The Swimming-Pool Library

Set in pre-AIDS 1980s London, The Swimming-Pool Library follows Will Beckwith, a wealthy and self-indulgent young gay man whose carefree existence is disrupted when he saves an elderly aristocrat from a fall. This chance encounter pulls Will into a hidden history of queer life in early 20th-century England, revealed through the man's private diaries. As past and present intertwine, Will is forced to confront his own privilege, desires, and the legacy of those who came before him. Hollinghurst’s prose is elegant and daring, painting a portrait of queer identity at a cultural crossroads.

~ Included for its rich literary portrayal of gay life, class, and generational memory. A bold and sensual novel that bridges personal pleasure with political and historical weight. ~