r w i t h Gay News and a top-shelf range o f

m o s t l y A m e r i c a n magazines in 'specialist b o o k s h o p s ' . M o s t o b v i o u s l y , there w a s an e v e r - g r o w i n g n u m b e r o f g a y pubs, clubs a n d sauna-bars, where anything could happen: Wednesday, 1st September 1982

Frustrated a n d depressed. W e n t into t o w n o n the last o f m y m o n e y , recklessly a w a r e I w o u l d n ' t h a v e e n o u g h to g e t h o m e . W h a t a m a r v e d o u s e v e n i n g it t u r n e d o u t to b e ! After chatting to several p e o p l e I k n e w to try a n d c h e e r u p i n c l u d i n g o n e o f the [pub] staff w h o b o u g h t m e a drink I s p o k e to A s h l e y to see i f h e c o u l d h e l p . A f t e r an unsuccessful a t t e m p t to fix m e u p w i t h a 1 9 - y e a r - o l d , he finady i n t r o d u c e d m e to 2 0 - y e a r - o l d Robert. H e w a s quite beautiful, w i t h short, w i r y b l a c k hair a n d b l u e e y e s . H e listened to m y p r o b l e m s a n d c h e e r e d m e u p . I h a d n o m o n e y , b u t w i t h o u t t o o m u c h trouble s u c c e e d e d in g e t t i n g an i n v i t a t i o n to stay the night w i t h h i m .
7

I w a s at a party in a n i g h t c l u b o n e n i g h t a n d this m a n I slightly k n e w c a m e u p to m e a n d said, A r e y o u rich? I said, N o ; a n d h e said, I f I w a s to p a y y o u five h u n d r e d p o u n d s w o u l d y o u masturbate m e ? I said I ' d p r o b a b l y d o it for free!
8

In the years b e f o r e A I D S w a s h e a r d o f t h e r e w a s a certain i n n o c e n c e abroad. E v e r y t h i n g s e e m e d possible. ' T i m e a n d the y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n are o n o u r side,' Ian H a r v e y a v e r r e d in Gay News in 1 9 7 6 . E v e n i f the forces o f l a w a n d o r d e r d i d o c c a s i o n a d y i n t e r v e n e in 1 9 7 7 Gay

246 News

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a n d its e d i t o r D e n i s L e m o n w e r e f o u n d g u i l t y o f b l a s p h e m o u s

libel for p u b l i s h i n g a p o e m b y J a m e s K i r k u p d e s c r i b i n g the h o m o s e x u a l fantasies o f a c e n t u r i o n g u a r d i n g the c r u c i f i e d b o d y o f J e s u s C h r i s t n o t h i n g s e e m e d capable o f s t o p p i n g the r e v o l u t i o n , o f halting a ' s u b versive gay potential'. I n the m i d - a n d late seventies there w a s a lot o f this sort o f rhetoric a r o u n d , n o t least in the c o l u m n s o f Gay News. Its protestations that to b e g a y w a s ipso facto to b e political, its e x h o r t a t i o n s to g a y m e n to ' e m p o w e r ' t h e m s e l v e s a n d seize the m o m e n t w e r e v e r y m u c h o f their day. E v e n n o w t h e y h a v e a p e r i o d c h a r m , a n d are v i v i d l y r e d o l e n t o f a time w h e n Britain was convulsed b y sometimes violent change the years w h e n the surprise resignation o f H a r o l d W i l s o n (and the i n e v i t a b l e d e p a r t u r e o f L i b e r a l leader J e r e m y T h o r p e after aUegations that h e h a d c o n s p i r e d to m u r d e r a f o r m e r m a l e m o d e l ) , the S e x Pistols' t a k e o v e r o f an early e v e n i n g television p r o g r a m m e a n d the A n t i - N a z i L e a g u e ' s s o m e t i m e s v i o l e n t clashes w i t h N a t i o n a l F r o n t w e r e p l a y e d o u t to a s o u n d t r a c k o f p u n k r o c k : . . . M y s e x u a l i t y is s o c i a d y i m p o r t a n t . It takes n o a c c o u n t o f g e n d e r roles. It is n o t j u s t i f i e d b e c a u s e o f its r e p r o d u c t i v e possibdities. It can g i v e a p o w e r f u l s u p p o r t to the w o m e n ' s m o v e m e n t . It can s h o w the w a y to n e w e r a n d m o r e j o y f u l s e x u a l b e h a v i o u r for aU human beings.
9

supporters

. . . G a y p o r n o g r a p h y [. . .] is b y a n d large a p o s i t i v e fulfilment that c o u n t e r a c t s the n i g h t m a r i s h fears o f o u r adolescent years and, as s u c h , is p o l i t i c a d y p r o g r e s s i v e . . . . freed from
10

the confines o f a barbaric l a w , m a n w o u l d turn

i r r e v o c a b l y from w o m a n to the s u p e r i o r attraction o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y w i t h the w h o l e c o u n t r y b r o u g h t to its birthless e n d as an o r g y o f gay sex.


11

. . . L i v e y o u r life o p e n l y as b e i n g g a y . L e t o t h e r p e o p l e see y o u are an o r d i n a r y g u y a n d that y o u a n d y o u r b o y f r i e n d can b e a n d are as h a p p y w i t h o n e a n o t h e r as y o u r straight friends a n d c o l l e a g u e s are w i t h their husbands o r w i v e s .
1 2

. . . I k e e p m y treasure in m y arse, b u t t h e n m y arse is o p e n to everyone.


1 3

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. . . gay p e o p l e d o n ' t n e e d a n y i m p r o v e m e n t ; t h e y ' r e so c o m p l e t e , so intact, so w e U - d e v e l o p e d .


1 4

T h e s e w e r e , o f c o u r s e , m i n o r i t y v i e w s ; e v e n at the h e i g h t o f the p u b l i c i t y g e n e r a t e d b y the b l a s p h e m y trial Gay News n e v e r s o l d m o r e than a b o u t 2 2 , 0 0 0 c o p i e s and, as w e h a v e already seen, the final years o f the 1 9 7 0 s m a r k e d the l o w p o i n t in p o p u l a r s u p p o r t for P r i d e . I n the sheer earthiness o f their i m a g e r y , h o w e v e r , t h e fragments quoted a b o v e (and c h o s e n almost at r a n d o m ) c o n v e y s o m e t h i n g o f the frantic v e n e r y a n d erotic potential i m p l i c i t e v e n in the h u m d r u m m i n u t i a e o f the relationships w e h a v e thus far e x a m i n e d . ' I w a s w a t c h i n g y o u w h i l e y o u w e r e s h a v i n g ' . . . 'and, N a n n y - l i k e , h e t o w e l s G e o r g e , w i t h his o w n shirt, n o t G e o r g e ' s ' . . . e v e n the fastidious D i c k T h o m p s o n is r e d u c e d to snuffling in the w a r d r o b e o f his u n r e c i p r o c a t i n g l o d g e r in a desperate attempt to have a n d h o l d the u n - h a v a b l e . Significantly, h o w e v e r , the reminiscences and diaries o f those d i r e c d y i n v o l v e d w i t h 'the s c e n e ' at this t i m e w i t h w h a t w e w o u l d n o w cad the ' s e x industry' reflect litde o f this gleeful u r g e n c y . R a t h e r , the o v e r a d t o n e is matter-of-fact, necessarily ' l i b e r a t e d ' b u t hardly nostalgic for a g o l d e n era o f arse a n d o r g y : I tried v a r i o u s j o b s , b u t c o u l d n ' t stand a n y o f t h e m . I c o u l d n ' t find

a n y t h i n g I c o u l d b e a r to d o . T h e n [in the m i d - s e v e n t i e s ] I w e n t a l o n g to see s o m e lad I e x p e c t h e w a s a w h o r e a m a s s e u r , w h o advertised in Gay News. H e d i d n ' t turn m e o n in the least; b u t h e g a v e m e a w a n k a n d h e told m e h e ' d t a k e n this massage c o u r s e w h i c h e n a b l e d h i m to advertise his services. S o I t h o u g h t that w o u l d b e interesting b e c a u s e I l i v e m a i n l y in m y h e a d , a n d it m i g h t a d d s o m e t h i n g to the p h y s i c a l side o f m y life, w h i c h w a s t h e n a bit deficient. S o I w e n t a l o n g a n d t o o k the c o u r s e : six lessons for thirty q u i d . I h a d to d o m y final e x a m i n a t i o n o n a w o m a n ! S h e w a s w e a r i n g a bra and, n e v e r h a v i n g u n h o o k e d o n e in m y life, I h a d n ' t the faintest idea w h a t to d o . I s o o n f o u n d o u t that massage m e a n t y o u w e r e ready s u p p l y i n g sex - a quarter o f an h o u r o n the front, a quarter o f an h o u r o n the b a c k . In those days I seriously e n j o y e d d o i n g the m a s s a g e . T h e physical t o u c h w a s g o o d for m e . B u t w i t h h a l f the clients o r m o r e y o u ' d get a w a y w i t h five m i n u t e s o f massage a n d t h e n t h e y ' d

248

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start t o u c h i n g y o u r c o c k o r s o m e t h i n g , m a k i n g it quite plain that the massage w a s j u s t the e x c u s e as far as t h e y w e r e c o n c e r n e d . It w a s n o p r o b l e m - basicady, I ' d h a v e s e x w i t h a n y o n e w h o asked m e . I c o u l d n e v e r see the p o i n t in s a y i n g n o . It w a s 'massage a n d r e l i e f in those days. S o E n g l i s h ! N o t pleasure, relief] I f o u n d I w a s ready a social w o r k e r . M e n w o u l d ted m e things t h e y w o u l d n e v e r ted a n y o n e else perhaps t h e y h a d n o o n e else to ted. Q u i t e a lot o f t h e m w e r e m a r r i e d , o f course I w a s a s h o u l d e r . I n w e d o v e r fifty p e r cent o f the m e n w h o c a m e to see m e , the s e x w a s the e x c u s e a n d n o t the reason. T h e y w e r e s e e k i n g g a y c o m p a n y , perhaps a g a y t o u c h , b u t s e x . . . V e r y f e w w e r e ' o u t ' ; there w e r e so f e w o u t gay m e n in those days. T h e y w e r e nearly ad ' c l o s e t - j o b s ' . T h e y o u n g e s t I s a w w a s s e v e n t e e n , w h i c h g o t m e a bit p a r a n o i d . I think I c h a r g e d h i m a q u i d o r s o m e t h i n g . T h e c o m m o n e s t w e r e m e n in their fifties. I d i d n ' t m a k e a f o r t u n e , b u t I m a d e a l i v i n g . I g o t so b o r e d , t h o u g h ! It g o t so t e d i o u s ! [1983] H a v i n g e v e n t u a d y a r r i v e d after a l o n g train ride - m a d e lighter b y t h e c o m m e n t a r y o f the Indian d r i v e r w h o c r o w n e d his act, to the u p r o a r o f the passengers, w i t h ' T h i s is L o n d o n , a n d the w e a t h e r o u t s i d e is v e r y , v e r y n i c e ' - w e n t for coffee, t h e n o n to the basic a n d s o m e w h a t u n t i d y office [. . .] at the t o p o f a v e r y b u i l d i n g . T h e n w e g o t started. , a m i d d l e - a g e d , slender m a n w i t h t h i n n i n g hair b u t a h u m o r ous, k i n d disposition ( c h i c k e n - c h a s e r ? ) p r o c e e d e d to take snaps o f m e g e t t i n g undressed. I t h e n h a d to lie o n a m o s t u n c o m f o r t a b l e w o o d e n b e n c h a n d h o l d rather u n c o m f o r t a b l e positions as I thrust m y b u t t o c k s t o w a r d s his lens a n d tried desperately to p u t s o m e life i n t o m y penis, w h i c h s e e m e d to take u m b r a g e at b e i n g o r d e r e d to ' g e t ready stiff!' tried ' d u f f i n g ' m e , to litde avail. T h i n g s o n l y g o t b e t t e r w h e n h e left the r o o m for s o m e t h i n g . W h i l e he w a s g o n e the o l d w d l y - to use his affectionate r e f e r e n c e to m y u n c o - o p e r a t i v e a p p e n d a g e b e g a n to take interest. T h r e e rods o f film later time passed v e r y q u i c k l y b e t w e e n three a n d five w e e m e r g e d f r o m the s t u d i o , a b a c k r o o m fud o f an e n o r m o u s p i e c e o f o r a n g e p a p e r (the b a c k g r o u n d ) a n d lights h a n g i n g f r o m the ceiling, a n d did the unsuspicious
15

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necessary deeds r e g a r d i n g m y fee o f 5 0 . W e w e r e l o o k e d u p o n w i t h blatant disinterest, a n d I left feeling j u s t a little bit l i k e u s e d toilet paper; v e r y useful at the time b u t , o n c e u s e d , as q u i c k l y as p o s s i b l e .
16

flushed

away

' T o m e , o f course m y gayness is v e r y i m p o r t a n t , t w e n t y - f o u r h o u r s a day, s e v e n days a w e e k , ' J e f f r e y W e e k s h a d t o l d Gay News in 1 9 7 6 . A n d o f course it w a s ; b u t it seems fair to c o n c l u d e that h e w a s s p e a k i n g o f a h o m o s e x u a l sensibility rather than the sort o f priapic were concerned. absorption the w i t h w h i c h his f e d o w - c o n t r i b u t o r s 'Richard'

masseur notes h o w f e w g a y m e n w e r e ' o u t ' at this p e r i o d (and i n d e e d h o w m a n y o f his clients w e r e m a r r i e d ) . T h e n , as n o w , w h a t h e cads the ' c l o s e t - j o b ' w a s far f r o m b e i n g an isolated - o r necessarily pitiable individual. Isherwood's G e o r g e was one; Francis K i n g ' s Dick T h o m p s o n another. C l o s e friends w o u l d h a v e k n o w n a b o u t t h e m a n d their 'little secret', b u t n o o n e else. T h e y w e r e n o t o v e r t l y c a m p , w o u l d n e v e r h a v e b e e n seen o n a P r i d e m a r c h , a n d to a n y o n e o t h e r than intimate friends s e e m e d perfectly ' n o r m a l ' - as o f c o u r s e t h e y w e r e : ' M i c h a e l H a r t h a d n e v e r married; certainly h e h a d n e v e r slept w i t h a w o m a n a n d possibly h e h a d n e v e r slept w i t h a m a n . I h a d always t h o u g h t o f h i m as a h o m o s e x u a l e u n u c h ; b u t the h o m o s e x u a l i t y , like the death h e k n e w to b e i m m i n e n t , h e a l w a y s k e p t f r o m a friend as old, as intimate a n d as understanding as m y s e l f . '
17

T h e generality o f the g a y e x p e r i e n c e lay s o m e w h e r e b e t w e e n

the

t w o e x t r e m e s , b e t w e e n the endless ' o r g y o f g a y s e x ' a n d the s t u b b o r n o u t w a r d denial o f the ' h o m o s e x u a l e u n u c h ' . T h e r e w a s a m i d p o i n t b e t w e e n the p r i m a l desire for arse a n d the n o - l e s s - v i s c e r a l fear o f the legal c o n s e q u e n c e s o f g o i n g t o o far, at w h i c h , m o r e o r less h a p p i l y , it w a s possible to exist t w e n t y - f o u r h o u r s a day, s e v e n days a w e e k as a sentient h o m o s e x u a l . R a t h e r in a d v a n c e o f the times in this, as in e v e r y t h i n g else, J o e O r t o n h a d a r r i v e d at this stasis a fud d e c a d e earlier. A s early as 1 9 6 7 , m o p i n g a r o u n d the n o r t h L o n d o n flat h e shared w i t h his l o v e r K e n n e t h H a d i w e d ( w h o w a s to batter h i m to death in a frenzy o f s e x u a l a n d professional j e a l o u s y less than t h r e e w e e k s later), h e described in his diary a day o n w h i c h his gayness w a s j u s t a n o t h e r e l e m e n t in his (literady) global consciousness: Tuesday, 25 July

G r e y day. N o t h i n g m u c h h a p p e n e d . D e t r o i t is t o r n b y rape a n d

250

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P E O P L E

rapine. T h e r e is an e m p t y c h u r c h a r o u n d the c o m e r f r o m N o e l R o a d w h i c h w a s b u r n e d to the g r o u n d last night. L o o t a n d the sack o f e m p i r e s is in the air.


D T R O I T B U R N I N G !

w a s o n e headline. Mr] Shane to b e

S c i e n c e f i c t i o n v i d e . [ T e l e v i s i o n p r o d u c e r Peter] W i d e s rang to say that the I T A w o u l d a d o w [his play Entertaining p e r f o r m e d o n tedy. ' I feel it's dated!' W d l e s said. I rang C l i v e at five o ' c l o c k . T a l k e d for a bit. H e ' s the y o u n g m a n I w a s i n t r o d u c e d t o b y K f e n n e t h ] W i d i a m s . S p o k e a b o u t M o r o c c o . H e w a s offp u t t i n g a b o u t h a v i n g dinner. C a m e to the real p o i n t o f the t e l e p h o n e cad: ' H o w a b o u t m e c o m i n g u p to y o u r place a b o u t five t o m o r r o w for a c u p o f tea?' H e w e n t strange. ' I ' v e g o t to g o to the d o c t o r ' s t o m o r r o w . It's a w k w a r d , s e e . ' ' I ' d r i n g y o u s o m e t i m e t h e n , ' I said, p u t t i n g the p h o n e d o w n . ' A n o t h e r o n e crossed o f f the list,' I said to K e n n e t h H . K e n n e t h s h r u g g e d . ' I d o n ' t k n o w w h y y o u b o t h e r e d r i n g i n g . ' ' W e d , ' I said, ' I w o u l d n ' t ' v e m i n d e d f u c k i n g h i m . H e h a d a n i c e b o d y . B u t i f s e x is out, h e can get stuffed. I ' m n o t interested in h i m for any o t h e r r e a s o n ' .
18

Throughout

an e x t r a o r d i n a r y military a n d d i p l o m a t i c career, ' N e i l '

e l e g a n t l y p e r s o n i f i e d the h o m o s e x u a l ' s c o m p r o m i s e b e t w e e n private life a n d p u b l i c self, b e t w e e n the r a m p a n t F r e u d i a n Id a n d w h a t w a s in his case a necessarily a n d particularly c e n s o r i o u s E g o / S u p e r e g o . O b v i o u s l y , t h e r e w a s n o w a y any o f us c o u l d b e o p e n l y gay in the forces, [he says] it w o u l d h a v e b e e n a total disaster. H o m o p h o b i a , j o k e s a b o u t ' n a n c y - b o y s ' a n d aggression w e r e part o f the atmo s p h e r e . Y o u h a d to b e so b l o o d y careful! It w a s a bit l i k e b e i n g a m e m b e r o f the R e s i s t a n c e in o c c u p i e d F r a n c e - y o u w e r e leading a secret, h i d d e n life; y o u w e r e e n g a g e d in activities w h i c h c o u l d b r i n g a b o u t y o u r d o w n f a d . Y o u w e r e l i v i n g in c o n t i n u o u s danger; y o u r alarm s y s t e m w a s c o n t i n u a d y p r i m e d . D e s p i t e o r m a y b e p r e c i s e l y b e c a u s e o f b e i n g f o r c e d to lead this d o u b l e life, ' N e d ' w a s able to a c h i e v e h i g h security clearance. O n e confidential r e f e r e n c e w r i t t e n b y a v e r y senior m d i t a r y officer stressed that his w o r k ' w a s o f great i m p o r t a n c e in an adied c o m m a n d in E u r o p e ' . A n o t h e r c a d e d h i m 'a loyal, e x t r e m e l y capable a n d intedigent i n d i v i d u a l w h o c o u l d p u t his h a n d successfudy to a w i d e variety o f

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tasks'.

