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The Palace Of Varieties
An outrageous sexual adventure set in 1930s London from the author of The Low Road. We follow Paul Lemoyne on a rake's progress, from low-life prostitution at the stage door of the Palace of Varieties to the salons and studios of Mayfair; from the bath-houses of Bermondsey to the rarefied circles of modern art. And behind it all lurks the mysterious figure of Albert Abbott, his lover, corrupter and Svengali.
280 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
23 people are currently reading
286 people want to read
About the author
James Lear
13 books364 followersJames Lear is the nom de plume of prolific and acclaimed novelist, Rupert Smith. He lives in London and is the 2008 Winner of Erotic Awards "Best Writer".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
June 21, 2017
Audible
IT.BLEW.ME.AWAY.
THE BEST. THE VERY BEST OF JAMES LEAR.
MAYBE BECAUSE OF THE FABULOUS GREAT AMAZING NARRATOR!
Daniel Carter, I love you!
I spent the whole day yesterday and today listening to this book.
We have a long weekend in Germany and a nice autumn weather, a gold October day. We made a motorcycle tour today but I was a very bad companion for my husband.(Sorry, dear!) Because I was listening to this book and didn't communicate a lot. I went through all possible emotions sitting behind his back on our BMW and enjoying the beautiful scenery. Porn with tears? No, it is not a porn but it is James Lear and it is a very very very graphical and elaborate erotica, but I cried even, very quietly listening to the last chapter in the evening. Already at home.
I belong normally to those READERS who prefer to read my books. I had a period in my life when I listened to MANY audio books, but it was my time BEFORE my MM-obsession. This audio book made me to want more. I hope I will do it more often in the future.
I loved this book from the very first
HE IS PERFECT. P-E-R-F-E-C-T!
HOW he did it, how he played the different roles, how he sounded, how he MADE the book LIVE and the characters BREATH! How he brought to life Paul Lemoyne! F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C!
As always - there are a lot of ALL KIND OF SEX. But sex is something that you can't ignore or that you HAVE TO enjoy if you pick up James Lear's books. Sex here is not to make a story more attractive, sex is the story. If you don't like a great and the best homo-eroticism the genre can give you, if you could very easily be annoyed by EXTREME SEX scenes- skip it. YOU HAVE TO LOVE GRAPHICAL SEX to love the book though it is not just sex. I love the writing of James Lear ENORMOUSLY. For me he is Nabokov of gay erotica.
Be prepared if you decide to read it: The memoirs of Paul Lemoyne, a male prostitute with ups and downs, set at the end of 1930s in London. HOT. POIGNANT. BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN. AND VERY PROVOCATIVE.
And this voice....OMG.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
October 14, 2014
The author definitely knows how to write a good porn, I'll give him that. It's so daring and blatantly filthy that at no point does it feel repetitive. I honestly admit that the first part of the audiobook was keeping me dry mouthed, hot and bothered. But the second part did start to tire me out.
Even though I knew it's not a romance, I still expected something, I don't know.. some sort of development or a mystery or a love affair. Something to keep me interested on a deeper level, but it was like listening to the memoirs of a male whore - intriguing and arousing but tiring and empty after a while. I needed something more profound. As the main character says himself:
Those were my thoughts at the 3/4 mark.
However, the last 25% of the book turned out to be quite thought-provoking. It had summed up the life of a vain young man with its ups and downs, wrong choices and consequences that followed. For one brief moment there, I held my breath and nearly got teary eyed with the tiny light of hope. But it got squashed down as quickly as it had appeared.
In the end, I found the story sad. The phrase that comes to mind is 'filthy acquisitions' in life. Greed, desperation, the naive belief of one's might and superiority, fleeting pleasurable existence that more often than not leads to a ruin. A wasted youth and perhaps a wasted life. The author is wise enough to leave the rest to our imagination. But it had left me heavy-hearted and, despite the enormous amount of sex in a book, dissatisfied and slightly depressed.
I want to mention the narrator though. Daniel Carter has done a really good job here, in my opinion. His voice and a crisp British accent was perfect for the story and a protagonist. I'm afraid, had I read the actual book, I wouldn't have found the patience to finish it. He gets the extra credit.
***3.5 stars***
Even though I knew it's not a romance, I still expected something, I don't know.. some sort of development or a mystery or a love affair. Something to keep me interested on a deeper level, but it was like listening to the memoirs of a male whore - intriguing and arousing but tiring and empty after a while. I needed something more profound. As the main character says himself:
"I'm sure the reader is as weary of my stupidity as I am."
Those were my thoughts at the 3/4 mark.
However, the last 25% of the book turned out to be quite thought-provoking. It had summed up the life of a vain young man with its ups and downs, wrong choices and consequences that followed. For one brief moment there, I held my breath and nearly got teary eyed with the tiny light of hope. But it got squashed down as quickly as it had appeared.
In the end, I found the story sad. The phrase that comes to mind is 'filthy acquisitions' in life. Greed, desperation, the naive belief of one's might and superiority, fleeting pleasurable existence that more often than not leads to a ruin. A wasted youth and perhaps a wasted life. The author is wise enough to leave the rest to our imagination. But it had left me heavy-hearted and, despite the enormous amount of sex in a book, dissatisfied and slightly depressed.
I want to mention the narrator though. Daniel Carter has done a really good job here, in my opinion. His voice and a crisp British accent was perfect for the story and a protagonist. I'm afraid, had I read the actual book, I wouldn't have found the patience to finish it. He gets the extra credit.
