The Line of Beauty

by Alan Hollinghurst
The Line of Beauty cover
Good Books rating 3.5
Literary Fiction
Technical:
  • ID: 626
  • Added: 2025-09-18
  • Updated: 2025-09-18
  • ISBN: 9780330483216
  • Publisher: Pan Macmillan
  • Published: 2005-01-01
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3
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Waterstones
Paperback • £10.99

The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst is a captivating exploration of class, politics, and sexuality set against the backdrop of Margaret Thatcher's 1980s Britain. The story follows Nick Guest, a young man who moves into the attic of the Feddens' Notting Hill home, where he becomes entangled in their affluent and politically charged lifestyle. As Nick grapples with his own desires and the societal expectations of the era, he forms a complex relationship with the Feddens' daughter, Catherine, while pursuing his obsession with beauty. This Man Booker Prize-winning novel is celebrated for its intricate character development and vivid portrayal of a transformative decade. Hollinghurst's prose masterfully captures the tensions and contradictions of the time, offering a profound commentary on identity, belonging, and the elusive nature of beauty.

Reviews
BookerTalk · 2021-09-09
mixed 2.50

The novel is praised for its literary merit but criticized for being slow and repetitive. It offers a nuanced portrait of 1980s Britain.

The reviewer acknowledges the novel's literary merit and its impact on winning the Booker Prize. However, they find the pacing to be a significant drawback, describing it as painfully slow and repetitive. Despite this, they appreciate the nuanced portrait of 1980s Britain that the novel provides. The reviewer suggests that while the book is a chore to read at times, it offers a rich exploration of class, politics, and sexuality that makes it a worthwhile endeavor for dedicated readers.

Quick quotes

    The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst wowed the Booker Prize judges but it's a chore to read.

    It's a painfully slow and repetitive tale of ...

    The novel offers a nuanced portrait of 1980s Britain.

The Guardian · 2011-07-22
engaging 4.00

The novel is explicit about sex but leaves much to the reader's imagination. The prose is rich and evocative, capturing the essence of the 1980s.

The reviewer appreciates how the book handles explicit content with subtlety, allowing readers to infer much of what happens. They highlight the novel's ability to capture the atmosphere and social dynamics of the 1980s with a keen eye for detail. The prose is described as rich and evocative, making the reading experience immersive. The reviewer also notes the book's exploration of beauty and desire, which are central themes that resonate throughout the narrative.

Quick quotes

    The Line of Beauty is perfectly explicit about sex when it wants to be, but by this point readers don't need to be told what has happened.

    The prose is rich and evocative, capturing the essence of the 1980s.

    The novel explores beauty and desire with a keen eye for detail.

The Believer · 2004-10-01
enjoyable 4.00

The prose is witty and forgiving, making the novel accessible and enjoyable. The novel excels in its depiction of social gatherings and interactions.

The reviewer finds the prose style of the novel to be witty and forgiving, which makes it accessible and enjoyable to read. They particularly appreciate the novel's focus on eventful gatherings rather than propulsive action, highlighting Hollinghurst's skill in depicting social interactions and dynamics. The reviewer suggests that these scenes are where the novel truly shines, offering a rich and nuanced exploration of the characters and their relationships. Overall, they find the novel to be a compelling read that effectively captures the essence of its time period.

Quick quotes

    Fortunately for the casual reader, Hollinghurst's actual prose style is much more forgiving than the Master's.

    Thoroughly witty, yes, and ...

    The novel excels in its depiction of social gatherings and interactions.

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