19

A l t h o u g h quietly s u b v e r s i v e ' I n the military, e v e r y g a y capital at the h e i g h t o f the C o l d W a r , w h e r e h e w a s able to

o r g a s m w a s a s a l v o fired for f r e e d o m ' h e w a s p o s t e d to a sensitive N A T O integrate his private a n d p u b l i c p e r s o n a e to a d e g r e e u n m a t c h e d at the t i m e e v e n b y m a n y civilians: T h e B r i t i s h a m b a s s a d o r in , n o less, asked the A i r M i n i s t r y to a p p o i n t m e to his staff as Assistant A i r A t t a c h w i t h fud d i p l o m a t i c status, a n d this w a s d o n e . A m o n g the diplomats a n d military officers f r o m v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s w h o w e r e s e r v i n g in , there w e r e s o m e gays. I f o r m e d friendships w h i c h l e d to s e x w i t h s o m e o f t h e m . B u t I ceased to d o this w h e n I m e t an A m e r i c a n c a d e d M a r t i n , a lieutenant c o m m a n d e r in the U S navy. In those days a c c o m m o d a t i o n in w a s e x t r e m e l y e x p e n s i v e , so it w a s quite usual for officers to share a h o u s e to s a v e m o n e y . B u t w h a t m a d e o u r relationship u n i q u e w a s that M a r t i n w a s A m e r i c a n a n d I w a s E n g l i s h . W e shared a h o u s e for g e t t i n g o n for t h r e e y e a n , I suppose. It w a s absolutely ideal; w e f u c k e d e a c h o t h e r f r o m the start, w e h a d the s a m e sense o f h u m o u r a n d the s a m e o u t l o o k o n life. M a r t i n h a d e v e n l i v e d in L o n d o n a n d k n e w ad k i n d s o f stage a n d screen stars. ( O n o n e o c c a s i o n w h e n I w a s in L o n d o n o n l e a v e , h e a r r a n g e d for m e to m e e t H e r m i o n e G i n g o l d for l u n c h . I ' d n e v e r h a d a m e a l w i t h a star b e f o r e , so I w a s rather i n t i m i d a t e d . I m e t h e r at an e x p e n s i v e restaurant, w h e r e she m a d e a sensational e n t r a n c e - furs, j e w e l s , a hat a n d G o d k n o w s w h a t ! E v e r y b o d y w a s l o o k i n g , I s t o o d u p a n d she s w e p t t o w a r d s m e a n d said, ' Y o u m u s t be M a r t i n ' s b o y f r i e n d ! ' T h e r e w e r e lots o f glances cast in m y d i r e c t i o n , b u t I realized that t h e y w e r e o f e n v y a n d n o t o f a n y t h i n g else at ad.) It w a s a t h o r o u g h - g o i n g l o v e affair, M a r t i n ' s a n d m i n e ; the b i g g e s t l o v e affair o f m y life, ready, a n d the happiest p e r i o d o f m y life t o o . M a r t i n a n d I w e r e r e c o g n i z e d as a pair. W e w e r e i n v i t e d o u t to parties several times a w e e k - as a pair. M a r t i n l o v e d g i v i n g parties, so w e d i d quite a lot o f entertaining t o o . O n e o f o u r parties w a s a b i g c o s t u m e ' d o ' at w h i c h ad the guests ministers, attachs, everyone! h a d to c o m e dressed as a G r e a t S i n n e r o f history o r fiction. I w a s Satan, stripped to the waist, w i t h diabolical m a k e - u p a n d a c l o v e n

252

ORDINARY

PEOPLE

hoof; M a r t i n w a s M r H y d e , w i t h intermittent m o m e n t s o f D r J e k y d . I ready d o n ' t k n o w h o w m a n y p e o p l e guessed that M a r t i n a n d I w e r e g a y . O b v i o u s l y the o t h e r gays in the d i p l o m a t i c c o m m u n i t y did, b e c a u s e w e k n e w a b o u t t h e m - w e h a d separate, p u r e l y gay, parties t o o . A m o n g the rest, I think s o m e p e o p l e m a y h a v e b e e n suspicious, b u t I d o n ' t k n o w . C e r t a i n l y , s o m e p e o p l e n e v e r sus pected a thing. T h e r e w a s o n e party w e g a v e at w h i c h b o t h the B r i t i s h a n d A m e r i c a n ambassadors w e r e present. T h e B r i t i s h ambassador m a d e a short s p e e c h s a y i n g h o w pleased h e a n d the A m e r i c a n ambassador w e r e in v i e w o f the 'special relationship' b e t w e e n B r i t a i n a n d the U n i t e d States to see a B r i t i s h a n d an A m e r i c a n officer l i v i n g t o g e t h e r . A U the p e o p l e w h o w e r e in the k n o w cast their eyes d o w n , rather furtively; M a r t i n a n d I k e p t straight faces. N o b o d y t h a n k G o d ! c h e e r e d o r a p p l a u d e d . B u t it w a s clear that h e j u s t didn't k n o w what he'd said.
20

T o the p u b l i c at large ' T h a t c h e r i s m ' d i d n o t so m u c h e v o l v e as spring fuUy f o r m e d u p o n B r i t a i n after the C o n s e r v a t i v e s w o n the G e n e r a l E l e c t i o n o f 1 9 7 9 . I n fact it h a d b e e n c o n c e i v e d several years earlier a n d u n d e r g o n e a p r o l o n g e d gestation in a b e h i n d - t h e - s c e n e s the purest i r o n y w h i c h l e d to its apparently i m m a c u l a t e huddle o f ' t h i n k - t a n k s ' a n d p o l i c y studies institutes. M o r e o v e r , it w a s o n l y parturition e x a c d y c o i n c i d i n g w i t h the g l o r i o u s efflorescence o f w h a t w e n o w l o o k b a c k o n ( t h r o u g h the trompe l'oeil p e r s p e c t i v e o f less than t w o decades) as the G o l d e n A g e o f the B r i t i s h h o m o s e x u a l . It w a s , h o w e v e r , a c o n c l u s i o n d e v o u t l y to b e w i s h e d for, e v e n i r o n y o r ironies than a pale d e r i v a t i v e o f its W e s t C o a s t A m e r i c a n a r c h e t y p e Tales of the City, -

a m a r r i a g e m a d e in h e a v e n . N e v e r ready m o r e (the

p a t t e r n - b o o k s o f w h i c h , A r m i s t e a d M a u p i n ' s Tales of the City a n d More w e r e r e s p e c t i v e l y p u b l i s h e d in B r i t a i n in 1 9 7 8 a n d 1 9 8 0 ) , the g a y s c e n e b y the e n d o f the 1 9 7 0 s w a s , as w e h a v e seen, essentiady c o m m e r c i a l in nature. D e s p i t e p o l e m i c a l cads to arms in Gay News a n d o t h e r organs o f the radical Left, the era w a s n o t c h a r a c terized b y S a n F r a n c i s c o - s t y l e 'street c u l t u r e ' ; b a c k - r o o m s and, stid less, b a t h - h o u s e s w e r e n e v e r reaUy significant e l e m e n t s . R a t h e r , the B r i t i s h ' G o l d e n A g e ' w a s o n e o f ostentatious c o n s u m e r i s m . I f they

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w e r e in w o r k (and l i v i n g in o r w i t h i n reach o f a m a j o r t o w n o r c i t y ) , in 1 9 8 0 a n d 1 9 8 1 a n d 1 9 8 2 single g a y m e n a n d an i n c r e a s i n g n u m b e r o f l o n g - t e r m g a y couples p r o s p e r e d as m u c h as their Y u p p y o r D i n k y ('double i n c o m e , n o kids y e t ' ) straight equivalents in their v e r y o w n Thatcherite v e r s i o n o f the w o r l d o f The Boys in the Band. This w a s the era o f b o o m a n d b u o y a n t p r o p e r t y prices o f w e d - p a i d 'service industry' j o b s in estate a g e n c y , retailing, the m u s i c business; o f holidays in Sitges o r P l a y a del Ingles a r r a n g e d b y the g a y t o u r c o m p a n y U r a n i a n T r a v e l ; o f 'tasteful' dats furnished f r o m P e t e r J o n e s a n d the Habitat c a t a l o g u e . Style w a s aU; detads w e r e i m p o r t a n t . Coming Clean, In an a w a r d - w i n n i n g play first p r o d u c e d in 1 9 8 2 , the g a y

central character c o n d e m n s a n o t h e r g a y m a n p u r e l y b y r e f e r e n c e to his l i v i n g r o o m : . . . M o r e m o n e y than sense. H i s flat's h o r r e n d o u s . A n e m e t i c c o m b i n a t i o n o f S a l v a d o r D a l i a n d the Ideal H o m e E x h i b i t i o n . G a d o n s o f d a r k - b l u e paint e v e r y w h e r e , w i t h h u n d r e d s o f m i r r o r s , a n d glasst o p p e d tables, a n d c o n c e a l e d lighting. H e w a s so p r o u d o f his d i m m e r - s w i t c h . K e p t re-adjusting it to get the m o o d j u s t right. I nearly said, the o n l y t h i n g that'd i m p r o v e this r o o m ' d b e a p o w e r cut.
21

A b o v e ad, this w a s the era w h e n b u r g e o n i n g s e l f - c o n f i d e n c e i n e r a d icably r e p l a c e d the s i m p e r i n g J u l i a n - a n d - S a n d y s t e r e o t y p e o f the g a y m a n w i t h the t o u g h e r , m o r e m a s c u l i n e figure o f 'the c l o n e ' . O w i n g s o m e t h i n g to the A c t i o n M a n dods o f his c h i l d h o o d , b u t rather m o r e to A m e r i c a a n d the b l u e - e y e d M a r l b o r o M a n m a s c u l i n i t y o f S t e v e M c Q u e e n a n d the P a u l N e w m a n o f The Hustler a n d Cool Hand Luke, the c l o n e a r r i v e d in B r i t a i n at a r o u n d the same t i m e as M a r g a r e t T h a t c h e r a r r i v e d in D o w n i n g Street w h e n an A m e r i c a n g r o u p c a d e d the V i d a g e P e o p l e a p p e a r e d o n 'YMCA'. Top of the Pops s i n g i n g their song ' T h e r e ' s a c o w b o y w h o w e a r s chaps a n d smiles a lot; a kind of

construction w o r k e r in hardhat a n d m i r r o r e d sunglasses; a b l a c k m o t o r cycle cop; a black G . I . , w h o looks like a V i e t n a m V e t cap, the chains a n d the eagle b a d g e s . . . '
2 2

hard-bitten - in fatigues; a n d a b i k e r in b l a c k leather w i t h the p e a k e d D e s c r i b e d b y the p o e t A d a m J o h n s o n as a 'stylish t h u g ' , the c l o n e m a r k e d o u t the territory, s o o n c l a i m i n g bars, clubs a n d the v e r y p a v e m e n t s o f E a r l ' s C o u r t in L o n d o n a n d the d e v e l o p i n g ' V i d a g e ' in

254

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PEOPLE

M a n c h e s t e r as his o w n . F o r h i m the w h o l e o f T h a t c h e r ' s B r i t a i n b e c a m e a giant Y M C A : Village People, 'It's fun to stay at the Y M C A , ' sang the to the ' T h e y h a v e e v e r y t h i n g there for y o u n g m e n

e n j o y . . .' T h r o u g h o u t the early eighties his w a s the k i n g d o m ,

p o w e r a n d the g l o r y . ' H i s rise w a s irresistible,' F r e d d i e M e r c u r y and T i m R i c e w e r e to w r i t e in their s o n g ' T h e G o l d e n B o y ' ; a n d they c o u l d w e l l h a v e h a d the early eighties c l o n e in m i n d : H i s r o a d in life w a s clearly d r a w n , h e d i d n ' t hesitate H e p l a y e d , t h e y s a w , h e c o n q u e r e d as the master o f his fate. T h e r e w a s an o v e r t sexuality a b o u t the c l o n e w h i c h w a s at o n c e u n i f o r m the tight T - s h i r t o r vest; the b u t t o n - d y L e v i 5 0 1 j e a n s ; the c r o p p e d hair a n d c l i p p e d m o u s t a c h e - a n d i n d i v i d u a l . H i s C l o n e Z o n e shops (a c h a i n established in 1 9 8 1 ) s t o c k e d ad the c o s t u m e s as w e d as a r a n g e o f p r o p s v a r i o u s l y c o l o u r e d handkerchiefs, fetish gear, A m e r i c a n m a g a z i n e s , specialist r e a d i n g matter, b o t d e s o f ' p o p p e r s ' (Amyl the a n d B u t y l N i t r a t e stimulants), a c o n n o i s s e u r range o f c o n d o m s w h i c h , for those in the k n o w , differentiated a n d d e l i c i o u s l y delineated pleasures in store. F o r ' G o r g i e ' a n d his friends in E i r e , T h a t c h e r ' s lean, m a c h o B r i t a i n a n d the c l o n e ' s lean, m a c h o torso w e r e almost t o o g o o d to b e true. ' I f it isn't h u r t i n g , it isn't w o r k i n g ' ; ' B o p 'til y o u d r o p ! ' - the message w a s j u s t the s a m e : I w e n t to L o n d o n to c h e c k it o u t , c o u l d n ' t b e l i e v e h o w g o o d it felt, a real sense o f f r e e d o m . I quit m y j o b a n d r o o m a n d h e a d e d for the s m o k e . W h a t can I say? I a r r i v e d in L o n d o n a n d h e r e it ad w a s . T h e S c e n e [. . .] A l l o u r lives s e e m e d to start o v e r . W e m a d e a stack o f friends, g o o d friends. It w a s a w o n d e r f u l thing, the s c e n e at that t i m e . Y o u felt free a n d u n d e r s t o o d , a n d v e r y strong. I r e a d y g o t o n g o o d terms w i t h myself. S e x w a s part o f that; it g a v e m e c o n f i d e n c e . E v e r y b o d y I k n e w , g a y a n d straight alike, s e e m e d to b e w e d i n t o s e x . I f y o u g o t c a u g h t o u t , g o t a d o s e o r s o m e 'visitors', a trip to the clinic o r c h e m i s t w a s sufficient r e m e d y , a n d the severest c o n s e q u e n c e w a s a w e e k o r t w o o f f the b o o z e . R e a d y , that party k e p t r u n n i n g - ' 7 8 , ' 7 9 , ' 8 0 , ' 8 1 , ' 8 2 , ' 8 3 .
2 3

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1983

l o o k e d set to b e the a p o g e e , the

golden year.

Margaret

T h a t c h e r a n d the C o n s e r v a t i v e s w o n a s e c o n d t e r m in office that y e a r w i t h promises o f m o r e , a n d m o r e o f the s a m e . T h e party j u s t k e p t r u n n i n g . T h e A m e r i c a n w r i t e r E d m u n d W h i t e p u b l i s h e d A Boy's i m m e d i a t e l y t o o k u p as a sort o f c o n t e m p o r a r y Catcher in the Rye. V i d a g e P e o p l e w e r e l o n g forgotten (although ' Y M C A ' Own The Story, a sensitive (if rather sentimental) n o v e l w h i c h the g a y c o m m u n i t y w a s stid o n

the play-list in e v e r y d e c e n t d i s c o - b a r ) , b u t b y t h e n the e q u a d y e g r e g i ous B o y G e o r g e w a s riding h i g h in the charts w i t h his s o n g ' K a r m a Chameleon' . . . W i t h i n less than h a l f a d e c a d e 1 9 8 3 h a d a c q u i r e d m y t h i c status b u t o n l y b e c a u s e - as A l a n H o l l i n g h u r s t r e c o g n i z e d w h e n h e c h o s e to set his 1 9 8 8 n o v e l The Swimming Pool Library in that annus mirabilis parties, b y their v e r y nature, c a n n o t r u n for e v e r . H a d t h e y b u t eyes t o see, ad the reveders s h o u l d h a v e n o t i c e d , l i k e H o d i n g h u r s t ' s h e r o W d l i a m B e c k w i t h , that m i d n i g h t w a s fast a p p r o a c h i n g : ' M y life w a s in a strange w a y that s u m m e r , the last s u m m e r o f its k i n d t h e r e w a s e v e r t o be. I w a s riding h i g h o n sex a n d self-esteem - it w a s m y t i m e , m y belle poque - b u t ad the w h i l e w i t h a faint flicker o f c a l a m i t y , l i k e flames
2 4

a r o u n d a p h o t o g r a p h , s o m e t h i n g seen o u t o f the c o m e r o f the e y e . '

A t first the portents o f d o o m w e r e scarcely n o t i c e a b l e , hardly m o r e than flickers i n d e e d . ' B r a d ' - w h o , ten years o n , freely admits that the c o n t i n u i n g threat o f A I D S has n o t p r e v e n t e d h i m f r o m l e a d i n g 'an active sex-life in L o n d o n , L o s A n g e l e s , S y d n e y , Paris a n d A m s t e r d a m ' w a s at b o a r d i n g - s c h o o l at this t i m e : A s far as I w a s c o n c e r n e d , it w a s j u s t a n o t h e r n e w s story t h e n . W e ' d h a v e ad the n e w s p a p e r s in the D a y R o o m a n d t h e y ' d b e fided w i t h a c c o u n t s o f h o w ' q u e e r s ' - that's h o w w e referred to t h e m - w e r e d y i n g b e c a u s e t h e y ' d b e e n h a v i n g sex w i t h m o n k e y s o r s o m e t h i n g ; m o n k e y s o r S o u t h A f r i c a n airline pilots, I s e e m to r e m e m b e r . I r o n i cady, at the t i m e I f o u n d it ad quite f i m n y .
25

' T h e n in ' 8 4 I started n o t i c i n g articles in the press a b o u t this n e w disease hitting g a y m e n in A m e r i c a , ' ' G o r g i e ' r e m e m b e r s . A l t h o u g h it w a s b a n n e d f r o m the B B C ' s play-list b e c a u s e o f its h o m o s e x u a l o v e r t o n e s , F r a n k i e G o e s to H o d y w o o d h a d a N u m b e r O n e hit w i t h their n o t o r i o u s single ' R e l a x ' in 1 9 8 4 , b u t it w a s b e c o m i n g i n c r e a s i n g l y difficult to d o so. P a u l C o n s has r e c a d e d a n e w c l i m a t e w h i c h w a s

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o v e r t a k i n g the c l u b s c e n e , in M a n c h e s t e r as e v e r y w h e r e else: ' I n the late eighties t h e r e [was] a m a j o r depression o n the g a y scene t h r o u g h AIDS a n d t h r o u g h w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d to the sort o f p e o p l e w h o w e r e p a r t y i n g in the early eighties; the d e c i m a t i o n that h a d o c c u r r e d . T h a t p u t a m a j o r d o w n e r o n the w h o l e g a y c l u b b i n g e x p e r i e n c e for a number of years.'
26

T h e d a m e s w e r e b e g i n n i n g to take h o l d . F e w e r

a n d f e w e r m e n w e r e s i n g i n g a l o n g w i t h T o m R o b i n s o n that they w e r e g l a d to b e g a y . I n 1 9 8 4 it w a s established that the H I V virus (then stid k n o w n as H T L V I I I ) did cause A I D S ; b y t h e n thirty cases h a d already b e e n d i a g n o s e d . . . ' I f I s n e e z e d o r c o u g h e d I ' d often m a k e a q u i p a b o u t A I D S a n d l a u g h it off. I n e v e r t h o u g h t a b o u t it in a n y detail a n d n o n e o f m y friends talked a b o u t it w i t h m e u n t d I b e c a m e

id. T h a t w a s in ' 8 s . '

27

' G o r g i e ' 's e x p e r i e n c e e c h o e d in m i n i a t u r e those o f the w i d e r gay c o m m u n i t y . T h e y l o o k e d o n helplessly as A I D S increasingly b e c a m e a fact o f life and, significantly, the n e w T h a t c h e r g o v e r n m e n t a p p e a r e d to b e d o i n g little o r n o t h i n g to s u p p o r t t h e m . Instinctively prudish in matters s e x u a l (in 1 9 8 9 she w a s p e r s o n a d y to v e t o the idea o f a national survey o f sexual behaviour), Thatcher herself'could only watch with p u r s e d lips w h a t w a s g o i n g o n , a n d d i s a p p r o v e ' , o n e - t i m e health m i n i s ter E d w i n a C u r r i e o b s e r v e d . ( N o r , later, d i d she so m u c h as m e n t i o n A I D S ' p o t e n t i a d y the greatest health risk o f m o d e m t i m e s ' , a c c o r d i n g to h e r o w n g o v e r n m e n t in h e r m e m o i r s , The Downing n o t o n l y n o t interested, b u t a c t i v e l y hostile'. Against this b a c k g r o u n d , large n u m b e r s o f homosexuals Own in Story Street Years.) C u r r i e ' s predecessors at the D e p a r t m e n t o f H e a l t h , t o o , ' w e r e

c o m m o n w i t h m a n y y o u t h , ethnic a n d m i n o r i t y g r o u p s lost faith in T h a t c h e r i s m ( E d m u n d W h i t e ' s 1 9 8 8 f o d o w - u p to A Boy's w a s to b e entitled The Beautiful Room Is Empty). T h e n c e f o r t h , the t o n e

w i t h i n the g a y c o m m u n i t y , so r e c e n d y o n e o f blithe c o m p l a c e n c y , b e c a m e o n e o f i n c r e a s i n g hostility. W h e r e o n l y t w o o r three y e a n p r e v i o u s l y T h a t c h e r i s m h a d s e e m e d to offer a c o m f o r t a b l e o y s t e r - b e d , n o w it w a s t r a n s f o r m e d into the irritant grit. Its laissez-faire noni n t e r v e n t i o n i s m c a m e to b e seen as little m o r e than cadous c o m p l a c e n c y , a n d a l m o s t o v e r n i g h t a r e a c t i o n against its o w n incipient c o n s e r v a t i s m e r u p t e d a m o n g large sections o f the gay c o m m u n i t y . S i g n a d i n g this n e w i m p a t i e n c e , P r i d e ' 8 5 (attendance 1 0 , 0 0 0 ) h a d as its c e n t r e p i e c e a w a t e r carnival o n the T h a m e s w i t h the statuesque

