Alan Hollinghursts new novel is a comedy of sexual manners that follows theinterlocking affairs of four men Robin Woodfield an architect in his lateforties who ... » 

Alan Hollinghursts new novel is a comedy of sexual manners that follows theinterlocking affairs of four men Robin Woodfield an architect in his lateforties who is trying to build an idyllic life in Dorset with his youngerlover Justin a wouldbe actor increasingly disenchanted with the countrysideRobins 22yearold son Danny a volatile beauty who lives for clubbing andcasual sex and the shy Alex whose life is transformed by house music and atab of ecstasy. As each in turn falls under the spell of romance or drugscountry living or rough trade a richly ironic picture emerges of the clashingimperatives of modern gay life the hunger for contact and the fear ofcommitment the need for permanence and the continual disruptions of sex. Atonce lyrical and farcical sceptical and romantic The Spell confirms AlanHollinghurst as one of Britains most important novelists. «