The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst
Set in the 1980s during the era of Margaret Thatcher's conservative government in Britain, this novel follows the life of a young gay man named Nick Guest. Coming from a middle-class background, he moves into the home of his wealthy friend's family and becomes infatuated with the opulence and power of the upper class. As he navigates his way through this new world, he also explores his sexuality, all while dealing with the societal and political implications of the AIDS crisis.
The 723rd greatest book of all time
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Total Points: 531
This book was first published in 2004
16 Lists
- score: 97 -- 100 Best Books of the 21st Century - 2024 (Weight: 173)
- score: 88 -- The 100 Best Novels Of All Time In English - 2026 (Weight: 160)
- score: 81 -- A Premature Attempt at the 21st Century Canon - 2018 (Weight: 160)
- score: 61 -- The 100 Greatest British Novels - 2015 (Weight: 160)
- score: 60 -- The 21st Century's 12 Greatest Novels - 2015 (Weight: 160)
- score: 44 -- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die - 2006 (Weight: 180)
- score: 41 -- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read - 2009 (Weight: 140)
- score: 34 -- Honorable Mention - The 25 Masterpieces of World Literature That Will Define the 21st Century (25-250) - 2025 (Weight: 60)
- score: 14 -- Books of the Decade - 2009 (Weight: 48)
- score: 1 -- Booker Prize - Yearly Book Award (Weight: 7)
- score: 1 -- 70 Classic Booker Prize-Nominated Novels, Recommended by our Readers - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The 100 Best Books of the Decade(2000) - 2009 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The New Classics - 100 Best Reads from 1983 to 2008 - 2008 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The 21 Books From the 21st Century Every Man Should Read - 2015 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The 100 best books of the 21st century - 2019 (Weight: 1)