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m o o r e d o n l y a f e w h u n d r e d yards f r o m the P a l a c e o f W e s t m i n s t e r . rapidly a n d i n e v i t a b l y b e c a m e the issue u p p e r m o s t in t h e m i n d o f this n e w g e n e r a t i o n o f agitators and, selfishly, as s o m e s a w it, they b e g a n t r y i n g to k e e p it for t h e m s e l v e s , e v e n p o s i t i v e l y e m b r a c i n g o n c e - g i b e d - a t references to a ' g a y disease'. G a y m e n w e r e , after all, inescapably the ' v i c t i m s ' o f a brutal b l e n d o f p r e j u d i c e a n d m e d i c a l over-reaction: T h e d o c t o r said h e ' d g i v e m e an ' A i d s test', t o o k m y b l o o d , a n d said the results w o u l d take eight o r n i n e days. W o u l d I w a i t in the hospital? T w o days later, there's m e in m y p y j a m a s in the c o r r i d o r o n the t e l e p h o n e a n d these t w o z o m b i e s w a l k u p w i t h their space suits o n , the w h o l e bit, top to b o t t o m . I w a s n e a r the r o o m and thought, operating ' G o d ! I w o n d e r w h a t t h e y ' v e b e e n d o i n g in

there.' [ B u t ] they c a m e a n d t o o k the p h o n e o u t o f m y h a n d , p i c k e d m e u p , carried m e to m y r o o m , a n d l o c k e d the d o o r . I t h o u g h t , ' A h , I w o n d e r i f I can guess the results o f the test.' F i v e hours later the d o o r o p e n e d . It w a s m y d o c t o r , w h o l o o k e d as i f h e h a d seen a ghost. H e ' d d e v e l o p e d a stutter a n d h e f i d d l e d w i t h a p e n c i l . H e said h e h a d s o m e b a d n e w s . ' Y o u h a v e A i d s . ' ' I ' v e g o t A i d s . ' A n d I d i d n ' t think a n y t h i n g else. I d i d n ' t k n o w w h a t it m e a n t . I j u s t n u m b e d out. I stayed in that r o o m for nearly a m o n t h a n d w a s barrier n u r s e d . T h e d o c t o r c a m e in c a p p e d a n d g o w n e d a n d m a s k e d , w i t h plastic bags o n his feet, a n d n o b o d y w a s a d o w e d in w i t h o u t d o i n g the same. F o o d w a s left outside the d o o r . P a p e r bags o f shit b u d t u p b e c a u s e n o b o d y c a m e to take t h e m a w a y , a n d there w e r e n o e x t r a c tor fans in the r o o m , j u s t this h u g e w i n d o w to o p e n . I froze. A d they told m e w a s that I h a d ' A i d s ' , a n d that e v e r y t h i n g that w e n t o u t o f the r o o m h a d to b e burnt. N o t h i n g e l s e .
28

A c t u a l cases w e r e rare. I n 1 9 8 3 there h a d b e e n b e t w e e n thirty

and

forty c o n f i r m e d diagnoses o f A I D S (a total w h i c h i n c l u d e d a n u m b e r o f i n t r a v e n o u s drug-users a n d h a e m o p h i l i a c s i n f e c t e d b y ' c o n t a m i n a t e d b l o o d p r o d u c t s ' ) . B y the b e g i n n i n g o f 1 9 8 6 the c u m u l a t i v e total w a s 6 7 0 ; b y the y e a r ' s e n d it h a d risen to a little o v e r 2 , 0 0 0 , b u t e v e n that w a s w e l l b e l o w official predictions. D e s p i t e the p u b l i c i t y , A I D S w a s stid a distant, albeit terrifying, p r o s p e c t for the m a j o r i t y o f B r i t i s h

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h o m o s e x u a l s ; s o m e t h i n g to w a t c h w i t h appalled fascination in a series o f A m e r i c a n feature films w h i c h effectively b e g a n w i t h Longtime panion Philadelphia, a n d read a b o u t in n o v e l s such as O s c a r M o o r e ' s A Com Matter ( 1 9 9 0 ) b u t o n l y a c h i e v e d international b o x - o f f i c e success w i t h

of Life and Sex ( 1 9 9 1 ) . Insidiously, h o w e v e r , A I D S w a s h a v i n g a direct effect o n a far greater n u m b e r o f o t h e r w i s e healthy m e n as life b e g a n to imitate art a n d those m e n w e r e f o r c e d to share the e x p e r i e n c e s o f less fortunate friends: 's b e e n m o v e d i n t o a private r o o m . T h e o n l y s o u n d emanates from a rotating fan a n d a discreet m a c h i n e w h i c h seems to innate a n d deflate his mattress. A b a g o f d e x t r o s e a n d saline s o l u t i o n a n d s o m e t h i n g m o r e sinister drip d o w n lines into his left a r m . T h a t in itself is so thin the s h a d o w o f the n e e d l e , fine as it is, stands o u t like a w e a l o n his w r i s t . A catheter drains b i l e - o r a n g e urine into a b a g h a l f - h i d d e n b e n e a t h the b e d . I m p o s s i b l e to i m a g i n e h e has j u s t turned twenty-eight. 15 May or

S t a y e d ad n i g h t at the hospital. n o w c o m p l e t e l y u n c o n s c i o u s , a little p u m p a d m i n i s t e r i n g shots o f d i a m o r p h i n e e v e r y m i n u t e O x y g e n m a s k o v e r his face. H i s m o t h e r a n d I take turns r o u g h l y t w o - h o u r l y - to sit w i t h h i m , h o l d i n g his h a n d a n d o c c a s i o n a d y s t r o k i n g his hair. H e is hot, w i t h tiny beads o f perspiration o n his face, n e c k a n d chest. V e r y pale. F o r l o n g p e r i o d s the o n l y sign o f life is the h e a v i n g o f his chest as h e struggles to breathe. T h e n s u d d e n l y h e grips m y h a n d , h o l d i n g it surprisingly strongly for a f e w seconds. T h i s h a p p e n s r o u g h l y e v e r y fifteen m i n u t e s . O n c e , j u s t o n c e , h e h a l f - o p e n s his eyes, again o n l y for a f e w s e c o n d s . D a w n breaks w i t h o u t a n y o n e n o t i c i n g it. A t a r o u n d 7 . 3 0 I m a k e coffee a n d toast f r o m w h i c h his m o t h e r a n d I snack a r o u n d ' s b e d . S h o r t l y afterwards t w o nurses arrive to turn h i m . W e m a y stay in the r o o m , t h e y say. It w o u l d h a v e b e e n k i n d e r i f t h e y ' d asked us to l e a v e . A l t h o u g h t h e y d o w h a t they can to p r e s e r v e his m o d e s t y , it is i m p o s s i b l e to miss his n a k e d thighs, s h r u n k e n n o w to a b o u t so t h r o u g h a l i n e w h i c h disappears into the w a d o f his s t o m a c h .

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the size o f m y u p p e r arms b u t hairier, furrier, than I r e m e m b e r t h e m than m y o w n , i n d e e d . I know t h e n that h e c a n n o t r e c o v e r . E v e n to turn this s h a d o w the nurses h a v e to g i v e h i m an i n t r a v e n o u s shot o f D i a z e p a m . T h i s q u i c k l y relaxes h i m . D e c i d e a b o u t 8.30 that it is time to g o . T a k e ' s h a n d , kiss h i m o n the f o r e h e a d a n d w h i s p e r G o o d b y e . L e a v e pretty certain that I w i d n e v e r see h i m alive again. C r y a bit, a n d sleep o f f a n d o n for m o s t o f the n e x t t w e n t y - f o u r h o u r s .
29

I n the face o f this a n d a p e r c e i v e d g o v e r n m e n t indifference it w a s n o t until 1 9 8 9 that W h i t e h a d a n d the H e a l t h E d u c a t i o n A u t h o r i t y ( H E A ) s a n c t i o n e d a n d g r u d g i n g l y b e g a n to fund A I D S - a w a r e n e s s c a m p a i g n s e x p l i c i t l y targeted at g a y m e n a n y atavistic selfishness q u i c k l y b e c a m e e n l i g h t e n e d self-help. B a t t l i n g , as it s a w it, for its v e r y survival, the gay c o m m u n i t y q u i c k l y established a r a n g e o f b o d i e s offering practical h e l p a n d a d v i c e to those directly a n d i n d i r e c t l y affec ted b y the c o n d i t i o n . I n L o n d o n a l o n e , the T e r r e n c e H i g g i n s T r u s t , B o d y P o s i t i v e and the L o n d o n L i g h t h o u s e A I D S h o s p i c e ( 1 9 8 8 ) w e r e o n l y the h e a d l i n e - m a k i n g organizations a m o n g a p l e t h o r a o f s m a d e r regional a n d l o c a d y f u n d e d g r o u p s w h i c h w e r e to u n i t e u n d e r g e n e r i c title G a y M e n F i g h t i n g A i d s ( G M F A ) in 1 9 9 1 . T h e i r a i m w a s n o t h i n g less than the c o m p l e t e r e - e d u c a t i o n o f the entire h o m o s e x u a l c o m m u n i t y . T h e T e r r e n c e H i g g i n s T r u s t p i o n e e r e d a p r o g r a m m e o f frank 'practical support, h e l p , c o u n s e d i n g a n d a d v i c e for a n y o n e l i v i n g w i t h o r c o n c e r n e d a b o u t A i d s a n d H I V i n f e c t i o n ' . Leadets, posters, advertisements in the g a y press a n d a b e s t - s e d i n g v i d e o t a p e stressed the i m p o r t a n c e o f c o n d o m use a n d g a v e e x p l i c i t a d v i c e o n w h a t constituted 'safe' (later p r u d e n t l y a m e n d e d t o 'safer') sex in the d e m o t i c l a n g u a g e o f w h i c h the g o v e r n m e n t a n d the H E A h a d a l w a y s f o u g h t shy. 'Safer sex is great s e x , ' it insisted, m a k i n g n o a p o l o g y for u n l o c k i n g the b e d r o o m d o o r o n a w h o l e K a m a S u t r a o f c o n t e m p o r a r y h o m o s e x u a l practice: Y o u c o u l d s u c k , kiss, lick, t o u c h , f o n d l e , bite, n i b b l e a n d s q u e e z e ad o v e r his b o d y his nipples, arse, calves, toes, n e c k , ears, thighs, nose, c r o t c h , bads, armpits, f i n g e r s . . . Y o u c o u l d g i v e h i m a soft sensual massage o r g e t t o u g h e r w i t h wrestling, rough-and-tumble or spanking . . . the

260 You

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c o u l d w a n k e a c h o t h e r o f f dry o r using lots o f l u b e


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[lubricant] o r press, rub a n d slap y o u r d i c k against his d i c k , buns, face, chest, t h i g h s . . .

It w a s (and c o n t i n u e s to be) an effective p r o g r a m m e . In 1 9 9 5 a s e v e n t e e n - y e a r - o l d g a y L o n d o n e r told a n e w s p a p e r : ' I h a v e n ' t b e e n a n y m o r e p r o m i s c u o u s than a n y [straight] t e e n a g e r m y a g e , b u t I think I k n o w a lot m o r e a b o u t safe s e x . ' R a t h e r older, o t h e r g a y m e n w e r e also h e e d i n g the m e s s a g e , m o d i f y i n g praxis a n d d e v e l o p i n g e x p e d i e n t s o f their o w n : M e n d i d start u s i n g c o n d o m s 'johnnies' round about then

[ 1 9 8 5 6 ] o r didn't, i f y o u see w h a t I m e a n . Y o u ' d g o to the p u b - I'd g o to the p u b - a n d y o u ' d m e e t this b l o k e . T h e r e w e r e t w o I s a w pretty regularly a r o u n d this t i m e . T h e r e w a s o n e I c a d e d the B e c k e n h a m H u n k , b e c a u s e h e w a s a h u n k a n d h e c a m e f r o m B e c k e n h a m . I o n l y e v e r m e t h i m in the gents in this p u b , b u t it w a s t w o o r three times a w e e k . N o n e o f m y friends there k n e w a b o u t h i m h e w o u l d n ' t h a v e b e e n 'their sort o f p e r s o n ' b u t at the e n d o f the e v e n i n g I ' d find s o m e e x c u s e a n d slope o f f to see h i m . W e d i d n ' t d o m u c h ; j u s t grab e a c h other's c o c k a n d h a v e a q u i c k w a n k a n d h o p e n o o n e c a m e in w h i l e w e w e r e at it. I d o n ' t t h i n k w e said m o r e than a b o u t six w o r d s to e a c h o t h e r in ad the t i m e I k n e w h i m ; b u t w e w e r e close, in a sort o f way. I guess that w a s a sort o f c o n s c i o u s n o d t o w a r d s safe sex o n m y part at a n y rate. B e f o r e , yes; I think I w o u l d h a v e taken h i m h o m e , a n d let h i m r o g e r m e rotten i f w e ' r e g o i n g to b e honest! A n o t h e r c h a p I m e t at the s a m e p u b w a s a nurse: b l o n d , hairy chest, definitely bed-ablel B u t it w a s the s a m e w i t h h i m . H e l i v e d s o m e w h e r e near m e , but never invited m e back, like I didn't invite h i m b a c k . W e ' d j u s t w a l k h o m e t o g e t h e r after c l o s i n g t i m e . S o m e times h e ' d p u t his h a n d d o w n inside the b a c k o f m y trousers, w h i c h w a s fun a n d e x c i t i n g b e c a u s e it w a s idegal, o u t there o n the ' p u b l i c h i g h w a y ' . T h e r e w a s a dark a d e y o f f the r o a d it's ad b e e n p u d e d d o w n n o w - a n d w e ' d a u t o m a t i c a d y stop o f f there. It w a s p r o b a b l y safer than the cottage at the p u b ! W e ' d masturbate e a c h other, kiss a n d h a v e a bit o f a c u d d l e a n d s o m e t i m e s s u c k e a c h o t h e r off. S a d , ready; safe, t h o u g h .
31

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I used to g o to g a y clubs o c c a s i o n a l l y . I ' d h a v e snogs a n d that sort o f thing, b u t n e v e r a n y t h i n g m o r e than that. T h e r e w e r e a f e w occasions in s o m e a l l e y - w a y o r s o m e b l o k e ' s p l a c e . W e ' d b e really d r u n k a n d get o f f w i t h e a c h o t h e r . . . b u t s o m e h o w this sixth sense told us w h e n to stop. N o t h i n g serious h a p p e n e d for a n u m b e r o f years: I d i d n ' t h a v e a n y sex o r i n t e r c o u r s e o r a n y t h i n g . It w a s j u s t fondling, g r o p i n g , kissing, stroking. W i t h a n u m b e r o f chaps, though.
32

P e o p l e said that the g a y c o m m u n i t y w a s ' s h o w i n g the w a y ' ; that it h a d ' c o m e o f a g e ' , o r at least ' g r o w n u p ' . C e r t a i n l y its g e n e r a l readiness to a c c e p t the social implications o f H I V a n d its realistic i f n o t a l w a y s enthusiastic a d o p t i o n o f 'safer s e x ' practices w e r e w e d in a d v a n c e o f those o f the g e n e r a l p u b l i c . B u t , a l t h o u g h the g o v e r n m e n t ' s alarmist health e d u c a t i o n p r o g r a m m e s featuring i m a g e s o f t o m b s t o n e s a n d i c e bergs h a d g o n e o u t o f their w a y to b e e v e n - h a n d e d ' T h e r e is n o w a deadly disease. It is a danger to us all,' the c o m m e n t a r y to a t e l e v i s i o n a d v e r t i s e m e n t h a d b e g u n the v e r y fact that g a y m e n h a d p u b l i c l y r e c o g n i z e d that t h e y w e r e at particular risk c o u n t e d against t h e m . I n the p u b l i c m i n d s ' A I D S ' a n d ' g a y s ' c o n t i n u e d to h a v e m o r e than an assonant at c o n n e c t i o n , a n d a sizeable, v o c a l a n d s o m e t i m e s i n d u e n t i a l h o m o p h o b i c c o n s t i t u e n c y w a s q u i c k to seize o n the s o - c a d e d ' w o r l d w i d e A I D S p a n d e m i c ' to reinforce it. A t a time w h e n , despite the g o v e r n m e n t ' s health e d u c a t i o n p r o g r a m m e s , pods s u g g e s t e d that a r o u n d 1 4 p e r cent o f the p o p u l a t i o n stid b e l i e v e d A I D S Sir Alfred Sherman, c o u l d b e ' c a u g h t ' f r o m sharing t o w e l s o r u s i n g a D o w n i n g Street adviser during Margaret cups a n d plates w h i c h h a d p r e v i o u s l y b e e n u s e d b y an i n f e c t e d p e r s o n , T h a t c h e r ' s p r e m i e r s h i p , fulminated that it w a s ' m a i n l y s o d o m i t e s ' w h o w e r e spreading it. ' P e r v e r t s to b l a m e for g a y p l a g u e ' , the Sun told its readers in 1 9 8 6 . F r o m there it w a s o n l y a short step to attacking h o m o s e x u a l s m e r e l y for b e i n g h o m o s e x u a l for ' p u t t i n g [their] penis into a n o t h e r m a n ' s arsehole', as the C o n s e r v a t i v e M P S i r N i c h o l a s F a i r b a i m w a s to ted the H o u s e o f C o m m o n s they did. A f o r m e r c h i e f constable o f G r e a t M a n c h e s t e r , J a m e s A n d e r t o n , c l a i m e d to b e s p e a k i n g for G o d w h e n h e described h o m o s e x u a l s as ' s w i r l i n g a r o u n d in a c e s s p o o l o f their

'i

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263

gay p e o p l e . B u t all the t i m e I w a s g o i n g to the C e n t r e I w a s telling m y parents I w a s g o i n g to friends'. W h e n t h e y f o u n d o u t t h e y said t h e y d i d n ' t m i n d , a n d a c c e p t e d it. T h e n , after a f e w m o n t h s I w a l k e d in a n d w a s five m i n u t e s late. M y dad g o t u p a n d started s a y i n g things l i k e , ' T h a t p l a c e is t a k i n g o v e r y o u r life; d o n ' t y o u g i v e a shit w h a t the n e i g h b o u r s say? [. . .] W h e n y o u ' r e s e v e n t e e n y o u can piss o f f a n d d o a n y t h i n g w i t h those o t h e r poofters!' H e said m u c h m o r e , t h e n slapped m e r o u n d in his eyes a n d w h a t h a d c o m e o u t o f his m o u t h . [. . .] O n e day w h e n I g o t h o m e m y m u m said, ' W h y d o y o u d o it? W e are g o i n g to take y o u to a h e a d - s h r i n k e r . Y o u ' r e n o t g a y , y o u ' r e a transvestite!' I c o u l d n ' t e x p l a i n [to m y parents] b e c a u s e they w o u l d p r o b a b l y hit m e . T h e n m y dad said, ' T h e r e is n o s u c h thing as g a y . It's queer, as far as I a m c o n c e r n e d . D o n ' t g o to that C e n t r e again. I f y o u d o , I'd paste y o u a n d b u m it d o w n . It's t h e m queers that h a v e m a d e y o u turn this w a y . W e k n o w y o u ' v e b e e n g o i n g there ad the t i m e . Y o u ' v e b e e n w i t h dirty o l d m e n . A n y w a y , w e ' r e g o i n g to get y o u r brain sorted o u t .
35

the

face. It w a s n ' t the slaps that h u r t a n d m a d e m e c r y , it w a s the hatred

M o r e c r u c i a d y , m a n y g a y m e n - a n d an i n c r e a s i n g l y v o c a l b o d y o f lesbian w o m e n c a m e to b e l i e v e that t h e y a n d their lifestyles w e r e u n d e r c o n c e r t e d a n d e v e n centralized attack. T h e press w a s s e e n t o b e obsessed b y the p r o d i g a t e funding w h i c h s u p p o s e d l y s u b v e r s i v e g a y a n d (especiady) lesbian g r o u p s w e r e r e c e i v i n g f r o m ' L o o n y L e f t ' c o u n c i l s . B a l e f u l m o t i v e s w e r e d e t e c t e d b e h i n d its reports that p r i m a r y s c h o o l libraries w e r e stocking_/ey Lives with Eric and Martin, a S c a n d i n a v i a n p i c t u r e - s t o r y b o o k a b o u t a y o u n g girl b e i n g b r o u g h t u p b y h e r gay father a n d his m a l e l o v e r ; a n d that a L o n d o n h e a d t e a c h e r v e t o e d a s c h o o l trip to a p e r f o r m a n c e o f P r o k o f i e v ' s Romeo and had Juliet

because the badet w a s 'totady h e t e r o s e x u a l ' . E v e n r o u t i n e c o u r t p r o ceedings w e r e seen as part o f a g r a n d a n d sinister plan, w i t h j u d g e s a n d magistrates ' c r a c k i n g d o w n ' a n d h a n d i n g o u t dire w a r n i n g s o r worse: . . . t w o m e n w h o w e r e kissing in a K i n g ' s C r o s s street [. . .] h a d b e e n arrested b y a p o l i c e officer w h o 'realised h o w offensive this can b e to o r d i n a r y m e m b e r s o f the p u b l i c ' . T h e m e n w e r e b o u n d o v e r for 1 0 0 e a c h after charges o f ' g r o s s i n d e c e n c y ' against t h e m

264

ORDINARY

PEOPLE

w e r e d r o p p e d . T h e j u d g e , T h o m a s P i g o t t Q C , t o l d t h e m they w e r e l u c k y to escape a p r i s o n s e n t e n c e : ' T h i s k i n d o f t h i n g is i n t o l e r a b l e , ' h e said, ' a n d y o u h a d better ted y o u r friends that they risk a p r i s o n s e n t e n c e i f t h e y d o i t . '
36

S e e m i n g l y substantiating this n o t i o n o f establishment c o n t r o l w a s the d i s c o v e r y that, t h r o u g h an o b s c u r e s e c t i o n in a local g o v e r n m e n t B i d b o u g h t b e f o r e P a r l i a m e n t in 1 9 8 7 (the n o t o r i o u s ' C l a u s e 2 8 ' ) , the g o v e r n m e n t w a s specificady s e e k i n g to o u t l a w 'the p r o m o t i o n o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y [. . .] a n d the p r o m o t i o n o f the t e a c h i n g o f the a c c e p t a bility o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y as a p r e t e n d e d family relationship' b y schools a n d l o c a l authorities. N o n e o f this was p r i m a r i l y m o t i v a t e d b y a n t i - g a y spleen o r A I D S i n s p i r e d h o m o p h o b i c atavism. R a t h e r , it w a s ad part o f a c o n t i n u i n g g o v e r n m e n t battle to ' t r i m the w i n g s ' o f 'spendthrift' - a n d p r e d o m i nantly Labour-controded local authorities. N e v e r t h e l e s s , in an i n c r e a s i n g l y a c r i m o n i o u s c l i m a t e , C l a u s e 28 in particular w a s seen as a d r a c o n i a n a n d u n i q u e l y v i n d i c t i v e m e a s u r e ; a n d that w a s e n o u g h . I r o n i c a d y b l i n d to w h a t a later c o m m e n t a t o r has c a d e d the ' d a n g e r o f o v e r - r e p r e s e n t i n g the p o w e r that it h a d ' ,
37

activist g r o u p s r e s p o n d e d

b y i n v o k i n g c i v i l liberties a r g u m e n t s a n d a radical r h e t o r i c w h i c h h a d n o t b e e n h e a r d since the 1 9 6 0 s : ' S o c i e t y m a r k s h o m o s e x u a l s o u t as separate p e o p l e d e s e r v i n g o f different, d i s c r i m i n a t o r y treatment. W e h a v e to r e s p o n d to that b y d e f e n d i n g o u r right to b e g a y a n d to b e treated w i t h d i g n i t y w e h a v e to d e f e n d h o m o s e x u a l i t y in order,
38

u l t i m a t e l y , to abolish i t . '

T h e r e w e r e radies a n d (not i n f r e q u e n d y )

b a d - t e m p e r e d d e m o n s t r a t i o n s in e v e r y part o f the c o u n t r y (in L o n d o n , an a n g r y P r i d e '88 attracted an attendance o f 36,000) b u t ultimately, o f c o u r s e , it w a s ad in v a i n . I n e x o r a b l y , C l a u s e 2 8 passed i n t o l a w as S e c t i o n 2 8 o f the 1 9 8 8 L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t A c t . A b a t d e h a d b e e n lost b u t the w a r , a w a r , any w a r w e n t o n . I n d e e d , as the 1 9 8 0 s b e c a m e the 1 9 9 0 s , as M a r g a r e t T h a t c h e r quit the s c e n e and, for a n e w g e n e r a t i o n o f y o u n g p e o p l e , A I D S b e c a m e j u s t a n o t h e r fact o f life, the m o s t notable l e g a c y o f the C l a u s e 28 c a m p a i g n w a s the pettish, d y s p e p t i c qui v i v e attitude it e n g e n d e r e d .
l

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established, p o s t - 2 8 ' b o d i e s s u c h as the A I D S C o a l i t i o n to U n l e a s h P o w e r ( A c t - U p ) , the s h o r t - l i v e d O r g a n i z a t i o n for L e s b i a n a n d G a y Action (OLGA), S t o n e w a d a n d O u t R a g e ! reared u p against a n y

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267

the road, so ad the traffic w a s shut o f f in P a r l i a m e n t S q u a r e . It w a s a riot!

