The Disappearance Boy
The Disappearance Boy
paperback
Published:
2 November, 2023
Description
1953 — The backstreets of Brighton are buzzing with preparations for the celebrations of the Coronation of Elizabeth II and, at the Grand Theatre, illusionist Teddy Brookes is plotting something crowd-pleasing to crown the occasion—with some assistance from glamorous Soho showgirl Pamela Rose. What the audience can never see is that, hidden behind the smoke and mirrors of his act, there is a whole world of secrets and lies… And a disappearance boy.
In his acclaimed fourth novel, Neil Bartlett once again performs his trademark trick of slipping into the hidden spaces of queer history and bringing them vividly to life. Originally published in 2013, this new edition includes an introduction by the author and an Afterword with world-famous illusionist, Derren Brown.
More Details
| Type | Book |
|---|---|
| ISBN13 | 9781912620265 |
| ISBN10 | 191262026X |
| Number Of Pages | 306 |
| Item Weight | 288 g |
| Publisher / Reseller | Inkandescent |
| Format | paperback |
Media Reviews
"Vivid characters, a fascinating subject and an expertly evoked setting. Excellent’"– Daily Mail; "Bartlett delights in taking that which was once hidden and making it clear for all to see." – Independent; "This book and its enchanting characters had me under their spell. I was bewitched." – Sheila Hancock; "Mysterious, tender and utterly compelling." – S.J. Watson "One of England’s finest writers" – Edmund White
GoodReads Reviews
Author's Bio
Neil Bartlett lives in London with his partner James Gardiner. His first novel, the ground-breaking queer love story Ready To Catch Him Should He Fall, was written in a council flat on the Isle of Dogs, published in 1990 and translated into five European languages. Since then, his books have been nominated for (amongst others) the Whitbread Prize (Mr Clive and Mr Page, 1996), the Costa Award (Skin Lane, 2007) and the Polari Prize (Address Book, 2022). Address Book was an Observer Book of the Year 2021, and The Disappearance Boy earnt him a nomination for Stonewall Author of the Year in 2014. Neil also makes theatre; he wrote the script for Orlando, the lead role in which was played by Emma Corrin in the West End of London in 2022, and most recently he created, with actor Russell Tovey, a special live performance of Derek Jarman's landmark final film, BLUE. Derren Brown is one of the world's most iconic magicians. He is an English mentalist, illusionist, painter, and author. He began performing in 1992, making his television debut with Derren Brown: Mind Control in 2000, and has since produced numerous shows for stage and television, including his forthcoming 2023 West End magic show, Unbelievable. He has published six books: Tricks of the Mind, Confessions of a Conjuror, Happy, A Little Happier and a book of his caricatures, Portraits. His 2021 publication, A Book of Secrets, was a Sunday Times Bestseller.