In Jonathan Kemp's first novel, London Triptych, the lives of three gay men intersect and unravel over three distinct periods of English history: the late Victorian era, ultra-conservative 1950's, and the AIDS-haunted, sexually charged 1990's. The connective tissues between the men--the titular city of London and sex work--drives the narrative of their respective stories as each chapter moves through time to examine the loves, obsessions and obstacles that cements their fates. 

Jack is a teen-age postal messenger stuck in a poverty-stricken household with a drunken, abusive father and a mistreated mother with too many mouths to feed. As a means of bringing money into the downtrodden household, Jack begins turning tricks on the side. Soon enough, he finds himself in an upscale, all-male brothel whose select clientele includes Oscar Wilde, various posh boys and members of the aristocracy. Based on the notorious Cleveland Street habitues of Victorian London, Jack's adventures take him to the finest houses, restaurants and theaters in London, as his libidinous talents turn him into a much in-demand companion. But, as Jack discovers, the high life is fleeting, illusory. Those opulent clients and their gilded circles will forever be closed to the likes of him. Still, there is a price to be paid for those foolish enough to try and gain admission...

In 1954, the repressed, middle-aged artist, Colin, hires handsome stud-for-hire, Gore (Gregory) to pose for several nude studies he prepares in the secluded house inherited from his disapproving parents. In his mid-50's, Colin is alone and unloved, forever unable to act upon his desires, to set himself free from the social dictates of the time and his own rigid mindset. He envies Gore for his free spirit and adventurous nature. The two men gradually develop a sort of platonic friendship that, over time, evolves as Colin's feelings become more complicated. Colin comes to rely on Gore's weekly sittings, and the more comfortable Gore becomes with Colin, the more willing he is to share details of his enterprising sex life. Colin is fascinated by this worldly nomad and the underground world he inhabits. Colin is also filled with lust and realizes that here, posing naked in his house, might just be the one to lead him out of his own solitary confinement. Or will Gore facilitate his destruction?

Finally, in the 1990's, we find bored, provincial thrill-seeker, David, who wants nothing more than to escape the stifling confines of his village and lead a more exciting life in London. By his own admission, David is neither brave nor worldly; however, he constantly needs stimulation: more sex, more drugs, more freedom. After drifting into local sex work, an adult David, no longer bound to his parents, finds his way to London and continues his chosen profession on a much larger scale. Handsome and outgoing, David's life becomes a constant whirlwind of punters, sex parties, and porn shoots, all fueled by massive amounts of drugs. Meanwhile, the specter of AIDS hovers menacingly over the landscape. David's story begins in 1998, on the day before he is to be released from prison. How David came to land in prison is the crux of his journey through time. 

There are many things to appreciate about London Triptych, none the least of which is Kemp's beautiful--almost poetic, at times--prose and the elegant writing style he exhibits to depict even the most decadent scenes. I have read several critiques of London Triptych that accuse Kemp's sex scenes of being both too numerous and too graphic. Well, on one level, it is a tale of rent boys, so it makes sense that a certain amount of space would be devoted to the hedonism associated with the trade. Second, if these critics are offended by the various sex acts in London Triptych, they obviously haven't yet read Kemp's much steamier Twentysix, a virtual cornucopia of sexual exploration, unveiled in 26 unabashedly explicit short-short stories (The alchemy of Kemp's words and keen intelligence elevate Twentysix from the realm of porn into genuine erotic art). 

Kemp does a wonderful job bringing his characters to life in London Triptych while expertly documenting the chaotic, ever-evolving cityscape they inhabit. The excitement, pain, tragedies and resilience of Jack, Colin and David (and a few others) are made palpable by Kemp's own empathetic writing; here, the city of London becomes a character unto itself. 

The only complaint that I have--and it is minor--is that each chapter (necessarily, I might add) moves backwards and forwards in time as each man recounts a part of his story, and the constant switch of narratives felt a bit distracting. However, allowing a character to tell his complete story in a single section would almost certainly lessen the book's impact: tying together the men's histories seems essential to appreciate their tenuous connections. 

London Triptych is melancholy, emotionally engaging and lovingly rendered by an outstanding writer who cares deeply about his craft.