It m i g h t h a v e b e e n a riot; it m i g h t h a v e b e e n r o u t . W h i c h e v e r , i n retrospect, as the c r o w d s p i c k e d their w a y t h r o u g h w h a t E d m u n d H a d describes as 'the detritus o f the e v e n t , the bits o f banners, the u s e d - u p dares, the posters t r o d d e n u n d e r f o o t , the o l d sparklers', the fudged c o m p r o m i s e o n a h o m o s e x u a l age o f c o n s e n t o f e i g h t e e n s e e m e d to s u m u p the d i l e m m a facing a gay m a n in a liberal b u t h e t e r o s e x u a l democracy. Ironically the debate itself had b e e n h e l d 1 0 0 years - a l m o s t to the w e e k after the M a r q u e s s o f Q u e e n s b e r r y ' s first attack o n Wdde Oscar (although, t y p i c a d y , n o o n e s e e m e d to r e m e m b e r the fact).

S o c i a d y a n d politicady, a great deal h a d h a p p e n e d since 1 8 9 5 ; h o m o sexuals h a d b e c o m e m o r e visible than e v e r b e f o r e , b u t at the s a m e t i m e they h a d signady failed to ' a b o l i s h ' the n e g a t i v e c o n n o t a t i o n s o f homosexuality. E . M . Forster's ' H a p p i e r Y e a r ' , in w h i c h ' t w o m e n [ c o u l d ] fad in l o v e a n d r e m a i n in it for the e v e r a n d e v e r that fiction a d o w s ' , w a s stid fudy to d a w n . R e a l equality, t o o , s e e m e d as far a w a y as e v e r . Public-sector and a g r o w i n g n u m b e r of private-sector j o b s were b e i n g offered to candidates irrespective o f their s e x u a l o r i e n t a t i o n . T h e i m a g e o f a latter-day B e n B u d e y w a t c h i n g his partner s h a v i n g had b e c o m e an u n r e m a r k a b l e m e d i a n o r m . F o r a d e c a d e o r s o , finance c o m p a n i e s h a d b e e n offering j o i n t m o r t g a g e s t o g a y m e n . N e w s p a p e r s , t o o , o c c a s i o n a d y featured g a y c o u p l e s c e l e b r a t i n g t w e n t y - f i v e years together as w e d - r e s p e c t e d pidars o f the c o m m u n i t y but public o p i n i o n s u r v e y s rather m o r e often r e v e a l e d that a r o u n d 40 p e r c e n t o f the adult p o p u l a t i o n stid f o u n d the sight o f t w o m e n kissing in the street ' o f f e n s i v e ' a n d c o n t i n u e d to b e l i e v e that s a m e - s e x i n t e r c o u r s e w a s 'distasteful o r m o r a d y w r o n g ' .
4 1

D e s p i t e this, there w e r e significant signs that y o u n g g a y m e n at least h a d c o m e to regard t h e m s e l v e s as 'perfectly n o r m a l - w i t h o n e slight difference' albeit in a different w a y to the o n e e n v i s a g e d b y that c o n t r i b u t o r to Gay News t w e n t y years p r e v i o u s l y . S e c t i o n 28 stid lay o m i n o u s (but unused) o n the statute b o o k , a r o u n d AIDS 1 3 , 0 0 0 cases o f h a d b e e n r e c o r d e d in the U K , o f w h i c h less than 2 0 0 h a d

268

O R D I N A R Y

P E O P L E

b e e n d u e to h e t e r o s e x u a l sex; b u t in M a n c h e s t e r ' s rather self-conscious canal-side ' g a y v i l l a g e ' P a u l C o n s w a s w a t c h i n g the arrival o f 'a n e w g e n e r a t i o n o f y o u n g lesbians a n d g a y p e o p l e w h o h a d taken o n b o a r d the lessons o f A I D S a n d w e r e ready to h a v e a g o o d t i m e ' . A p o t e n t sign o f this w a s the fact that, m o n t h after m o n t h there a n d in a n d a r o u n d O l d C o m p t o n Street in L o n d o n , m o r e a n d m o r e n e w g a y clubs a n d p a v e m e n t cafs w e r e s p r i n g i n g u p . O t h e r s , signifi cantly c a t e r i n g for a s o - c a d e d ' m i x e d c l i e n t e l e ' o f g a y a n d straight y o u n g p e o p l e , w e r e b e g i n n i n g to flourish in s m a d e r metropolitan centres as w h a t w a s p e r c e i v e d as ' g a y style', a n d an o v e r t l y ' g a y sensi bility' c a m e to d o m i n a t e the fashion a n d m u s i c industries, inspire the t y p o g r a p h i c a l a n a r c h y o f 'lifestyle' m a g a z i n e s and, t h r o u g h series such as Out This Week a n d Gaytime TV, m a k e themselves felt o n B B C radio a n d t e l e v i s i o n . P r i d e , t o o , w a s e n j o y i n g a n e w lease o f life. In the m i d - 1 9 9 0 s attendances at w h a t h a d b e c o m e E u r o p e ' s largest annual g a y a n d lesbian festival regularly t o p p e d 4 0 , 0 0 0 b u t o n l y , c y n i c s e q u a d y regularly p o i n t e d out, b e c a u s e the m a r c h h a d b e e n stripped o f any political significance a n d s e r v e d m e r e l y as the p r e l u d e to a free festival w h e r e straight bands p l a y e d , straight 'gate-crashers' m a d e it i m p o s s i b l e to m o v e in the disco-tents a n d banners b e a r i n g the l o g o s o f m a i n s t r e a m sponsors fluttered a l o n g s i d e the r a i n b o w flags o f P r i d e . years after O s c a r W i l d e w a s h u m i l i a t e d b y b e i n g O n e hundred

p u b l i c l y n a m e d as a s o d o m i t e , a n e w g e n e r a t i o n o f g a y m e n , for the m o s t part b o m after h o m o s e x u a l acts h a d b e e n d e c r i m i n a l i z e d , had taken to w e a r i n g T-shirts b e a r i n g the l e g e n d s '1
C A N ' T E V E N T H I N K S T R A I G H T ' 'QUEER AS F U C K '

and And

as fashion statements.

i r o n i c a d y , i f a n y t h i n g it w a s 'the s c e n e ' , the M o l o c h w h i c h c o n t i n u e d to d e m a n d t h e y b e seen to b e l o n g a n d y e t to b e seen to b e different, w h i c h w a s to c o m e closest to b r i n g i n g a b o u t the v e r y a b o l i t i o n o f the h o m o s e x u a l sensibility as it h a d traditionady existed. T h e n e v e r - q u i t e - c o h e r e n t theories o f E d w a r d C a r p e n t e r , the ideals o f the 'special friend' a n d ' l a d - l o v e ' a n d the n o t i o n 'manliness' s e e m e d absurdly p o m p o u s a n d earnest in an a g e in w h i c h ' g a y n e s s ' h a d b e c o m e a b o l t - o n fashion a c c e s s o r y . It w a s n o t i c e a b l e that, eight years after C o l i n first kissed G u i d o , w h e n EastEnders revisited h o m o s e x u a l i t y it w a s n o t t h r o u g h the e x p e r i e n c e o f M a r k , its straight H I V - p o s i t i v e character, b u t v i a a storyline in w h i c h a n o t h e r y o u n g m a n ' s admission

'i

AM PERFECTLY

NORMAL

269

o f his gayness (again signalled b y n o m o r e than a malemale kiss) w a s s e e m i n g l y precipitated b y a p r e v i o u s i m m e r s i o n in the c l u b a n d d r u g scene. In 1 8 8 9 W . S. G i l b e r t h a d p o i n t e d o u t that ' W h e n e v e r y o n e is s o m e b o d e e , / T h e n n o o n e ' s a n y b o d y ' . I n 1 9 9 6 it s e e m e d that b e i n g gay m e a n t n o m o r e than l i v i n g for the m o m e n t , b e i n g o n e o f the ' b o y z ' , b e i n g at the cutting e d g e o f fashion. B y t h e n N e i l T e n n a n t o f the P e t S h o p B o y s w a s teding a national n e w s p a p e r : ' W e ' v e i n v e n t e d this thing c a d e d h o m o s e x u a l i t y a n d n o w e v e r y b o d y is either g a y o r straight. I m e a n fifty y e a n a g o I ' d h a v e b e e n m a r r i e d w i t h probably be happier.'
42

three

children a n d h a v i n g affairs w i t h m e n o n the side a n d frankly, I ' d It w a s a sign o f the times. T h e r e h a d b e e n m o r e than enough

self-delusion in the c o m e - o n - i n p r o p a g a n d i z i n g o f the G o l d e n A g e activists. (It serves n o p u r p o s e n o w to r e m e m b e r that b a c k in 1 9 7 7 , in The Naked Civil Servant, Q u e n t i n C r i s p h a d m a d e the o m n i s c i e n t p r o n o u n c e m e n t : ' T h e r e is n o great dark m a n ' . ) W i t h o u t p r e c o g n i t i o n , o b l i v i o u s o f the events w h i c h w o u l d later h o b b l e their progress, t h e y c o u l d reasonably h a v e l o o k e d f o r w a r d to a future - o r at the v e r y least a 1 9 9 5 in w h i c h the 1 0 0 t h anniversary o f O s c a r W i l d e ' s c o n v i c t i o n a n d i m p r i s o n m e n t w o u l d b e m a r k e d as a m i l e s t o n e i n an o n w a r d m a r c h , a d e v e l o p m e n t , an e v o l u t i o n . B u t t o o m a n y n o w w e r e dead; their m a n t l e h a d b e e n a s s u m e d b y a shrdl, tiny a r m y for w h o m A I D S a n d E c s t a s y h a d t e l e s c o p e d history a n d f o r e s h o r t e n e d a n y future. B e a t i n g t i m e o n the d a n c e - f l o o r , t h e y w e r e self-appointed E d g a r s , intent o n h a m m e r i n g f u d - b l o w n t r a g e d y o u t o f private tantrums: T h e w e i g h t o f this sad t i m e w e m u s t o b e y , S p e a k w h a t w e feel, n o t w h a t w e o u g h t to say. T h e oldest hath b o r n e m o s t ; w e that are y o u n g S h a d n e v e r see so m u c h , n o r l i v e so l o n g . T h u s , in his 1 9 9 1 n o v e l A Matter of Life and Sex, w h i l e a w a i t i n g the results o f an H I V test, O s c a r M o o r e ' s a U - t o o - a u t o b i o g r a p h i c a l h e r o H u g o H a r v e y c o n t e m p l a t e d life f r o m a p o s t - m o d e r n i s t p o s i t i o n w a y b e y o n d the traditional s p a c e - t i m e c o n t i n u u m . L i k e m o s t o f his friends, h e p e r c e i v e d h i m s e l f d o i n g little m o r e than ' l o o k i n g f o r w a r d to the days w h e n y o u w i d l o o k b a c k f o n d l y o n the days y o u spent l o o k i n g

270 forwards'.
43

ORDINARY

PEOPLE

W a s t e d in o t h e r w a y s , the central characters in the 1 9 9 2 End, s a w things m o r e s i m p l y : ' W e ' r e v i c t i m s o f the

film The Living

s e x u a l r e v o l u t i o n . T h e g e n e r a t i o n b e f o r e us h a d all the fun. W e get to p i c k u p the f u c k i n g tab.' It w a s n ' t quite as b a d as that, n e i t h e r as solipsistic n o r as m e l o d r a m atically s e l f - i n d u l g e n t . T h i n g s h a d m o v e d o n , ad m a n n e r o f panics a n d p r e j u d i c e s h a d b e e n o v e r c o m e ; q u e r u l o u s and, t o o often, stid p i p i n g l y a d o l e s c e n t , the l o v e that d a r e d n o t speak its n a m e h a d nevertheless f o u n d a v o i c e . W h e n O s c a r M o o r e d i e d in the s u m m e r o f 1 9 9 6 the Guardian, for w h i c h h e h a d b e e n w r i t i n g a g r a p h i c diary o f his fight Q u i e d y , m e m o r i a l s to W i l d e and A . E . against A I D S - r e l a t e d illness, w a s surprised b y the l e v e l o f h e t e r o s e x u a l a p p r e c i a t i o n h e attracted. H o u s m a n h a d b e e n u n v e i l e d in W e s t m i n s t e r A b b e y . A n d , a l t h o u g h research c o n d u c t e d for the B r o a d c a s t i n g Standards C o u n c d in 1 9 9 4 h a d d i s c o v e r e d that 50 p e r cent o f adults s a m p l e d stid disliked w a t c h i n g ' g a y s c e n e s ' o n t e l e v i s i o n - a n d 2 2 p e r cent felt that g a y characters s h o u l d n o t b e seen at ad - the Pink Paper t o o k n o t a little pride in g a y kiss'. q u o t i n g a B B C s p o k e s m a n as saying that ' T h e P r o g r a m m e s C o m plaints U n i t d i d n ' t g e t a single c o m p l a i n t after EastEnders It w a s O s c a r F i n g a l O ' F l a h e r t i e W d l s W i l d e w h o o n c e w r o t e that ' t h e r e is o n l y o n e t h i n g in the w o r l d w o r s e than b e i n g talked about, a n d that is n o t b e i n g talked a b o u t . ' I n the present c o n t e x t it is doubtful i f e v e n the e g r e g i o u s O s c a r w o u l d h a v e m i n d e d b e i n g p r o v e d w r o n g . J u s t for o n c e .

Notes and Sources

Publishing details for books quoted frequently in these Notes are to be found in the Bibliography.

I N T R O D U C T I O N

I . Letter published in The Pink Paper, n October 1 9 9 6 .

ONE:

'FOR T H E P U B L I C

BENEFIT'

1. Andr Gide, Oscar Wilde, p. 14; p. 2 9 . 2. See Richard Ellmann, Oscar Wilde, p. 4 1 2 and footnote. 3. H. Montgomery Hyde, The Trials of Oscar Wilde, pp. 3 4 4 - 5 (my italics). 4. Ibid., pp. 1 4 2 - 3 . 5. Ibid., p. 1 7 5 . 6. Cf. the street-cries of'Quentin!' which followed the transmission of the television adaptation of Quentin Crisp's The Naked Civil Servant in 1 9 7 5 . 7. Wilde's enduring legacy as a homosexual icon is traced in Alan Sinfield, The Wilde Century: Effeminacy, Oscar Wilde and the Queer Movement. 8. Peter Wildeblood, Against the Law, p. 1 0 5 . 9. Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest, Act I. 10. Gide, op. cit., pp. 3 1 - 3 (my translation). 11. H. Montgomery Hyde, The Cleveland Street Scandal, p. 8 7 (my italics). 12. Le Temps, 7 April 1 8 9 5 ; quoted in Ellmann, op. cit., p. 4 2 8 . 13. Quoted in Ellmann, op. cit., p. 4 2 5 . 14. Montgomery Hyde, The Cleveland Street Scandal, p. 4 9 . 15. John Betjeman, 'The Arrest of Oscar Wilde at the Cadogan Hotel'. 16. Martin Fido, Oscar Wilde, pp. I l l 1 2 . 17. Ellmann, op. cit., p. 4 2 7 . 18. For a more detailed account of the origins and aims of Aestheticism, see
271

272

N O T E S

A N D

S O U R C E S

Holbrook Jackson, The 1890s ( 1 9 1 3 ) , Cresset Library, book, The Fitzrovians, pp. 6 - 1 7 . 19. Punch, 1 4 February 1 8 8 0 . 2 0 . Patience, Act I, lines 4 1 5 2 0 . 2 1 . Ibid., Act I, lines 2 0 6 9 . 2 2 . Punch, 12 February 1 8 8 1 .
5i-

1988,

and my own

2 3 . Quoted in Montgomery Hyde, Cases That Changed the Law, pp. 1 5 0 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31.
32.

Quoted in Montgomery Hyde, The Trials of Oscar Wilde, p. 6 8 . Quoted in ibid., p. 6 9 footnote. Montgomery Hyde, The Cleveland Street Scandal, p. 2 6 . Ibid., p. 2 2 . Ibid., p. 9 6 . Ibid., p. 3 9 . Pall Mall Gazette, 1 2 September 1 8 8 9 ; quoted in ibid., pp. 4 5 - 6 . Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1 8 8 5 (48 & 4 9 Vict. c. 69), sec.
11.

33.
34.

35.
36.

37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42.


43.

44. 45. 46.

Montgomery Hyde, The Trials of Oscar Wilde, pp. 1 7 9 - 8 7 . Ibid., p. 2 7 5 (my italics). Ibid., pp. 1 9 2 - 3 . Ibid., p. 2 7 6 . Ibid., pp. 1 9 9 - 2 0 0 . Ibid., p. 2 8 1 . Ibid., p. 3 1 5 . Ibid., p. 3 1 6 . Ibid., p. 3 1 8 . Ibid., p. 3 3 9 . Alan Sinfield, op. cit., pp. 3 - 4 . Montgomery Hyde, The Trials of Oscar Wilde, pp. 2 8 1 - 2 . Ibid., p. 3 3 5 . Henry Harland to Edmund Gosse, 5 May 1 8 9 5 ; quoted in Ellmann, op. cit., p. 4 3 0 . Ellmann, op. cit., p. 4 3 0 .

T W O :

' Y O U

A N D

I A R E

O U T L A W S '

1. Imperialist, 2 6 January 1 9 1 8 ; quoted in H. Montgomery Hyde, Cases That


Changed the Law, pp. 177-8.

2. Quoted in Cases That Changed the Law, p. 1 7 7 . 3. See Victoria Glendinning, Vita: The Life of V. Sackville- West, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1 9 8 3 , and Nigel Nicolson, Portrait of a Marriage, Weidenfeld

NOTES

AND

SOURCES

273

4.

5.
6.

7.

8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
21.

22. 23. 24. 25. 26.


27.

28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33.

& Nicolson, 1 9 7 3 . Harold Nicolson's letter, written on 1 5 September 1 9 1 9 , is reproduced in Nigel Nicolson (ed.), Vita and Harold: The Letters of Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1 9 9 2 , p. 9 8 . See Bryan Connon, Beverley Nichols: A Life, p. 4 0 . Frustratingly, Connon has 'deliberately avoided footnotes or an appendix of sources' in this full and otherwise exemplary biography. John Betjeman, 'Narcissus', 1 9 6 6 . Quoted in Bevis Hillier, Young Betjeman, pp. 1 1 6 - 1 7 . Michael Davidson, The World, the Flesh and Myself, p. 7 1 (my italics; the incident at the Southampton swimming pool need not concern us). A. E. Housman, A Shropshire Lad, L I . Ibid., L V I I I . A. E. Housman, Last Poems, X I I . E. M. Forster, Maurice, p. 2 3 6 . Ibid., p. 16. Ibid., pp. 4 2 - 3 . Ibid., p. 3 7 . Ibid., p. 1 1 7 . Ibid., pp. 9 2 - 3 . Ibid., p. 2 3 6 . Ibid., p. 1 2 5 . Davidson, op. cit., p. 3 1 . Forster, op. cit., p. 1 3 4 . Ibid., pp. 1 3 6 - 7 . Ibid., p. 1 3 8 . Quoted in Michael De-la-Noy, Denton Welch: The Making of a Writer, Viking, 1984, p. 9 1 . Quoted in ibid., p. 9 3 . Forster, op. cit., p. 9 3 . Ibid., p. 2 2 3 . D. H. Lawrence, Women in Love, Penguin, i 9 6 0 , p. 2 3 2 ; p. 3 1 0 . Forster, op. cit., p. 2 3 5 . Havelock Ellis, Studies in the Psychology of Sex, I, Case V I I ; quoted in Paul Delany, The Neo-Pagans, p. 10. Forster, op. cit., p. 2 3 5 . Quoted in Kevin Porter and Jeffrey Weeks (eds), Between the Acts: Lives of Homosexual Men, 1893-1967, p. 2 4 . Ibid., pp. 2 4 - 5 (my italics). Forster, op. cit., p. 7 0 .

