“It was a summer of strangers, a summer of departures.”
Chapter 1: 1983
The novel opens in the summer of 1983, introducing Nick Guest, a young gay man from a middle-class background who moves into the London home of his wealthy Oxford friend, Toby Fedden. Nick is infatuated with Toby but keeps his feelings hidden. The Fedden family—Toby, his sister Catherine, and their conservative MP father Gerald—represent the privileged elite of Thatcher-era Britain. Nick begins working on his PhD thesis on Henry James while navigating the Feddens’ world of parties and political connections.
Chapter 2: The First Party
Nick attends a lavish party at the Feddens’ home, where he meets influential figures from politics and high society. He also encounters Leo, a working-class black clerk, and begins a secret affair with him. Their relationship contrasts sharply with the opulence around them, highlighting class and racial divides. Meanwhile, Gerald Fedden’s political ambitions grow, and Nick becomes more entangled in the family’s affairs.
Chapter 3: The Crack
Nick’s relationship with Leo deepens, but societal pressures and Leo’s internalized homophobia strain their bond. The AIDS crisis looms in the background, adding tension. Nick also befriends Wani Ouradi, a wealthy Lebanese businessman, who introduces him to cocaine and a hedonistic lifestyle. The Feddens remain oblivious to Nick’s double life.
Chapter 4: The Second Party
Two years later, in 1986, Nick is now involved with Wani, who funds a lavish arts magazine as a front for his drug-fueled escapades. The Feddens’ political star rises, but cracks appear—Catherine struggles with mental health, and Gerald’s hypocrisy is exposed. Nick, now deeply embedded in the elite’s excesses, grapples with his own complicity.
Chapter 5: The End of the Line
By 1987, Wani’s health deteriorates due to AIDS, and the Feddens’ world collapses amid political scandal. Nick, once an outsider, is now tainted by association. The novel ends with him leaving the Feddens’ home, reflecting on beauty, privilege, and the cost of belonging.
Key Ideas
- The intersection of aesthetics and politics in 1980s Britain.
- The destructive allure of wealth and social climbing.
- Queer identity under repression and the shadow of AIDS.
- The hypocrisy of the conservative elite.
- Henry James’ influence as a motif for beauty and artifice.
Notable Adaptations
| Year | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | The Line of Beauty (TV) | BBC miniseries starring Dan Stevens as Nick Guest. |
Who should read this book?
- Readers interested in LGBTQ+ literary fiction.
- Fans of social satire and political commentary.
- Those drawn to lush, descriptive prose and psychological depth.