Now and Then: Amazon.co.uk: William Corlett: Books

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Product Description

Review
'Beautifully written and very moving.' - MIDWEEK

Product Description
Christopher Metcalfe returns to his childhood home following the death of his father. Here, he confronts memories of his time at public school and relives the intense, passionate affair he shared with fellow student Stephen Walker. This forces him to come to terms with himself at last.

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First Sentence
The room he died in smelt of Dettol and bonfire smoke. Read the first page

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Customer Reviews

47 Reviews

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4 star:		(8)
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4.8 out of 5 stars (47 customer reviews)

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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Seduced and deserted, 2 Dec 2006

By	Benjamin (UK) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

As told by Christopher Metcalfe in alternating chapters "now", in his forties, and "then", as a fifth former at public school, we learn what has made Christopher what he is, and eventually what he could become. "Now" he is a seemingly comfortable bachelor, but following the death of his father, and the subsequent discovering a box of photographs and reports from his school days he is awakened to a past that has made him what he is. "Then" a good looking fifth former himself, he is seduced by a handsome prefect two years his senior, Stephen Walker. There follows a brief, intense but spasmodic affair, which is so beautifully related that it is hard to find any fault with the relationship, despite the guilt that they feel, and they declare their love for one another. But the affair ends tragically when Stephen moves on to Cambridge and Christopher, or Kit as Stephen affectionately calls him, is left to endure his reaming years at school alone. "Now" Christopher realises what this affair and a subsequent promise to himself has cost him, and he sets out to find Stephen and discover what has become of the only person he has ever loved.
The story is beautifully told, and the various characters are a delight, including Christopher's horrendous sister and her family, his adoring and surprisingly open minded mother, and his man chasing friend Catherine, with whom he enjoys a close platonic relationship.
This is a witty, warm and very moving story, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

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32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't let being straight spoil your enjoyment of this novel!, 4 Nov 2004

By	Mr. M. P. Lewin "M Lewin" (Oxford, England) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I imagine that most of Corlett's readers -- like his characters -- are gay.

I'm not -- in fact, I didn't buy this book, I found it on a train. Nor have I ever felt any inclination to read a 'gay' novel in the past. But having put aside my predudices (yes, sorry, they are still in there somewhere despite my ostensible belief that they are unjust and unfounded) I was instantly drawn to his writing and found his characters, and the situation they found themselves in, absolutely compelling.

To gay guys, this must be a godsend. To straight guys, read it how you would any other love story: you'll find it better than most. This is an outstanding book and one that I very nearly lost the pleasure of reading through my narrow-mindedness. I'd hate for you to miss out on it because of your own, because you will have deprived yourself of a wonderful piece of literature.

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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars everlasting impression on you, 6 Aug 2005

By	"readerhowes" - See all my reviews

I have never reviewed any book but I have to do about this book, Now and Then. I am a straight woman but it really does not matter. When I started, I did not imagine I was going to be hooked. After seceral hours, I could not leave the characters any minute, especially Chris. His life is so sad, his love so desperate, so that I was deeply relieved when the conclusion give us a light and hope on Chris's future. I finished the book two days ago, and still I can't stop thinking about Chris and Stephen. I just wonder what is the cause of this sense of everlasting impression on my psyche.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Public school hell - but literary heaven............
William Corlett's debut novel 'Now and Then' tells the story
of Chris Metcalfe, an emotionally repressed man of fifty,
whose father has recently died. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Peter S. Kinnison

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
I hope this book isn't shoved into the 'gay' section of bookstores where people who don't identify with that segment of the market will miss it. Read more

Published 3 months ago by EIR

5.0 out of 5 stars A mesmerizing work of fiction
A book that from the beginning tugged at the heartstrings. I found this book to be an addictive rollercoaster of emotions which i didnt want to end. A most excellent novel.

Published 17 months ago by Mr. David A. Palmer

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books ever written!
I have just read this novel for the second time and found it as brilliant as the first time I read it. Read more

Published 19 months ago by Philip Thompson

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and Heart wrenching
I was riveted to this book from beginning to end. Incredibly strange considering I didn't think it would be my type of novel. Read more

Published 19 months ago by Shana Banks

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty close to perfect
Having just finished reading this book, I felt moved to put down a few thoughts about it.

Starting with my only negative... Read more

Published on 14 Aug 2006 by Mr. D. E. Allen

5.0 out of 5 stars A memory that feels almost real. A familiar journey.
From the moment I opened this novel I loved the whole journey of the main character, his family and his doubts of life. Read more

Published on 7 Mar 2006

5.0 out of 5 stars now and then
what a brilliant and realistic book.

couldnt put it down from the moment i started reading it.

would be good if the writer did another one that carried on from this. Read more

Published on 11 Oct 2005 by simonmolloy4

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, Poignant and Touching
This is a ‘cannot put down’ book if ever there was one. I am glad I did not read any reviews first, which might have given the end away. Read more

Published on 15 Mar 2004 by michael2012

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic,
Had Amazon allowed I would have given this book 10 stars. I completed it more than a week ago, and have still not gotten the characters out of my mind. Read more

Published on 2 Mar 2004

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