274

N O T E S

A N D

S O U R C E S

34. 35. 36. 37.

Ibid., Ibid., Ibid., Ibid.,

p. 8. p. 5 3 (my italics). p. 1 5 (my italics). p. 73.

THREE:

' I ' M A W F U L L Y

P R O U D

TO

THINK

HE'S M Y

FRIEND'

1 . W. H. Auden, 'Doggerel by a Senior Citizen'. 2. E . M . Forster, op. cit., p. 73. 3. There is, for instance, no mention of homosexual activity in Lyn Macdonald's on-going social histories of the Great War (Somme, They Called It Passchendaele, 1914, etc.). Nor, apparently, was there any officially voiced concern akin to that of the army high command who, during the last year of the Second World War, felt compelled to move against what they called 'Lack of Moral Fibre'. (See my book Heroes, Mavericks and Bounders, Michael Joseph, 1 9 9 1 , pp. 1 6 8 7 1 . ) 4. Stephen Spender, 'Ultima Ratio Regum', Collected Poems, 1928-1985, Faber, 1 9 8 5 , p. 6 9 . 5. R. C . SherrifF, Journey's End, Act I. 6. Shoeing Smith C. H. Williams, quoted in Lyn Macdonald, 19141918: Voices and Images of the Great War, Michael Joseph, 1 9 8 8 , p. 188. 7. R. C. SherrifF, op. cit., Act I. 8. Ibid. 9. Quoted in Harold Owen and John Bell (eds), Wilfred Owen: Collected Letters, Oxford University Press, 1 9 6 7 , p. 4 4 1 . 10. Michael Davidson, The World, the Flesh and Myself, pp. 7 7 - 8 , pp. 8 1 2 passim. As a corollary addendum to this and the previous extract, it is perhaps worth including here a passage from the robustly heterosexual Robert Graves's But It Still Goes On ( 1 9 3 1 ) : 'Do you know how a platoon of men will absolutely worship a good-looking gallant young officer? If he's a bit shy of them, and decent to them, they get a crush on him. He's a being apart: an officer's uniform is most attractive compared with the rough shapeless private's uniform. He becomes a sort of military queen bee.' Maybe we should note, too that it was Graves who published an early (and now thankfully forgotten) collection of war poems entitled Fairies and Fusilliers in 1 9 1 7 .
11. Between the Acts, p. 16; pp. 17-18.

12. 13. 14. 15.

Ibid., p. 2 5 . Ibid., pp. 5 - 7 passim. Ibid., p. 16. Davidson, op. cit., pp. 7 7 - 8 ; pp. 8 1 - 2 passim.

N O T E S

A N D

S O U R C E S

275

16. Between the Acts, p. 6. 17. Davidson, op. cit., p. 134. 18. H. Montgomery Hyde, The Other Love; quoted in James Gardiner, A Class Apart: The Private Pictures of Montague Glover, p. 52. 19. Anonymous, quoted in Macdonald, op. cit., p. 2 6 2 . 20. Quoted in ibid., p. 2 6 3 . 2 1 . Between the Acts, pp. 7 4 - 5 . 2 2 . Davidson, op. cit., p. 86. 2 3 . Ibid., p. 9 2 (my italics). In Bryan Connon's biography of Beverley Nichols there is an account of a similar episode. Nichols is at formal, regimental gathering: 'At dinner, a captain said, apropos of nothing, "Talking of buggery." 'The major opposite grinned. "What, about it?" ' " I never understood why, if a chap wants to go in for buggery, he doesn't bugger a woman?" 'Much laughter greeted this, but Beverley kept quite and got on with his meal' (Connon, op. cit., p. 57). 24. Davidson, op. cit., pp. 121-2. 2 5 . Ibid., p. 9 3 . 2 6 . Quoted in Connon, op. cit., p. 6 1 . 2 7 . A. E. Housman, Last Poems, X X X V . I have omitted the final stanza. 2 8 . Davidson, op. cit., p. 4 7 . 2 9 . Housman, Last Poems, X X I I I . 30. Between the Acts, p. 7. 31. Ibid., pp. 7 - 8 passim.

FOUR:

' S U I V E Z - M O I ,

J E U N E

H O M M E '

1. Several of these phrases have dropped out of common currency. 'Nonce', for instance, seems now only to be used within prisons as a cant term for child sex offenders. Pejorative terms remain, however, especially in the police and armed forces. As late as 1 9 9 2 Surgeon Commander Richard Jolly, O B E , principal medical officer at Britannia Royal Naval College, listed a few which he regarded as still 'common' in the navy: 'Brownhatter; Shirtlifter; Porthole-gazer; Uphill gardener; Beef bosun; Boweltroweller; Botty-bandit; Arse grabber; Raving nosh; Turd burglar' (quoted in Edmund Hall, We Can't Even March Straight: Homosexuality in the British Armed Forces, p. 73). 2. In common parlance in Britain, the use of the word 'gay', both adjec tivally and as a noun ('a gay'; 'gays') as a euphemistic - and later, politically correct - synonym for 'homosexual' seemingly began in the early 1 9 7 0 s .

276

NOTES

AND

SOURCES

3.

4. 5. 6.
7.

8.
9.

10.

11.

The present author can certainly recall having heard it employed at around that time. It was an American import, although the word has always had a certain redolence and was very probably part of a private homosexual argot ('palari') long before the 1 9 7 0 s . Eric Partridge noted that, since at least the early nineteenth century, 'gay' had connotations of both (female) prostitution and intoxication ('gay and frisky' was rhyming slang for 'whisky'). Published in 1 9 6 1 , the last edition of his Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English includes no reference to its homosexual usage, however although a gloss that in nineteenth-century slang the term 'the gaying instrument' referred to what he called the 'male member' reinforces the idea that for a long time the word has enjoyed a double or even a triple life. Godfrey Winn, The Infirm Glory, pp. 2 6 2 - 3 . Richard Buckle (d.), Self-Portrait with Friends: The Selected Diaries of Cecil Beaton, p. 3 0 . Quoted in Hugo Vickers, Cecil Beaton, p. 1 0 7 . They are quoted in Ellmann's Oscar Wilde (p. 38) and are thus assured of immortality. Ifan Kyrle Fletcher, Ronald Firbank: A Memoir ( 1 9 3 0 ) ; reprinted in Mervyn Horder (ed.), Ronald Firbank: Memoirs and Critiques, Duckworth, 1 9 7 7 . PP- 1 3 4 See Humphrey Carpenter, The Brideshead Generation: Evelyn Waugh & His Friends. Carpenter notes (pp. 1 1 2 1 3 ) that Waugh inserted this description of Howard into the novel (originally published in 1 9 4 5 ) only when he came to revise it in i 9 6 0 , two yean after Howard had killed himself. Harold Acton, Memoirs of an Aesthete, pp. 1 1 9 2 0 . Provenance unknown; quoted in Bryan Connon, Beverley Nichols, p. 7 6 . Connon's biography is the only serious study of Nichols's life and work which has so far appeared. My information about Nichols's circumstances at this time is largely drawn from chapters four to ten of the book. His own six volumes of autobiography are notoriously unreliable and at times demonstrably misleading.

12. Quoted in Cole Lesley, The Life of Nol Coward, p. 80; p. 8 2 . 13. Quoted in Connon, op. cit., p. 1 4 4 . 1 4 . Ibid., pp. 1 2 2 - 3 . 1 5 . Quoted in ibid., pp. 1 7 9 - 8 1 passim. 16. Quoted in Charles Casde, Noel, pp. 6 1 - 2 . 17. Quoted in ibid., p. 6 4 . 18. John Gielgud, An Actor and His Time, Sidgwick and Jackson, 1 9 7 9 , p. 4 6 .

N O T E S

A N D

S O U R C E S

277

19.

20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.


26.

John Lahr (d.), The Orton Diaries, p. 2 5 1 (23 July 1 9 6 7 ) . Williams's own account of the incident is recorded in Russell Davies (ed.), The Kenneth Williams Diaries, p. 3 0 7 (14 July 1 9 6 7 ) . William Gerhardie, God's Fifth Column, Hodder and Stoughton, 1 9 8 1 , p. 3 0 7 . Simon Blow, Broken Blood: The Rise and Fall of the Tennant Family, p. 1 7 7 . Self-Portrait with Friends, p. 3 9 2 . Ibid., p. 2 5 . Cole Lesley, op. cit., p. 2 1 8 . Quoted in Between the Acts, p. 9 8 . Ibid., pp. 1 2 1 - 2 .

FIVE:

' T H E

H O M I N T E R N '

1. Cyril Connolly, Harper's Magazine, June 1 9 7 3 . 2. Anthony Powell, To Keep the Ball Rolling, Penguin, 1 9 8 3 , p. 9 8 . 3 . Rather pathetically, as it seems today, in his autobiography Memoirs of an Aesthete ( 1 9 4 8 ) Harold Acton devotes almost nine pages to descriptions of the fashionable luncheon, dining and literary clubs and societies to which he belonged: '. . . at first I was drawn to them like a moth. I fluttered my wings at the Italian Circle, the Spanish Society, the Ordinary . . .' (p. 120). 4. The radicalization of otherwise Establishment public schoolboys at this period is a theme which has been explored in various works of fiction over the past thirty years. Lindsay Anderson addressed it in his film If. . . ( 1 9 6 8 ) . More subtly, it underlies Julian Mitchell's play Another Country ( 1 9 8 1 ) , a thinly disguised account of Guy Burgess's last terms at Eton. 5. W. H. Auden, Forewords and Afterwords, Faber, 1 9 7 3 , p. 5 1 4 . 6. See Ben Pimlott, Harold Wilson, HarperCollins, 1 9 9 2 , pp. 4 2 - 5 passim. 7. W. H. Auden, 'Consider this and in our time', Selected Poems, Faber,
1 9 7 9 . p. 15Tom Driberg, Ruling Passions, p. 7 1 . Ibid., p. 5 0 . Ibid., p. 5 6 . Recollection by A . J . P. Taylor, quoted in Francis Wheen, Tom Driberg: His Life and Indiscretions, p. 4 1 . 12. Driberg, op. cit., pp. 7 5 7 passim. 13. These were, as he must have known, unrealistic expectations. At least three posthumous biographies have appeared in Britain or America. Few, if any, of his correspondents burnt his papers, and substantial archives of his letters and manuscripts are anyway held by the Berg Collection at

8. 9. 10. 11.

278

N O T E S

A N D

S O U R C E S

14. 15. 16.


17.

18. 19. 20. 21.

the New York Public Library and the universities of Oxford and Texas (the Humanities Research Center). Stephen Spender, World Within World, p. 5 3 . Humphrey Carpenter, W. H. Auden, George Allen & Unwin, 1 9 8 1 , pp. 4 7 - 9 passim. Spender, op. cit., p. 5 3 . Christopher Isherwood, Lions and Shadows ( 1 9 3 8 ) , New English Library, 1 9 6 8 , p. 1 1 2 ; p. 1 2 1 . Stephen Spender, The Temple, p. 7. See poems such as 'The Truly Great' and 'Trigorin'; Collected Poems, pp. 3 0 and 2 2 respectively. Ibid: 'Us', p. 32; 'What I Expected', p. 2 4 . The referencing of Auden's work has always been difficult. In the first editions of his early work the poet presented his poems untitled. In subsequent editions, titles were inserted. Thus, in his Collected Shorter Poems (Faber, 1 9 6 6 ) this couplet comes from a poem entitled '1929'. Mendelson's definitive editions revert to Auden's original form, remove such titles and index these poems by their first lines. I follow his practice. See, therefore, 'It was Easter as I walked in the public gardens', W. H. Auden, Selected Poems, Faber, 1 9 7 9 , p. 7. W. H. Auden, 'Watch any day his nonchalant pauses, see' (tellingly, but only latterly entitled 'A Free One'), ibid., p. 4. Mendelson dates this poem to March 1 9 2 9 . Cecil Beaton's diary, 9 October 1 9 2 3 ; quoted in Hugo Vickers, Cecil Beaton, p. 4 0 . Quoted in Barrie Penrose and Simon Freeman, Conspiracy of Silence: The Secret Life of Anthony Blunt, p. 4 8 . Quoted in Vickers, op. cit., pp. 2 7 8 . Quoted in Conspiracy of Silence, p. 1 4 5 . Ibid., p. 4 7 . Jack Hewit, quoted in ibid., p. 5 1 . Cyril Connolly, The Missing Diplomats, p. 1 8 . Quoted in Andrew Boyle, The Climate of Treason, p. 7 2 . The climax of Julian Mitchell's play Another Country ( 1 9 8 1 , and later filmed) descants on this theme. A homosexual public schoolboy, Guy Bennett (an obvious fictionalization of Burgess), has been turned down as a prefect. He rails at his left-wing friend Judd:
JUDD:

22.

23. 24.
25.

26. 27. 28. 29. 30.


31.

BENNETT:

There's no reason you have to be any kind of prefect at all. Yes, there is. If I'm spending the rest of my life hiding my true nature from the rest of the world, I'm taking every comfort that's going while it is going.

N O T E S

A N D S O U R C E S

279

Oh, well, if that's your attitude Besides, being absolutely objective, it would dish me once and for all, wouldn't it? J U D D : Y O U can't have things both ways, Guy. B E N N E T T : What do you want me to do - march about the streets shouting slogans with you? I wouldn't get past the first pub. [He picks up 'Das Kapital'] As for this - [He drops it] Too heavy. J U D D : Either you accept the system, or you try to change it. There's no alternative. B E N N E T T : [Suddenly gay] Why not? Why not both? Pretend to do one, while you really do the other? Fool the swine? Play along with them! Let them think what they like - let them despise you! But all the time (Act T w o , Scene Six)
JUDD: BENNETT:

32. Goronwy Rees, A Chapter of Accidents, Chatto and Windus, 1 9 7 2 ; quoted in Conspiracy of Silence, pp. 8 6 - 7 . 33. See Driberg, Guy Burgess: A Portrait with Background, p. 18. 3 4 . Ibid., pp. 1 7 - 1 8 . 35. Jack Hewit, Sunday Times magazine, 7 April 1 9 9 1 . 3 6 . Stephen Spender, World Without World, p. 2 5 5 . 37. W. H. Auden, unpublished poem; quoted in Sunday Times magazine, 7 April 1 9 9 1 . 3 8 . W. H. Auden, 'September 1, 1 9 3 9 ' , op. cit., p. 8 6 . With particular reference to the last line quoted in the text, in the 1 9 6 0 s Auden disowned much of his early work, calling it 'trash which he is ashamed to have written'. 39. John Lehmann, In the Purely Pagan Sense, p. 35; Goronwy Rees, op. cit., p. 1 8 8 . 40. Quoted in Conspiracy of Silence, p. 2 1 9 .

six:

'I H A D T H E T I M E

OF M Y

LIFE'

1 . Patrick Hamilton, Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky, Constable and
Co., 2. 1 9 3 5 , pp. 16-17.

Michael Davidson, op. cit., pp. 1 3 4 5 . 3. Jack Hewit, Sunday Times magazine, 7 April 1 9 9 1 . 4. See A. H. Halsey (ed.), Trends in British Society Since 1900, Macmillan,
1 9 7 2 . P- 5 3 3 5. Quentin Crisp, The Naked Civil Servant, p. 8 3 . 6. Ibid., p. 24.

280

NOTES

AND

SOURCES

7. Virginia Woolf, letter to Jacques Raverat, 2 4 January 1 9 2 5 . 8. Terence Greenidge, Degenerate Oxford?, Chapman and Hall, 1 9 3 0 . 9. Virginia Woolf, diary entry, 3 1 August 1 9 2 8 ; quoted in Quentin Bell, Virginia Woolf, Vol. 2, Hogarth Press, 1 9 7 2 , p. 1 3 8 . 10. Quoted in Nigel Nicolson (ed.), The Sickle Side of the Moon: The Letters of Virginia Woolf, Volume V 1932-5, Hogarth Press, 1 9 7 9 , p. 2 7 3 . 11. Quoted in Martin Gilbert, Second World War, revised edition, Fontana,
1 9 9 0 , pp. 256-7.

12. Quoted in Detlev J . K. Peukert (trans. Richard Deveson), Inside Nazi Germany: Conformity, Opposition and Racism in Everyday Life, Batsford,
1 9 8 7 , pp. 166-7.

13. Christopher Isherwood, Christopher and His Kind, p. 10. 14. John Lehmann, In the Purely Pagan Sense, p. 4 5 . 15. Quoted in Anne Olivier Bell (ed.), The Diary of Virginia Woolf, Volume IV - 1931-35, Hogarth Press, 1 9 8 2 , p. 1 2 9 . 16. Letter to Quentin Bell, 2 1 December 1 9 3 3 ; quoted in Nicolson (ed.),
op. 17. cit., pp. 261-2.

Quoted in Between the Acts, pp. 1 3 7 8 . 18. See Lee Bartlett (ed.), Letters to Christopher: Stephen Spender's Letters to Christopher Isherwood, 19291939, Black Sparrow Press, Santa Barbara, U S A , 1 9 8 0 , p. 5 7 . 19. The term 'steamer' seems to have been a short-lived part of the homo sexual patois. Although in his Dictionary of the Underworld ( 1 9 5 0 ) Eric Partridge defines the verb 'to steam' as meaning 'to prepare a "mug" for a fleecing' and notes a first printed usage in 1 9 3 6 , it meant nothing to any of the homosexual men I interviewed in the course of my research for this book. 2 0 . Stephen Spender, World Within World, p. 1 7 5 . 2 1 . 'John', quoted in Between the Acts, p. 1 3 9 . 2 2 . Spender, op. cit., pp. 1 7 6 7 . 2 3 . Crisp, op. cit., pp. 2 5 6 . 2 4 . Ibid., pp. 2 7 - 8 . 2 5 . 'John', quoted in Between the Acts, p. 1 3 8 . 2 6 . Crisp, op. cit., p. 2 8 . 2 7 . Ibid., p. 2 9 . 2 8 . 'Trevor', quoted in Between the Acts, pp. 6 1 - 2 . 2 9 . 'John', quoted in ibid., p. 1 3 9 . 3 0 . Lehmann, op. cit., pp. 3 5 6 . 31. Quoted in Between the Acts, p. 6 4 . 32. Spender, op. cit., p. 2 6 6 . 3 3 . Crisp, op. cit., pp. 1 1 7 - 1 8 passim.

N O T E S

A N D

S O U R C E S

28l

34. 'Neil', interview with the author, 10 October 1 9 9 4 . 35. Spender, op. cit., p. 2 7 0 . 36. Tony Whitehead, letter to the Guardian 'Weekend', 2 3 March 1 9 9 6 ; W. P. Coughlin, letter to the Independent on Sunday, 2 8 May 1 9 9 5 . 37. Anonymous speaker, B B C Radio 5, 31 December 1 9 9 5 . 38. Dudley Cave, Life magazine, 7 May 1 9 9 5 . 39. 'John', quoted in Between the Acts, p. 1 4 2 . 40. Dudley Cave, interview with the author, October 1 9 9 5 . 4 1 . 'David', quoted in Between the Acts, p. 4 5 . 4 2 . 'Neil', interview with the author, 10 October 1 9 9 5 . 4 3 . 'Cecil', quoted in Between the Acts, p. 8 7 (my italics). 44. Lehmann; op. cit., p. 130. 4 5 . 'Tony', quoted in Between the Acts, p. 1 4 9 . 4 6 . Nichols, op. cit., p. 2 0 0 . 4 7 . Angus Calder, The People's War: Britain 1939-1945, Jonathan Cape, 1 9 6 9 , p. 6 3 . 4 8 . Crisp, op. cit., pp. 1 5 7 - 8 . 4 9 . Lehmann, op. cit., p. 53. 50. Ibid., pp. 4 9 - 5 1 passim. 51. 'David', quoted in Between the Acts, p. 4 5 . 52. 'Roy', quoted in ibid., p. 78.

SEVEN:

' T H E HORRORS

OF P E A C E

W E R E

M A N Y '

1. George Beardmore, Civilians at War: Journals 1938-1946, John Murray,


1 9 8 4 , pp. 194-5-

2. Naomi Mitchison, (ed. Dorothy Sheridan), Among You Taking Notes, Victor Gollancz, 1 9 8 5 , p. 3 2 1 . 3. Observer, 13 May 1 9 4 5 , passim. 4. Crisp, op. cit., pp. 1 7 6 - 7 . 5. Crisp, quoted in the Independent on Sunday, 7 May 1 9 9 5 . 6. Crisp, op. cit., p. 179. 7. Ibid., pp. 171 3 passim. 8. David Hughes, 'The Spivs', in Michael Sissons and Philip French (eds.), Age of Austerity, Hodder and Stoughton, 1 9 6 3 ; Oxford University Press, 1 9 8 6 , p. 7 7 . Writing less than a generation after the time he was describ ing, Hughes possibly pushes the idea of the spivs as post-war inheritors of the mande of the pre-war 'beautiful people' too far. Nevertheless, his comparison - and vocabulary - is illuminating:

82

NOTES

AND

SOURCES

The spivs descended on the wreckage of central London during 1 9 4 6 , as if by magic, to fill the gap left by the exodus of the toffs. The West End has never been abandoned for long without an lite, a carefree cynosural focus for the tired eyes of sightseers, a brand image for the idea of a great, gay capital. Before the war, the upper crust, still residential, attended functions in full drag; now, patriotic to the last clothing-coupon, they dressed dowdily and the spivs had assumed their plumage as well as their habitat [. . .] However, the barrow-boys as flashy as neon, as exaggerated as the cut of their suits - were only the faade that stuck out with such vitality against the scarred hungry background of a city down on its uppers. They over-compensated for the drabness, becoming almost feminine in the process, tricked out in the patterns and shades of cheap bulls-eyes, all their tough swagger just a device to conceal a soggy cowardice beneath. For such pansy braggadocio surely meant that these characters only flirted with crime, never embraced it; and this was largely true [pp. 7 7 8 ] . It is interesting too that in Angus Wilson's early novel Hemlock and After ( 1 9 5 2 ) the homosexual Terence Lambert, a middle-aged stage designer, disparages younger, better-looking men as, among other things, 'golden spivs' and 'butterfly spivs' (Penguin, 1 9 9 2 , pp. 9 3 1 0 0 passim.). Earljowitt, quoted in Hansard, 1 9 May 1 9 5 4 . Bishop of Southwark, ibid. Sir Dirk Bogarde, interview, B B C Television, June 1 9 9 5 . The phrase may not be precisely echt. It occurs in Frederick Raphael's loosely autobiographical novel The Glittering Prizes (Penguin, 1 9 7 6 ) which opens in the Cambridge of the early 1 9 5 0 s , but it meant nothing to any of the men I interviewed for this book. That notwithstanding, it is vividly illustrative of the fear which the police inspired in many homosexuals of the period: 'You don't happen to have the cheque stubs with you, Denis, I suppose? Because ' 'Oh I wouldn't carry anything like that in the street, ' Denis said. 'You never know when Mavis will stop you and search you, do you?' 'Mavis?' Cadman said. 'Who's Mavis?' 'Mavis. The Polizei, dear. Mavis Polizei. The girls in blue. Oh never mind' [p. 89]. 3. Angus Wilson, op. cit., p. 108.

9. 0. 1. 2.

NOTES

AND

SOURCES

283

14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.

Colin Spencer, interview, Channel Four Television, 2 2 August 1 9 9 5 . James Kirkup, A Poet Could Not But Be Gay, p. 19. Peter Wildeblood, op. cit., p. 32. Ibid., pp. 3 4 - 5 . 'Richard', interview with the author, 1 9 October 1 9 9 4 . 'He remarked on your absence from the gay scene. I didn't, of course, know you were so often there' (Wilson, op. cit., p. 56). This is the earliest general British usage of the phrase in its now-familiar sense which the present author has come across.

20. Ibid., p. 89. 21. Wildeblood, op. cit., p. 36. 2 2 . Letter to Annette Kerr, 13 April 1 9 5 5 , quoted in Russell Davies (ed.), The Kenneth Williams Letters, p. 4 6 . Williams's comments were provoked by a performance of Julian Green's play South. 23. Wilson, op. cit., p. 108. 24. 'Nicholas', interview with the author, 21 September 1 9 9 4 (my italics). 25. Ibid. 2 6 . Quoted in John Lahr, Prick Up Your Ears, Allen Lane, 1 9 7 8 , pp. 9 0 - 9 2 passim. 27. 'Trevor', quoted in Between the Acts, pp. 6 5 - 6 . 2 8 . Anonymous; material supplied to the author. 2 9 . Simon Raven, interview with Peter Parker, 2 July 1 9 8 7 ; quoted in Parker, Ackerley, p. 3 3 7 . 30. Quoted in Parker, op. cit., p. 3 3 8 . 31. Sydney Morning Telegraph, 2 5 October 1 9 5 3 . 32. 'Nicholas', interview with the author, 2 5 October 1 9 9 4 . 33. 'Tony', quoted in Between the Acts, pp. 1 4 7 - 9 passim. 3 4 . Michael Davidson, op. cit., pp. 2 9 8 - 9 . 35. Wildeblood, op. cit., p. 4 0 . 36. Ibid., p. 52. 37. Ibid., p. 55. 38. Ibid., p. 2 6 . 39. Ibid., p. 24. Wildeblood gives no source for the survey, and I have been unable to trace it; but its findings accord with other literature of the period. 40. Ibid., p. 60. 4 1 . Ibid., p. 9 2 . 42. Ibid., pp. 9 2 - 3 . 43. Ibid., p. 84. 44. Ibid., p. 6 5 . 45. Ibid., pp. 9 4 - 5 .

284

N O T E S

A N D

S O U R C E S

4 6 . Undated letter, quoted in Nigel Jones, Through a Glass Darkly: The Life of Patrick Hamilton, Scribners, 1 9 9 1 , pp. 3 2 8 9 .

EIGHT:

' T H E R A Y OF

HOPE'

1. John Wolfenden, Turning Points, The Bodley Head, 1 9 7 6 , pp. 1 3 4 - 5 . 2. Sunday Times, 26 March 1 9 5 4 . 3. Sunday Times, 2 April 1 9 5 4 . The complete letter is reprinted as an appen dix to Antony Grey's book Quest for Justice: Towards Homosexual Emanci

pation, p. 279ft"

4. See, inter alia, D. J . West, Homosexuality, Duckworth, (first edition) 1 9 5 5 , and Tudor Rees and Harvey V. Usill (eds), They Stand Apart: A Critical Survey of the Problem of Homosexuality, Heinemann, 1 9 5 5 . 5. Anonymous letter, quoted in Peter Wildeblood, A Way of Life, pp. 2 0 21.

6. James Kirkup, op. cit., pp. 1 3 - 1 5 passim. 7. T o illustrate this, in what follows I have interpolated 'Nicholas' 's story, and the specific experiences of two other men, with quotations from Maurice. Although slightly re-ordered, Nicholas's words remain as the almost-verbatim transcript of an interview he gave me on 2 1 September 1 9 9 4 . Neither Forster nor Maurice was mentioned on this occasion. The editorial juxtapositions are entirely mine. 8. E . M. Forster, op. cit., pp. 1 4 5 - 6 . 9. Anonymous man, Dark Secret, B B C Television, 8 August 1 9 9 6 . 10. Forster, op. cit., p. 1 6 9 . 11. Anonymous man, Dark Secret, B B C Television, 8 August 1 9 9 6 . 12. Ibid. 13. Forster, op. cit., p. 1 5 6 . 1 4 . Ibid., pp. 1 6 6 - 7 . 15. Ibid., p. 1 6 7 . 16. Anonymous man, Dark Secret, B B C Television, 8 August 1 9 9 6 . 17. Ibid. 18. Forster, op. cit., p. 1 9 5 . 19. Ibid., p. 1 6 9 . 2 0 . Wolfenden, op. cit., p. 1 3 8 . 2 1 . The quotations are taken, respectively, from speeches given by William Shepherd, M P ; Dr A. D. D. Broughton; M P , F. J . Bellenger, M P ; and Dr Broughton again, during a House of Commons debate held on 2 6 November 1 9 5 8 . Daily Telegraph, 5 July i 9 6 0 . 2 3 . The Times, 7 March 1 9 5 8 .
22.

N O T E S

A N D

S O U R C E S

285

24. 25. 26. 27.

Wildeblood, A Way of Life, p. 20. Grey, op. cit., p. 2 8 . Ibid, p. 2 9 . Elsewhere in his interview with the author, 'Nicholas' remembered a conversation with his father. In the light of the stress he put on this phrase, it might be seen to have some psychological bearing: When I was about thirteen or fourteen my father said to me, '[Nich olas], you must be careful when you go to the lavatory in a railway station or somewhere like that, that some man doesn't come along and have a look at your tiddly-om-pom.' I was appalled! I couldn't believe anyone would want to do something as awful as that. So he said there were these people known as homosexuals, and he explained what they did and said that it was against the law. 'Why was that?' I asked. 'Because if it wasn't, everybody would be doing it,' he said, 'and the human race would disappear. Having sex with a man is more attractive than having sex with a woman, because a man's body is firmer and more muscular.' I often thought I must have dreamt that, but then fifteen or twenty years later my mother said, 'Oh, Daddy always used to say . . .', and she repeated the same conversation.

28. 'Nicholas', interview with the author, 19 October 1 9 9 4 . 29. Grey, op. cit., p. 4 5 .

NINE:

' Y O U ' L L

P A R D O N

T H E MESS

. .

.'

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Richard Hauser, The Homosexual Society, The Bodley Head, 1 9 6 2 . 'Richard', interview with the author, May 1 9 9 5 . 'John', quoted in Between the Acts, p. 138. The Kenneth Williams Diaries, p. 2 0 6 . Bernard Levin, The Pendulum Years: Britain and the Sixties, p. 4 9 . The Times, 2 August 1 9 6 4 . John Pearson, The Profession of Violence: The Rise and Fall of the Kray
Twins, pp. 14041.

8. Philip Norman, Shout!: The True Story of the Beatles, Hamish Hamilton, 1 9 8 1 , p. 1 5 7 . 9. Quoted in Francis Wheen, op. cit., p. 3 5 6 . 10. Self-Portrait with Friends, pp. 3 8 1 3 passim. 11. The present author can recall having heard similar sentiments expressed by a few gay men when A I D S was first making headlines in the early 1 9 8 0 s . Then the argument ran that, if homosexuality were re-

286

N O T E S

A N D

S O U R C E S

criminalized, to all intents and purposes it would effectively disappear from the public gaze, and things could go back to 'normal'. 12. 'Richard', interview with the author, 1 9 October 1 9 9 4 . 13. 'Stephen', quoted in Between the Acts, p. 1 1 5 . The Kinsey Report, Sexual Behaviour in the Human Male, which was first published in America in 1 9 4 8 , claimed that the incidence of male homosexuality in the general population was much higher (approximately 1 0 per cent) than had pre viously been thought.
14. 15.

16. 17.

18.

19. 20.
21.

Ibid., pp. 1 1 3 - 1 4 The Orton Diaries, p. 1 4 7 ( 3 0 April 1 9 6 7 ) . 'Sam', interview with the author, 2 0 October 1 9 9 4 . Joe Orton, The Complete Plays, Methuen, 1 9 7 6 , p. 3 1 . This and the following extract come from the only published text, which is that of the first stage version of The Ruffian on the Stair (Royal Court Theatre, June 1 9 6 7 ) . Ibid., pp. 4 9 - 5 0 . The Orton Diaries, p. 1 0 6 (entry for 4 March 1 9 6 7 ; my italics). 'Francis', interview with the author, October 1 9 9 4 . The Kenneth Williams Diaries, p. 2 7 3 (entry for 11 February 1 9 6 6 ) .

TEN:

' D O I N G

O U R

B I T FOR T H E

BOYS!'

1. Richard Crossman, The Diaries of a Cabinet Minister, Hamish Hamilton and Jonathan Cape, Vol. 2, p. 4 0 7 (entry for 3 July 1 9 6 7 ) . 2. Barbara Castle, The Castle Diaries 19641976, Macmillan Papermac, 1 9 9 0 , p. 1 0 0 (entry for 2 0 December 1 9 6 6 ) . 3. Ibid., p. 1 3 9 (entry for 13 July 1 9 6 7 ) . 4. Ibid., p. 5 4 (entry for 11 February 1 9 6 6 ) . 5. Barbara Casde, The Castle Diaries, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1 9 8 4 , p. 2 7 3 (entry for 3 July 1 9 6 7 ) . 6. Both quotations from a B B C radio interview, 1 9 9 5 . 7. Nigel Warner, 'Parliament and the Law', in Bruce Galloway (ed.), Preju dice and Pride: Discrimination Against Gay People in Modern Britain, p. 8 4 . 8. Ibid., p. 9 8 . 9. New York Times, 2 7 June 1 9 6 9 . 10. Newspaper reports taken from the New York Times, Village Voice and the New York Daily News respectively, 2 8 June 1 9 6 9 et seq. (my italics). 11. Antony Grey, Quest for Justice, p. 1 5 4 . 12. Aubrey Walter; material supplied to the author, September 1 9 9 5 . 13. Bob Mellors; material supplied to the author, September 1 9 9 5 . 14. Anonymous, B B C interview, 1 9 9 5 .

NOTES

AND

SOURCES

287

15. Come Together, London G L F newspaper, No. 2, December 1 9 7 0 (my italics); No. 5, March 1 9 7 1 . 16. 'Sam', quoted in Between the Acts, op. cit., pp. 1 0 7 - 8 . 17. 'Stephen', interview with the author, 1 9 9 4 . 18. 'Richard', interview with the author, 1 9 9 5 . 19. 'Sam', interview with the author, 2 0 October 1 9 9 4 . 20. Anonymous contributor, Out This Week, B B C Radio 5, 1 7 September
1995-

2 1 . It should be remembered, too, that John Osborne's A Patriot for Me, with its notorious drag-ball scene, had been given a private performance (i.e. one not subject to the censorship of the Lord Chamberlain) by the English Stage Company at the Royal Court Theatre a full year previously, in the summer of 1 9 6 5 . 22. Charles Dyer, Staircase, Penguin, 1 9 6 6 , pp. 9 - 1 0 . 23. Mart Crowley, The Boys in the Band, Penguin, 1 9 7 0 , p. 4 7 . 24. John Elsom and Nicholas Tomalin, The History of the National Theatre, Jonathan Cape, 1 9 7 8 , p. 1 9 6 . 2 5 . John Goodwin (ed.), Peter Hall's Diaries, Hamish Hamilton, 1 9 8 3 , p. 8 1 (entry for 7 February). 26. Anonymous; material supplied to the author, 1 9 9 4 . 2 7 . Exeter Express and Echo, May 1 9 7 3 (my italics). 2 8 . Crowley, op. cit., p. 9. 2 9 . Adam Mars-Jones, 'The Changes of Those Terrible Yean', reprinted in The Faber Book of Gay Short Fiction, Faber, 1 9 9 1 , p. 3 9 2 . 3 0 . The Kenneth Williams Diaries, p. 4 3 2 (entry for 2 2 September 1 9 7 2 ) . 3 1 . Ibid., pp. 4 2 7 - 8 . 32. Pink Paper, 1 7 June 1 9 9 4 .

ELEVEN: 'i AM PERFECTLY

NORMAL'

1. Purely for the sake of clarity, I have extensively repunctuated this passage which, either by editorial choice or failure of sub-editorial function, originally appeared as a sort of stream-of-consciousness rant. My inter polations (here as elsewhere in the text) are contained within square brackets. (Slightly abbreviated, the original text is reproduced in Patrick Higgins (d.), A Queer Reader, p. 2 0 8 ) . 2. Simon Gray, Butley, in The Definitive Simon Gray, I, Faber, 1 9 9 2 , pp. 6 2 - 3 . Butley was first performed in July 1 9 7 1 at the Criterion Theatre, London. I have intentionally removed character names and stage direc tions from this extract. 3. Mary Renault, of course, had written The Charioteer as long ago as 1 9 5 3 .

288

NOTES

AND

SOURCES

4. Christopher Isherwood, A Single Man, Methuen, 1 9 6 4 ; Eyre Methuen,


1 9 8 0 , pp. 138-9.

5. Francis King, A Domestic Animal, p. 1 2 7 . 6. 'Edward', a public school pupil in the early 1 9 8 0 s , interview with the author, 8 October 1 9 9 5 . 7. Diary made available to the author. 8. 'Edward', as above. 9. Gay News, February 1 9 7 6 . 10. Michael Denneny, 1 9 7 9 ; quoted in A Queer Reader, p. 2 1 2 . 11. Nicholas de Jongh, Gay News, January 1 9 7 6 . 12. Jeffrey Weeks, Gay News, January 1 9 7 6 . 1 3 . Mario Mieli, Homosexuality and Liberation, 1 9 8 0 ; quoted in A Queer Reader, p. 2 1 3 . 14. David Starkey, Gay News, January 1 9 7 7 . 15. 'Richard', interview with the author, 1 9 October 1 9 9 4 . 16. Diary made available to the author. 17. Francis King, op. cit., p. 5 1 . 18. The Orton Diaries, p. 2 5 3 . 19. Both these confidential Ministry of Defence letters have been seen by the author. 20. 'Neil', interview with the author, 1 0 October 1 9 9 4 . This was the only conversation undertaken as part of my research for this book which was not conducted on a private, one-to-one basis. This interview was conducted jointly by Edmund Hall and myself at 'Neil' 's home in southern England. As with other direct quotations from interviews in this book, his words are here transcribed from a tape recording. Further information about 'Neil' 's military career is contained in Hall's We Can't Even March Straight, p. I29ff. 2 1 . Kevin Elyot, Coming Clean, Faber, 1984, p. 12. The play, which won the 1 9 8 2 Samuel Beckett Award, was first produced at the Bush Theatre, London, in November 1 9 8 2 . 2 2 . Peter York, 'Machomania', Harpers and Queen, February 1 9 7 9 . The article is reprinted in York's book Style Wars, Sidgwick & Jackson, 1 9 8 0 , p. 1531F. 2 3 . 'Gorgie', quoted in Bodies of Evidence: Stories about Living with HIV, Camerawork/The Photo Co-Op, 1 9 8 9 , unpaginated. 2 4 . Alan Hollinghurst, The Swimming-Pool Library, p. 3. 2 5 . 'Brad', interview with the author, 3 0 June 1 9 9 5 . 2 6 . Paul Cons, interview with Granada Television, 1 9 9 5 . 2 7 . 'Gorgie', quoted in Bodies of Evidence. 2 8 . Anonymous, quoted in Bodies of Evidence. 2 9 . Entries from the diary of the author, May 1 9 9 3 .

NOTES

AND

SOURCES

289

30. Safer Sex for Gay Men, leaflet produced by the Terrence Higgins Trust,
1991.

Forty-year-old man, interviewed by the author, 2 3 May 1 9 9 4 . 'Edward', as Note 6. Clare Tomalin, Independent on Sunday, I April 1 9 9 0 . Independent magazine, 2 5 November 1 9 9 5 . 'Tim', interview with the Albert Kennedy Trust, 1 9 9 1 . Gay Times, June 1 9 8 9 . Sue Sanders, quoted in the Pink Paper, 2 4 May 1 9 9 6 . Peter Tatchell, quoted in the Independent on Sunday, 11 December 1 9 9 4 . Ibid. Edmund Hall, interview with the author, 8 October 1 9 9 5 . Additional information provided to the author by Will Parry. 4 1 . Independent on Sunday, 2 1 January 1 9 9 6 . 4 2 . Ibid., 2 1 April 1 9 9 6 . 4 3 . Oscar Moore, A Matter of Life and Sex, p. 3 1 0 . 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.

Bibliography

This is no more than a check-list of those books to which I have had most frequent recourse, and to which reference is made in the Notes. The publication details are, in general, first editions. Where these are now difficult to obtain and more recent and/or revised editions generally available, the latter, too, have been listed. Except where otherwise stated, place of publication is London.

Acton, Harold: Memoirs of an Aesthete, Methuen, 1 9 4 8 ; Hamish Hamilton,


1984

Blow, Simon: Broken Blood: The Rise and Fall of the Tennant Family, Faber and Faber, 1 9 8 7 Boyle, Andrew: The Climate of Treason, revised edition, Coronet, 1 9 8 0 Buckle, Richard (d.): Self-Portrait with Friends: The Selected Diaries of Cecil Beaton, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1 9 7 9 Carpenter, Humphrey: The Brideshead Generation: Evelyn Waugh & His Friends, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1 9 8 5 Castle, Charles: Nol, W. H. Allen, 1 9 7 1 Connolly, Cyril: The Missing Diplomats, Queen Anne Press, 1 9 5 2 Connon, Bryan: Beverley Nichols: A Life, Constable, 1 9 9 1 Crisp, Quentin: The Naked Civil Servant, Fontana, 1 9 7 7 Danziger, James: Beaton, Seeker & Warburg, 1 9 8 0 Davenport-Hines, Richard: Sex, Death and Punishment, Collins, 1 9 9 0 David, Hugh: The Fitzrovians, Michael Joseph, 1 9 8 8 Davidson, Michael: The World, the Flesh and Myself, Arthur Barker, 1 9 6 2 , G M P Publishers, 1 9 8 5 Davies, Russell (ed.):77ie Kenneth Williams Diaries, HarperCollins, 1 9 9 3 - The Kenneth Williams Letters, HarperCollins, 1 9 9 4 Delany, Paul: The Neo-Pagans, Macmillan, 1 9 8 7
291

292

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Driberg, Tom: Guy Burgess: A Portrait with Background, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1 9 5 6 - Ruling Passions, Jonathan Cape, 1 9 7 7 Ellmann, Richard: Oscar Wilde, Hamish Hamilton, 1 9 8 7 Fido, Martin: Oscar Wilde, Hamlyn, 1 9 7 3 Forster, E. M.: Maurice, Edward Arnold, 1 9 7 1 Galloway, Bruce (ed.): Prejudice and Pride: Discrimination Against Gay People in Modern Britain, Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1 9 8 3 Garfield, Simon: The End of Innocence: Britain in the Time of Aids, Faber and Faber, 1 9 9 4 Gardiner, James: A Class Apart: The Private Pictures of Montague Glover, Serpent's Tail, 1 9 9 2 Gide Andr: Oscar Wilde, Mercure de France, Paris, 1 9 2 5 Grey, Antony: Quest for Justice: Towards Homosexual Emancipation, Sinclair-Stevenson, 1 9 9 2 Hall, Edmund: We Can't Even March Straight: Homosexuality in the British Armed Forces, Vintage, 1 9 9 5 Hillier, Bevis: Young Betjeman, John Murray, 1 9 8 8 Higgins, Patrick (d.): A Queer Reader, Fourth Estate, 1 9 9 3 Hoare, Philip: Nol Coward: A Biography, Sinclair-Stevenson, 1 9 9 5 Hollinghurst, Alan: The Swimming-Pool Library, Chatto & Windus,
1988

Hyde, H. Montgomery: Cases That Changed the Law, Heinemann, 1 9 5 1 - The Cleveland Street Scandal, W. H. Allen, 1 9 7 6 - The Trials of Oscar Wilde, Hodge, 1 9 4 8 Isherwood, Christopher: Christopher and His Kind, Eyre Methuen, 1 9 7 7 Johnson, Adam: The Playground Bell, Carcanet Press, Manchester, 1 9 9 4 King, Francis: A Domestic Animal, Longman, 1 9 7 0 Kirkup, James: A Poet Could Not But Be Gay, Peter Owen, 1 9 9 1 Lahr, John (ed.): The Orton Diaries, Methuen, 1 9 8 6 Lehmann, John: In the Purely Pagan Sense, Blond & Briggs, 1 9 7 6 ; G M P Publishers, 1 9 8 5 Leavitt, David: The Lost Language of Cranes, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York; Viking, 1 9 8 7 Lesley, Cole: The Life of Nol Coward, Jonathan Cape, 1 9 7 6 Levin, Bernard: The Pendulum Years: Britain and the Sixties, Jonathan Cape,
1970

Moore, Oscar: A Matter of Life and Sex, Penguin, 1 9 9 2 Parker, Peter: Ackerley: A Life of J . R. Ackerley, Constable, 1 9 8 9 Pearson, John: The Profession of Violence: The Rise and Fall of the Kray second edition, Granada, 1 9 7 2

Twins,

BIBLIOGRAPHY

293

Penrose, Barrie, and Freeman, Simon: Conspiracy of Silence: The Secret Life of Anthony Blunt, Grafton, 1 9 8 6 ; revised edition, 1 9 8 7 Pickles: Queens, Quartet, 1984; Penguin, 1 9 9 5 Porter, Kevin, and Weeks, Jeffrey (eds.): Between the Acts: Lives of Homosexual Men, 1885-1967, Routledge, 1 9 9 1 Sinfield, Alan: The Wilde Century: Effeminacy, Oscar Wilde and the Queer Movement, Cassell, 1 9 9 4 Spencer, Colin: Homosexuality, Fourth Estate, 1 9 9 5 Spender, Stephen: The Temple, Faber, 1 9 8 8 - World Within World, Faber, 1 9 5 1 ; 1 9 7 7 Tatchell, Peter: We Don't Want to March Straight: Masculinity, Queers and the Military., Cassell, 1 9 9 5 Vickers, Hugo: Cecil Beaton, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1 9 8 5 Wheen, Francis: Tom Driberg: His Life and Indiscretions, Chatto & Windus,
1990

Wildeblood, Peter: Against the Law, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1 9 5 5 - A Way of Life, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1 9 5 6 Winn, Godfrey: The Infirm Glory, Michael Joseph, 1 9 6 7

Index

Abbotsholme school 50 Abse, Leo 2 1 8 , 220, 2 2 1 , 2 2 2 Ackerley, J. R. 43, 1 3 5 , 165, 198 Acton, Harold, and Actonites 80, 8 1 , 101, 102, 107 Adam's Breed (Radclyffe-Hall) 29 Aesthetic Movement 1 0 - 1 3 , 24, 2 6 - 7 , 45, 74, 79 neo-Aesthetes 76, 101 Against the Law (Wildeblood) 1 7 1 - 2 , 190 A I D S and HIV xi, 42, 44, 92, 2 3 1 , 2 5 5 - 6 3 , 2 6 7 - 8 , 269 AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (Act-Up) 2 6 4 - 5 Albany Trust 1 9 2 - 3 , 1 9 5 - 6 , 2 0 9 - 1 0 , 216, 226, 227 Albert Victor, Prince 1 5 - 1 6 Almost Free Theatre 234 Anderton, James 2 6 1 - 2 Annan, N. G. 189 Another Kind of Loving (Rowley) 198 Any Questions? (radio) 198 Aphrodite (Louys) 910 Aquarium (Acton) 81 Architect's Journal 85 Are You Being Served (TV) 9 1 - 2 , 158 Aren't We All? (Lonsdale) 85 Arlen, Atalanta 75 Arlen, Michael (Dikran Kouyoumdjian) 74, 75, 85, 8 8 - 9 , 90, 99 Army and other services 5 3 - 6 7 , 7 3 , 1 4 1 - 5 0 , 2 5 0 - 1 , 265 Arnold, Matthew 1 1 3

Arran, 'Boofy', 8th Earl, and Arran Bill 2 1 3 - 1 4 , 2 1 7 , 221 Ashton, Teddy 129 Asquith, H. H. 82 Attlee, Clement 189, 190 Auden, W. H. life and writing 3 3 , 80, 99, 1 0 2 - 3 , 1 1 2 - 1 3 , 120, I 2 I - 2 , 1 3 3 sexuality 5, 4 3 , 5 3 , 1 0 1 , 105, 1 0 9 - 1 2 , 120, 1 3 5 aversion therapy 1 8 1 - 7 , 193 Ayer, A. J. 189 Ayerst, David 1 0 5 , n o

Back, Barbara 87 Baddeley, Hermione 93 Badley, J. H. 50 Bailey, Paul 1 5 7 , 1 5 8 Baldwin, Stanley, Earl 99, 100 Bankhead, Tallulah 86 B B C shows 9 1 - 2 , 1 5 8 , 1 9 8 - 9 , 2 3 1 , 262, 2 6 8 - 9 , 270 Beardmore, George 1 5 1 Beardsley, Aubrey 9, 10 Beatles 2 0 1 , 208, 2 1 6 Beaton, Sir Cecil 74, 76, 7 7 - 8 , 9 4 - 5 , 96, 1 1 3 - 1 4 , 2 0 8 - 9 Beaton's Book of Beauty 94 The Beautiful Room is Empty (White) 256 Bedales school 50 Beerbohm Sir Max 33 Beerbohm Tree, Sir Herbert 1 1 295

296

INDEX Buchanan, Jack 74, 7 5 , 83 Budberg, Baroness 87 Burgess, Anthony 40 Burgess, Guy 6, 1 1 4 , 1 1 6 - 2 1 , 1 2 2 , 1 3 0 , 159, 163, 166, 190 Burnand, Sir Francis 1 1 Buzz-Buzz (Chariot) 65 Byng, Douglas 84

Belcher, Muriel 1 2 9 - 3 0 Bell, Julian 1 1 6 Bentley, Derek 163 Bergler, Edmund 180 Berkeley, Humphrey 2 1 7 , 2 1 8 , 2 2 1 Berlin, Isaiah 189 'Bernard' 9 7 - 8 Berners, Gerald Tyrwhitt, Lord 74, 7 5 , 76, 7 7 - 8 , 84, 87, 93, 96 Best, Pete 208 Betjeman, Sir John 9, 3 1 - 2 , 80, 1 0 1 , 1 0 2 - 3 , 105 Between the Acts (Porter & Weeks) x, 49, 58 Beyond our Ken (radio) 199, 200 A Bigger Splash (Hockney) 245 Birkenhead, Lady 87 Birmingham, Leonard 189 Bismarck, Yorck and Mme 78 'Black Books' 2 8 - 9 , 166, 1 7 2 Black Horse pub (London) 165 Blackett, Leonard 129 Blunt, Anthony 1 1 4 - 1 7 , 120, i l l , 122 Bobbie's club (London) 165 Body Positive 259 Le Boeuf sur le Toit club (London) 129-30 Bogarde, Sir Dirk 1 5 5 , 1 5 6 Bolton's pub (London) 2 3 5 Boothby, Robert, Baron 189, 204-6 Bowra, C. M. 189 Boy George 2 5 5 Boyle, Andrew 1 1 7 , 1 1 9 A Boy's Own Story (White) 255 The Boys in the Band (Crowley) 2 3 2 - 3 , 238, 253 Brabazon of Tara, Lord 195 'Brad' 2 5 5 Bricklayers' Arms (London) 165 Brideshead Revisited (Waugh) 8 0 - 1 'Brideshead Generation' 80, 1 0 1 , 102 Broad, C. D. 189 Broadcasting Standards Council 270 Brooke, Rupert 5 1 , 54 Brookfield, Charles 14 Brown, George 221

Cagney, James 96 Calder, Angus 1 4 6 - 7 Calthrop, Gladys 8 8 - 9 Cambridge University, 52, 7 9 - 8 0 , 1 1 3 - 1 9 , 161 Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE) 2 1 6 , 2 2 6 - 7 , 2 2 8 - 9 Caravan Club (London) 129 Careless Stork Club (London) 129 Carpenter, Edward 4 8 - 5 1 , 70, 7 3 , 268 Carpenter, Humphrey 1 1 0 Carr, Robert 2 3 1 Carson, Sir Edward 8, 173 Cash, Dave 2 2 2 Cashman, Michael 262 Casde, Barbara 1 0 3 , 2 1 7 , 2 2 0 - 1 Cavalcade (Coward) 95 Cavour bar (London) 129 Cazalet, Victor 87 'Cecil' 146 Cecil, David 189 Chamberlain, Neville 140 Channon, Henry 'Chips' 1 5 1 Chariot, Andr 65, 8 3 - 4 Chatterway, Christopher 2 1 7 Cherwell (magazine) 106 child abuse 42 Christopher and His Kind (Isherwood) 134, 1 3 5 Chu Chin Chow (musical) 65 Church of England 265 Church of England Newspaper 85 Churchill, Sir Winston 85, 100, 1 5 1 Civilization, Its Cause and Cure (Carpenter) 50 'Clara' 144 Clarke, Sir Edward 19 'Cleveland Street Scandal' 1 5 - 1 6 , 25

INDEX The Climate of Treason (Boyle) 1 1 7 clubs and pubs to W W 2 65, 7 3 , 1 2 7 - 8 , 1 2 9 - 3 0 , 139 post-war 9 2 - 3 , 165, 2 3 5 , 2 3 7 , 245, 268 Cochran, Sir C. B. 83 Cochran's lgjo Revue 8 3 - 4 Cole, G. D. H., and 'Cole group' 1 0 4 - 5 Colefax, Lady 87, 1 3 4 Coleherne pub (London) 2 3 5 , 2 3 7 , 240 Collins, Canon John 189, 190 The Colonel (Burnand) I I Colony Club (London) 130 Comfort, Alex 189 Coming Clean (play) 253 Communism and Socialism: Oxbridge 102-3, 115, 116-23 Conan Doyle see Doyle Concerning the Eccentricities of Cardinal Pirelli (Firbank) 79 Connolly, Cyril 1 0 1 , 1 1 6 , 1 1 7 , 1 2 2 Connon, Bryan 65, 85, 88 Cons, Paul 2 5 5 - 6 , 268 The Conspiracy of Silence (Penrose and Freeman) 1 1 7 Cooper, Gladys 89 Corey, Mabel 86 Cornford, John 1 1 7 Cory don (Gide) 1 3 2 The Counterfeit Sex (Bergler) 180 Coward, Sir Nol 8 3 - 4 , 85, 8 8 - 9 , 9 0 - 1 , 92, 9 5 - 6 , 98 plays 74, 7 5 - 6 , 85, 88, 90, 9 5 - 6 , 233-4 Crisp, Quentin 1 3 0 , 1 4 2 , 1 4 7 , 1 5 1 , 1 5 2 - 3 , 154, 159, 2 4 1 , 269 Criterion (magazine) 109 Croft-Cooke, Rupert 163 Crossman, Richard 103, 220 Crowley, Mart 2 3 2 - 3 Cunnard, Lady Emerald 84, 89 Currie, Edwina 256

297

Daily Telegraph 24, 1 8 8 - 9 Daily Worker 106 The Dales (radio) 2 3 1 Dance, James 220 'David' 1 4 5 , 149 Davidson, Michael 3 2 - 3 , 40, 57, 6 1 - 2 , 65, 6 6 - 7 0 , 1 2 8 - 9 , 1 6 8 - 9 , 1 7 2 Davis, Bette 93 Day-Lewis, Cecil 102, 1 1 0 , 189 De Profundis (Wilde) 6, 2 3 - 4 , 198 The Decline of the West (Spengler) 99 Degenerate Oxford 1 3 2 Denning, Baron Alfred 203 d'Erlanger, Catherine 86 The Destructive Element (Spender) 1 3 6 Dexter, John 234 Dickens, Geoffrey 262 Die Traumdeutung (Freud) 29 Dietrich, Marlene 90 Disraeli, Benjamin, Earl of Beaconsfield 16 A Domestic Animal (King) 2 4 3 - 4 Douglas, Lord Alfred ('Bosie') ix, 4, 7, 14, 2 3 - 4 , 3 1 - 2 , 42, 72 Douglas-Home, Sir Alec 203, 204, 205 The Downing Street Years (Thatcher) 256 Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan 38 Drake, Peter 1 7 4 Driberg, Tom 43, 1 0 4 - 9 , 1 1 7 , 1 1 9 , 1 2 0 , 165, 2 0 5 - 6 , 207, 208 de Maurier, George 10, 1 2 Dyer, Chris 2 3 2 Dyson, A. E. 189, 192

Daily Daily Daily Daily

Express 106, 174 Mail 85, 170, 262 Minor 83, 204, 205 Sketch 2 3 1

Earthly Powers (Burgess) 40 Eastenders (TV) 262, 2 6 8 - 9 , 270 Eliot, T. S. 109 Ellmann, Richard 10, 27 E. M. Forster (Furbank) 42 Encounter (magazine) 198 England's Ideal (Carpenter) 50 English, Arthur 1 5 5 Entertaining Mr Shane (Willes) 250 Epstein, Brian 208 Esquire Clubs 227 Essays (Macaulay) 26 European Court of Human Rights 265

298 Euston, Earl of, Henry Fitzroy 50 Evans, Timothy 163 Evening Standard 25, 178 Everett, Kenny 2 2 2 Exeter University 2 3 6 - 7 Exon, Robert 189

INDEX Gay Pride rallies 2 2 5 - 6 , 2 3 7 , 240, 247, 2 5 6 - 7 , 264 Gay Sweatshop theatre company 234 Gay's the Word (Novello) 74 Gaytime TV 268 General Strike (1926) 99, 100, 1 0 2 - 3 , 105 Gentlewoman (magazine) 85 'Gorgie' 254, 2 5 5 - 6 'Gerald' 60, 62, 64, 71 3 Germany: pre-WW2 1 1 2 , 1 3 3 - 4 Gide, Andr 6, 1 3 2 Gielgud, Sir John 74, 87, 90, 1 6 3 , 178 Gilbert, Sir W. S. 1 1 - 1 2 , 25, 269 Gingold, Hermione 2 5 1 Ginsberg, Allen 208 Gloeden, Baron von 42 Glyn, Elinor 85 Goon Show (radio) 1 9 8 - 9 Gordon Walker, Patrick 103 Gosse, Edmund 27 Gower, Lord Ronald 27 Grayson, Larry 92, 158 Green, Janet 1 5 5 The Green Hat (Arlen) 7 5 , 88, 89 Greenwood, Anthony 103 Grey, Antony activist 1 7 9 , 180, 1 8 9 - 9 2 passim, 195, 201, 2 1 8 , 2 2 1 , 2 2 7 - 8 books xi, 196, 2 1 3 , 2 2 2 Grimond, Jo 2 1 7 Guardian 270 Guevara, Che 226 Guy Burgess: A Portrait with Background (Driberg) 1 1 7

Faber, Geoffrey 189 Fairbairn, Sir Nicholas 261 Fashanu, Justin 6 Fellowship of the N e w Life 49 Festival Club (London) 129 Field, William 163 Firbank, Ronald 7 9 - 8 0 First World War 5 3 - 6 6 , 73 Fisher, Stanley i n Fitzroy, Henry, Earl of Euston 15 Fitzroy Tavern (London) 129 Fontanne, Lynn 87 Forster, E. M. life 42, 4 4 - 5 . 5 , 1 3 1 , 1 3 2 , 165 sexuality 43, 48, 70, 1 2 1 , 267 novels 36, 39, 4 6 - 7 , see also Maurice Forsyth, Bruce 200 'Francis' 2 1 6 1 7 'Fred' 5 8 - 9 , 6 0 - 1 , 149 Freeman, Simon 1 1 7 Freud, Sigmund 29, 30, 39, 47 Furbank, P. N. 42 Fyfe, Sir David Maxwell 1 6 3 - 5 , 1 7 1 , 177

Gaitskell, Baroness 2 1 3 Gaitskell, Hugh 1 0 1 , 102, 1 0 4 - 5 Galbraith, Thomas 197 A Garland of Ladslove (Nicholson) 43 Garland, Judy 9 3 , 2 2 3 - 5 Gautier, Thophile 10 Gay Liberation Front (GLF) 2 2 7 - 9 , 231, 235, 237, 239-40 gay liberation movement 1423, 160, 1 8 3 - 9 3 , 1 9 5 - 6 , 201, 209-10, 222-40, 2 4 5 - 7 Gay Men Fighting Aids (GMFA) 259 Gay News (magazine) 2 3 5 , 2 3 7 , 2 4 5 - 7 , 249, 2 5 2

Haggard, Sir Henry Rider 50 Hair (muscial) 2 3 1 Hall, Sir Peter 234 Hallidie Smith, Rev Andrew 196, 209 Halliwell, Kenneth 2 1 1 - 1 2 , 2 3 4 , 2 4 9 Hamilton, Patrick 1 2 8 , 1 7 5 6 The Happy Prince and Other Tales (Wilde) 13 Harris, Frank 6, 8, 14, 47 Hart-Davies, Rupert 198 Hartley, L. P. 7

INDEX Harvey, Ian 1 7 9 - 8 0 , 245 Hauser, Richard 198, 199 Hawkes, Jacquetta 189, 1 9 1 , 192 Haxton, Gerald 7 7 Heber-Percy, Robert 87 Heidegger, Martin 1 5 8 Hemingway, Ernest 47 Hemlock and After (Wilson) 160 Hewit, Jack 120, 1 2 1 - 2 , 129, 1 3 0 Hickey, William 106 Hillier, Bevis 31 Himmler, Heinrich 133 Hitler, Adolf 133 HIV see A I D S and H I V Hockney, David 238, 245 Hillinghurst, Alan 255 Home, Lord see Douglas-Home Homosexual Acts (play) 234 Homosexual Law Reform Society (HLRS) 1 9 1 - 3 , 1 9 5 - 6 , 2 0 1 , 2 0 9 - 1 0 , 2 1 8 , 226, 266 homosexuality common and legal terms for xi, 4, 1 7 , 26, 27, 40, 74, 93, 1 3 2 , 222, 262 class aspects Victorian 1 4 - 1 6 , 2 2 , 27, 43 to 1st W W and after 2 8 - 3 0 , 4 2 - 8 , 5 8 - 6 1 , 70, 76 2nd W W and after 1 4 5 - 6 , 1 7 1 - 2 , 1 8 9 - 9 0 , 192, 195, 2 0 7 - 7 legal aspects; police see law and politics media interest see media and pederasty 3 2 - 3 , 3 9 - 4 2 , 50, 6 9 - 7 0 , 159 public perceptions Victorian 5 - 6 , 8, 1 0 - 1 5 , 2 2 - 3 , 27 1st to 2nd W W 2 9 - 3 2 , 62, 8 9 - 9 1 , 96-7, 112, 130-2, 1 3 5 - 6 post-war 9 2 - 3 , 1 5 5 - 7 , 1 7 4 - 8 1 , 2 3 1 - 2 , 236, 267 AIDS 262-4 pressure groups and gay liberation 1 4 2 - 3 , 160, 1 8 9 - 9 3 , I 9 5 6 , 2 0 1 , 209-10, 222-40, 2 4 5 - 7 therapy 1 8 1 - 7 , 193 types and numbers of homosexuals ix-x, 198 use of condoms 259, 260
_

299

Homosexuality 156 The Homosexual Society (Hauser) 198 Housman, A. E. 3 3 - 5 , 40, 42, 6 8 - 9 , 7 1 , 270 Howard, Brian 8 0 - 1 , 101 Howard, Reiss 1 9 1 Howard's End (Forster) 47 Huddleston, Trevor 189 Hudson, Rock 6 Hughes, David 1 5 5 Huxley, Sir Julian 189, 190 Hyde, H. Montgomery 14 Hyndman, Tony 1 3 5 , 1 3 6 - 8 Hypocrites' Club 101

/ Fight to Live (Boothby) 205 An Ideal Husband (Wilde) 1 3 , 14 LTmmoraliste (Gide) 1 3 2 Imperialist (magazine) 2 8 - 9 The Importance of Being Earnest (Wilde) 6, 1 3 , H, 234 In the Purely Pagan Sense (Lehmann) 148 Institut fur Sexual- Wissenschaft 1 1 2 The Intermediate Sex (Carpenter) 50, 51 Isherwood, Christopher life and sexuality 43, i n , 1 1 2 , 1 2 1 , 1 2 3 , 1 3 3 - 4 , 136, 249 books 3 3 , i n , 1 3 4 , 1 3 5 , 2 4 2 - 3 Isis (magazine) 82 Ivanov, Yevgeny 202

Jackson, Holbrook 68 Jackson, Moses 33 Jagger, Mick 2 0 8 - 9 James, Henry 1 3 5 , 1 3 6 Jarman, Derek 245 Jarrow Hunger March (1934) 120 'Jazz Age' 7 4 - 7 Jeger, Lena 2 2 1 , 2 2 2 Jenkins, Roy, Lord 1 9 2 , 195, 220, 2 2 1 Jenny Lives with Eric and Martin (children's book) 263 'John' 1 3 6 , 1 3 7 , 200 Johnson, Adam 253 Jones, Brian 209

300 Journey's End (SherrifF) 5 4 - 7 Jowitt, William, Earl 156

INDEX Wolfenden report and pressure groups 1 7 7 - 8 0 , 188-93, 1 9 5 - 6 , 201, 2 0 9 - 1 0 , 2 1 3 , 2 1 6 , see also gay liberation movement Profumo affair 2 0 1 - 3 Boothby, Driberg and Kray 2047 Arran Bill and 1967 Sexual Offences Act 1 3 8 , 2 1 3 - 1 4 , 2 1 6 - 2 3 , 265 A I D S and Clause 28, 2 6 1 - 2 , 2 6 3 - 5 , 267 age of consent 2 6 5 - 7 Lawrence, D. H. 37, 45, 4 7 - 8 , 51 Lawrence, Gertrude 90 Lawrence, T. E. 94 Layard, John 1 1 2 Lees, Jimmy 1 1 9 - 20 Lehmann, John 1 3 4 , 146, 1 4 7 - 9 , 9 8 Lemon, Denis 246 Lennon, John 208 Lesley, Cole 95 Levin, Bernard 2 0 2 - 3 , 204 Liberace 92
!

Kant, Immanuel 10 Keeler, Christine 202 Keynes, John Maynard 1 3 1 King, Francis 2 4 3 - 4 , 249 King-Hall, Cdr Stephen 90 Kirkup, James 1 5 7 , 1 8 0 - 1 , 246 Kit Kat Club 1 3 4 Klugman, James 1 1 7 Knox, Collie 76 Koestler, Arthur 69 Korda, Sir Alexander 87 Kray, Ronnie 2 0 4 - 5 , 2 0 6 - 8

La Rue, Danny 92 Labouchre, Henry 1 7 - 1 8 , 1 7 2 Lady Chatterley's Louer (Lawrence) 37, 45 Lady Windermere's Fan (Wilde) 13 Lady's World (magazine) 245 Lagden, Godfrey 195 Laing, R. D. 1 8 1 , 1 8 5 - 7 Landsberg, A. C. 80 Lane, John 14 Langtry, Lillee 65 Larkin, Philip 201 Last Exit to Brooklyn (Selby) 242 Last Poems (Housman) 3 3 , 689, 71 The Last of Mrs Cheyney (Lonsdale) 85 Lathom, Ned, 5th Earl 7 4 - 6 , 83, 89, 93, 94, 95, 160 law and politics Wilde trials 3 - 1 0 , 1 4 - 2 5 , 196 Criminal Law Amendment Act (1886) and 'Blackmailer's Charter' 1 7 - 1 8 , 22, 3 2 , 1 7 2 , 1 7 7 indictable sexual offences ( 1 9 0 0 - 6 3 ) 130, 1 5 3 - 5 , 1 5 6 , 164, 195 Well of Loneliness trial 1 3 2 Criminal Justice Bill (1948) 1 5 5 police harassment (19502-60S) 1 3 0 , 1 5 6 - 8 , 1 6 3 - 6 , 181 Gielgud trial 1 7 8 Montagu trial 1 6 7 - 7 5 Harvey case 1 7 9 - 8 0

Lions and Shadows (Isherwood) i n A Uttle Bit of Fluff (farce) 65 Littlewood, Joan 206 The Living End (film) 270 Llewelyn-Davies, Lady see Parry Lloyd George of Dwyfor, David, Earl 70 Lloyd, Lady 1 8 8 - 9 , 1 9 Lockwood, Sir Frank 19, 20 London Victorian 1 0 - 1 3 , 67 1st W W and after 6 3 - 8 , 7 7 - 8 , 8 3 - 9 , 128-9, 1 3 8 - 9 2nd W W and after 64, 1 2 7 - 8 , 1 2 9 - 3 0 , 140, 1 4 6 - 8 , 1 5 1 - 2 police harrassment see law gay rights marches 2 2 5 - 6 1980S-90S ix, 9 2 - 3 , 2 5 3 - 5 , 5 9 , 268 see also clubs and pubs; theatre London Lighthouse A I D S hospice 259 Longford, Earl of 2 1 3 The Longest Journey (Forster) 36 Longtime Companion (film) 258 Lonsdale, Frederick 85 The Loom of Youth (Waugh) 36, 46 Loot (Orton) 2 1 4 Louys, Pierre 9
2

INDEX Love's Coming of Age (Carpenter) 50, 51 Lunt, Alfred 87 Lymington Lord and Lady 86 Lynn, Olga 87

301

Vassall affair 1 9 7 - 8 , 2 0 0 - 1 Boothby and Kray 2 0 4 - 5 gay liberation ix, 2 3 1 , 2 3 7 , 267, 268, 270 A I D S 2 6 1 - 2 , 263, 265, 270 Melba, Dame Nellie 85, 86 Mellors, Bob 2 2 7 - 8 Macaulay, Thomas Babington, Baron 26 Memoirs of an Aesthete (Acton) 81 McCartney, Paul 208 Mendelson, Edward 1 1 3 McCormick, John 1 5 5 Mercury, Freddie 92, 254, 262 MacDonald, Ramsay 99 Merrill, George 48, 49, 50, 51 McKellen, Sir Ian 6 Messel, Oliver 76, 78, 84 Macklin, Ernest 21 Maclean, Donald 1 1 4 - 1 5 , 1 1 7 , 163, 166, The Milkman's on his Way (Rees) 245 Milhgan, Spike 1 9 8 - 9 190 Minnelli, Liza 223 Macmillan, Harold: Earl of Stockton 2 0 1 , Miranda, Carmen 93 202, 2 0 3 - 4 , 205 The Missing Diplomats (Connolly) 1 1 7 Macmillan, Lady Dorothy 204 Mitchison, Naomi 1 5 1 McNally, Eddie 1 6 9 - 7 0 , 1 7 2 Molyneux, Edward 30, 74, 76 McQueen, Steve 253 Monroe, Marilyn 93 Malcolm, Lady 2 1 1 Montagu of Beaulieu, Edward, Lord, and Manchester 2 3 5 , 236, 268 Margaret, Princess 90, 1 5 1 Marquis of Granby pub (London) 165, 'Montagu trial' 6, 1 6 7 - 7 6 , 210 Montgomery, Bernard, FM Viscount 214 Moore, Oscar 258, 2 6 9 - 7 0 More Tales of the City (Maupin) 252 Morecombe, Eric 91 Morning Post 85 Morrell, Lady Ottoline 134, 1 3 5 Morris, William 49 Mostyn, Anita 65 Mount Temple, Lord and Lady 86 Mousehole coffee bar (London) 165 Music Box (London) 1 2 9 , 1 3 9 My Days and Dreams (Carpenter) 50 My Yesterday, Your Tomorrow (Boothby) 205

235. 237 Married Love (Stopes) 29 Mason, Charles 2 1 , 26 Mass Observation Project x A Matter of Life and Sex (Moore) 258, 269-70 Maugham, Robin 1689 Maugham, Somerset 7 6 - 7 , 85, 8 9 - 9 0 , 168 Maupin, Armistead 252 Maurice (Forster) 25, 3 3 , 3 5 - 9 , 4 0 - 2 , 4 4 - 8 , 52, 5 3 , 58, 62, 120, 1 8 1 - 7 passim Mavor, Sidney 201, 22 Maxwell Fyfe, Sir David 1 6 3 - 5 , 1 7 1 , 177 Mayers, Dolly 1 2 9 - 3 0 media interest Wilde trials 2 4 - 5 , 42 inter-war years 85, 91 post-war Montagu trial 1 7 3 , 1 7 5 Wolfenden report 1 8 8 - 9 0 T V and radio 9 1 - 2 , 1 4 3 , 1 9 8 - 9 , 2 1 4 - 1 5 , 2 3 1 , 250

The Naked Civil Servant (Crisp) 1 5 2 , 2 4 1 , 269 National Theatre 234 Navy see Army and other services 'Neil' 1 4 2 , 1 4 5 - 6 , 2 5 0 - 2 New Statesman 1 9 6 , 2 1 0 - 1 1 New York Evening Post 83 Newman, Paul 253

302

INDEX Patchwork (Nichols) 83 Pater, Walter 10 Patience (Gilbert) 1 1 - 1 2 , 27 Pearson, Hesketh 27 Pearson, John 2 0 6 - 7 Pemberton-Billing, Nol 2 8 - 9 , 44 Penrose, Barrie 1 1 7 'Phil' 7 1 - 3 Philadelphia (film) 258 Pickup, Ronald 234 The Picture of Dorian Gray (Wilde) 6, 1 31 Pigott, Judge Thomas 264 Pimlott, Prof Ben 104, 202 Pink Narcissus (film) 245 Pink Paper ix, 270 Pitt Club 1 1 9 Pitt-Rivers, Michael 167, 1 6 9 - 7 4 passi 210 Plomer, William 1 3 5 The Plough (London) 129 Poems (Wilde) 13 politics see law and politics Porter, Kevin x, 58, 200 Portrait of a Marriage (Nicolson) 30 Powell, Anthony 80, 101 Prancing Nigger (Firbank) 79 Prelude (Nichols) 83 Priestley, J. B. 90, 1 2 8 , 189, 192 Profumo, John 1 8 0 , 2 0 1 - 2 psychiatry 1 8 1 - 7 , 193 The Psychopathology of Everyday Life (Freud) 29 pubs see clubs and pubs Punch (magazine) 10, II, 1 2 , 27 Pygmalion (Shaw) 38

News of the World 24 Niblett, W. R. 189 'Nicholas' 1 6 1 , 166, 1 8 1 - 5 , 1 9 3 - 5 . 222, 235, 2 3 7 Nichols, Beverley life and society 70, 74, 7 5 , 76, 80, 8 2 - 8 , 90, 134, 142 sexuality 3 1 , 3 2 , 43, 65, 68, 79, 88, 94, 96 writing 8 2 - 3 , 93, 99 Nicholson, John Gambril 43 Nicolson, Harold 2 9 - 3 0 , 3 2 , 74 Nicolson, Nigel 30 Nighthawks (film) 245 'Norman' 5 1 , 5 9 - 6 0 North-Western Homosexual Law Reform Society ( N W H L R C ) 226-7 Nott-Bower, Sir John 1 6 5 , 166 Novello, Ivor 74, 7 5 , 76, 83, 84, 85, 1 5 2

Observer 1 5 1 - 2 October Club 103 Oh, What a Lovely War (musical) 6 2 - 3 Olivier, Laurence, Baron 54 On Approval (Lonsdale) 85 Organization for Lesbian and Gay Action (OLGA) 264 Orton, Joe 92, 1 6 1 - 3 , 2 1 1 - 1 2 , 2 1 4 - 1 6 , 234, 2 4 9 - 5 0 Orwell, Goerge 3 3 , 99 Out This Week (TV) 268 Outlook (magazine) 83 Outrage! 1 9 3 , 264 5, 266 Owen, Wilfred 57 Oxford University 10, 79, 8 0 - 3 , 101-13, 114

Paddick, Hugh 199, 200 Pall Mall Gazette 16 Pallenberg, Anita 209 Parker, Charles 1 8 , 1 9 - 2 2 passim, 42, 43 Parry, Patricia (Lady Llewelyn-Davies) 1 1 4 - 1 5 , 121 Parry, Will 266 A Passage to India (Forster) 36, 39

Queen's Head pub (London) 235 Queensberry, 8th Marquess of 4 - 5 , 6 8, 14, 267 Quest for Justice (Grey) 196, 222

Radclyffe-Hall, Marguerite 29, 1 3 2 Ramsey, Archbishop Michael 2 1 3 Rank Outsiders 143 Rattigan, Terence 85

INDEX Raven, Simon 198 Raverat, Jacques 1 3 1 Rawlinson, Peter, Lord 173 Reddie, Cecil 50, 51 Rees, David 245 Rees, Goronwy 1 1 7 Rembrandt pub (Manchester) 235 Reynolds, John 169, 170, 1 7 2 Reynold's News 24 Rice, Tim 254 'Richard' 1 5 8 - 9 , 1 6 6 - 7 , 192. 200, 2 1 0 , 2 1 4 , 2 2 9 - 3 0 , 2 3 4 - 5 , 249 Richard, Keith 209 Ridgely, Mary 86 Ridley, Nicholas 2 1 7 Riefenstahl, Leni 1 1 2 The Road to Wigan Pier (Orwell) 99 Roads to Freedom (Sartre) 158 Robinson, Kenneth 195 Robinson, Tom 256 Rockingham Club (London) 165 Roehm, Ernst 133 Roll, Eric 221 Rolling Stones 2 0 8 - 9 Rolph, C. H. 196 Romeo and Juliet (ballet) 263 Romilly Club (London) 130 A Room with a View (Forster) 36, 46 Ross, Robbie 27 Rothschild, Victor 1 1 9 Round the Home (radio) 9 1 , 1 5 8 , 199 Rowley, Anthony 198 Rowse, A. L. n o 'Roy' 66, 70 1 , 1 4 9 - 5 0 Royal Shakespeare Company 2 3 2 Royal Vauxhall Tavern 235 The Ruffian on the Stair (Orton) 2 1 4 1 5 Ruling Passions (Driberg) 106, 107 9, 205 Russell, Bertrand, Earl 5 1 , 189, 190 Rylands, George 'Dadie' 1 1 4

303

'Sam' 97, 2 1 2 , 230 'Sapper' 90 Sartre, Jean-Paul 1 5 8 Sassoon, Siegfried 54 Sebastiane (Jarman) 245 Second World War 64, 1 2 7 , 1 4 0 - 5 0 , 153-4 VE Day 1 5 1 - 2 Selby, Hubert 242 Self (Nichols) 83 Shaw, George Bernard 3, 38, 47, 51 Shelley, Edward 18 Sherlock Holmes stories (Conan Doyle) 38 Sherman, Sir Alfred 261 Sherriff, R. C. 5 4 - 7 A Shropshire Lad (Housman) 3 3 - 5 , 40 Sinfield, Alan xi A Single Man (Isherwood) 2 4 2 - 3 Smith, Chris 6 Smith, Len 1 9 1 , 196 Socialism see Communism and Socialism Society and the Homosexual 156 Somerset, Lord Arthur 1 5 - 1 6 , 42 A Song at Twilight (Coward) 2 3 3 - 4 Soper, Donald 189 Sorrel, acting Captain 57 Southwark, Bishop of 1 5 5 , 1 5 6 Spanier, Ginette 90 Spencer, Colin 1 5 7 - 8 Spencer, Peter (Lord Churchill) 86 Spender, Stephen 54, 80, 104, 1 0 9 - 1 3 , 131, 1 3 4 - 8 , 1 4 1 , 1 4 2 , 189, 1 9 1 Spengler, Oswald 99 Sphinx club (London) 129 The Stage (Nichols) 83 Staircase (Dyer) 2 3 2 Stallworthy, Jon 57 Standard bar (London) 129 'Stephen' 210 11 Stephenson, Sir Augustus 16 Stem (magazine) 204 Stewart, Michael 103 Stocks, Mary 189 Stonewall 1 4 3 , 193, 2 2 5 , 2 6 4 - 5 , Stopes, Marie 29, 47 Strachey, John 102 Strachey, Lytton 74, 102, 1 3 1 , 1 3 2
2 6 6

Sabatini, Rafael 74 Sackville-West, Vita 30 St James's Gazette 24 Salisbury pub (London) 2 3 5 , 2 3 7 Salisbury, Robert Cecil, Marquis 1 5 , 16 Salome (Wilde) 13

304

INDEX Twenty-Five (Connon) 85 Tyrwhitt, Gerald see Berners United States: gay liberation 1 4 2 , 2 2 3 - 5 , 228, 238, 245, 2 5 2 University Labour Club (ULC) 1 0 3 - 4 , 105, 107 Untergang des Abendlandes (Spengler) 99 Upward, Edward I I I

Student Union Gay Societies (GaySocs) 236-7 Sullivan, Sir Arthur 1 1 - 1 2 The Sun 2 6 1 , 262 Sunday Mirror 1 9 7 - 8 , 199, 204, 207 Sunday Times 83, 1 7 8 - 9 , 180, 189, 237 The Swimming Pool Library (Hollinghurst) 255 Swinburne, Algernon 10, 72 The Swiss bar (London) 129 Sykes, Christopher 78 Tales of the City (Maupin) 2 5 2 Tatchell, Peter 265 Taverne, Dick 2 1 7 Taylor, A.J. P. 102, 107, 189, 190 Taylor, Alfred 1 7 , 1 8 - 2 3 , 2 5 - 6 , 67, 7 1 , 171 Tchaikovsky, Peter 7 The Temple (Spender) 1 1 1 - 1 2 Tennant, David 74, 9 3 - 4 Tennant, Neil 269 Tennant, Stephen 74 Terrence Higgins Trust 259 Thatcher, Lady Margaret, and Thatcherism 2 5 2 - 6 , 262, 264 theatre Victorian n - 1 2 , 1 3 - 1 4 , 65 inter-war period 7 5 , 8 3 - 5 , 8 8 , 95 post-WW2 152, 2 3 2 - 4 They Stand Apart: A Critical Survey of Homosexuality 156 Thompson, Francis 68 Thorpe, Jeremy 246 Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality (Freud) 29 Tillyard, E. M. W. 189 'Tim' 2 6 2 - 3 The Times 64, 1 7 9 , 189, 205 'Tony' 1 6 7 - 8 , 1 7 1 Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri 6 Towards Democracy (Carpenter) 51 Tree, Sir Herbert Beerbohm 1 1 'Trevor' 1 4 1 Turing, Alan 5 - 6

Vassall, John, and 'Vassall affair' 197, 199 200-1 Victim (film) 1 5 5 - 6 , 1 6 2 - 3 , 235 Vidler, Alec 189 Village People (group) 2 5 3 - 4 , 255 Village Voice 228 The Vortex (Coward) 85, 88, 90

Walker, Kenneth 189 Wall Street crash and depression 9 3 - 4 , 99 Walpole, Hugh 74, 76, 90, 96, 134 Walter, Aubrey 2 2 7 - 8 Ward's Irish House 129 Warner, Nigel 2 2 2 - 3 The Waste Land (Eliot) 109 Watts-Dunton, Theodore 72 Waugh, Alec 36 Waugh, Evelyn 8 0 - 1 , 1 0 1 , 107, 1 1 4 Wavell, Archibald, FM Lord 78 A Way of Life (Wildeblood) 190 We Think the World of You (Ackerley) 198 Weatherhead, Leslie 189 Webb, Clifton 84 Webb, Sidney and Beatrice 49 Wedgewood, Dame Veronica 189, 190 Weekly Dispatch 85 Weeks, Jeffrey x, 44, 45, 47 Welch, Denton 43, 44, 45, 47 Tite Well of Loneliness (Radclyffe-Hall) 29, 132 Wells, H. G. 49, 87 West, Dame Rebecca 86 Wheatsheaf pub (London) 165 Wheen, Francis 1 6 3 , 207 Where's the Cat? (Beerbohm Tree) 1 1 Whistler, James 10, 13

INDEX Whistler, Rex 76, 77, 78, 84 White, Edmund 2 5 5 , 256 Whitman, Walt 49 Wilde, Constance 7 Wilde, Oscar life and times 4, 1 0 - 1 4 , 2 4 - 7 , 4 2 - 3 , 72, 76, 79, 82, 270 trials first and second 3 - 1 0 , 1 4 - 1 9 , 25, 27, 1 7 1 , 267 third and aftermath 1 9 - 2 4 , 3 0 - 1 , 3 9 - 4 0 , 1 7 4 , 196, 270 plays and books 6, 1 3 - 1 4 , 2 3 - 4 , 3 1 , 198, 234 Wilde, Sir William 82 Wildeblood, Peter 6, 1 5 8 , 1 5 9 , 1 6 7 , 1 6 9 - 7 5 , 190, 2 1 0 Willes, Peter 250 Williams, Clifford 234 Williams, Kenneth 92, 160, 199, 200 1, 2 1 2 , 216, 218, 2 3 8 - 9 Williams, Shirley 2 1 7 Wills, Mr Justice 19, 2 2 - 3 , 26, 1 7 4 Wilson, Angus 1 5 8 , 159, 160, 189 Wilson, Sir Harold 103, 104, 2 1 3 , 2 1 8 - 1 9 , 220, 246

305

Wilson, John 189 Winn, Godfrey 7 6 - 7 Wise, Ernie 91 Wittgenstein, Ludwig 58 Wodehouse, P. G. 85 Wolfenden, Baron John, and Wolfenden Report 1 7 7 , 1 8 8 - 9 1 , 196, 2 0 1 , 2 1 0 , 2 1 3 - 1 9 passim, 2 2 2 A Woman of No Importance (Wilde) 13 Woman's World (magazine) 25 Women in Love (Lawrence) 4 7 - 8 Wood, Alfred 18, 20 Woolf, Leonard 1 3 2 , 1 3 5 Woolf, Virginia 30, 100, 1 1 6 , 1 3 1 - 3 , 1 3 4 - 5 , 137 Wooton, Barbara 189 Words and Music (Coward) 956 World Health Organisation 1 8 1 World Within World (Spender) 1 3 5 The World, the Flesh and Myself (Davidson) 40, 6 1 , 68

Yeats, W. B. 14 Yellow Book (magazine) 910, 14 Y M C A (song) 2 5 3 - 4

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