***3.5 stars***
February 16, 2019
Pretty classic James Lear and I love the way he does this kind of story. Definitely loved it as an audiobook. I was craving Daniel Carter's gorgeous English accent... nobody reads James Lear the way he can, so matter-of-fact, it truly works.
October 13, 2014
James Lear is a clever writer. It's no secret that his books are filled with sex, hot man-on-man sex to be exact . Not only are they filled with sex, they are filled with character development, plot, story-telling, a bit of romance and even some social commentary. Most of his books have a historical setting, and Palace of Varieties is set in 1930s London. Because of all this, I feel like I am reading something kind of high-brow, like watching masterpiece theater. At the same time, all the debauchery makes it so deliciously naughty, that I just can't help feeling a bit smug, like I got away with something. To be sure, there is something other-worldly about these books, as they don't completely jive with the historical context that we seem to know, although they are not fantasy either. Maybe the sex positive attitude is more wish fulfillment than anything, that anything goes as long as everyone is willing and polite with each other.
PS - in the name of research being done by the fabulous Lena, I will be listening to the audiobook soon and may have further notes to share.
PS - in the name of research being done by the fabulous Lena, I will be listening to the audiobook soon and may have further notes to share.
October 11, 2014
Sex, debauchery and every conceivable thing in between. Something I've come to enjoy in James Lear's stories. No exception in the depravity stakes, which makes for the whole point of reading/listening to The Palace of Varieties.
James Lear has a wonderful turn of phrase through out his writing.
"I did not stop to sniff any of these way side flowers"
I did however, feel a little less satiated by this tale. It seemed to lack a real conclusion or finality. Maybe there will be more to tell of the tale of Paul & Abbott.
"The bitter sting that society reserves for those it casts out. Ah well, I have learned the error of my ways and that should satisfy any reader so misguided as to search for a moral in these immoral memoirs of mine."
Before you venture into a James Lear novel you need to know that they are not for everyone's tastes. I however do enjoy them!
3 1/2.
James Lear has a wonderful turn of phrase through out his writing.
"I did not stop to sniff any of these way side flowers"
I did however, feel a little less satiated by this tale. It seemed to lack a real conclusion or finality. Maybe there will be more to tell of the tale of Paul & Abbott.
"The bitter sting that society reserves for those it casts out. Ah well, I have learned the error of my ways and that should satisfy any reader so misguided as to search for a moral in these immoral memoirs of mine."
Before you venture into a James Lear novel you need to know that they are not for everyone's tastes. I however do enjoy them!
3 1/2.
September 4, 2012
I’m surprised that this book hasn’t been discovered as the gay “Fifty Shades Of Grey” yet.
Yes... folks, it’s just that filthy. I couldn’t read this book in public because (embarrassing so) I kept an erection 99% of time I was reading it. Leave your morals at the door and be prepared for a no-holes-barred, spermy, piss-soaked reading experience you won’t soon forget.
This is the story of hunky, big-dicked Paul Lemoyne who leaves his humble life in a tiny English village for life in the big city (London). It’s 1930, he’s a young, virile man and he’s flat broke and as you might suppose, young Paul does resort to turning tricks and in turn is soon the most celebrated male whore in the city of London for several years.
If you’re looking for one of those prostitute with a heart-of-gold type of stories, this is not it. Not saying that the main character is a monster or a bad person, but Paul Lemoyne has few redeeming qualities as a human. You will find yourself rooting for him toward the end of the book and hoping he’ll find someone that will love him for him and not just for his huge penis, bottomless arsehole or complete willingness to do absolutely anything when it comes to sex.
James Lear is a pseudonym for author Rupert Smith
(See my review of Man’s World).
Yes... folks, it’s just that filthy. I couldn’t read this book in public because (embarrassing so) I kept an erection 99% of time I was reading it. Leave your morals at the door and be prepared for a no-holes-barred, spermy, piss-soaked reading experience you won’t soon forget.
This is the story of hunky, big-dicked Paul Lemoyne who leaves his humble life in a tiny English village for life in the big city (London). It’s 1930, he’s a young, virile man and he’s flat broke and as you might suppose, young Paul does resort to turning tricks and in turn is soon the most celebrated male whore in the city of London for several years.
If you’re looking for one of those prostitute with a heart-of-gold type of stories, this is not it. Not saying that the main character is a monster or a bad person, but Paul Lemoyne has few redeeming qualities as a human. You will find yourself rooting for him toward the end of the book and hoping he’ll find someone that will love him for him and not just for his huge penis, bottomless arsehole or complete willingness to do absolutely anything when it comes to sex.
James Lear is a pseudonym for author Rupert Smith
(See my review of Man’s World).
May 5, 2021
I thought this was truly one of the most depressing books. Paul was such a unlikeable character. I found nothing about his behavior that was in any way redeeming. The ending certainly came out of nowhere and just made me feel sad.
July 18, 2014
3.75
This is very raunchy with a little bit of anything, which means it really is not for everyone!!!
A very long, dark erotic tale. A gritty historical with dub-con/ non-con and super kinks.
I listened to the audiobook. It took a while to get used to the narrator, but then I enjoyed it.
This is very raunchy with a little bit of anything, which means it really is not for everyone!!!
A very long, dark erotic tale. A gritty historical with dub-con/ non-con and super kinks.
I listened to the audiobook. It took a while to get used to the narrator, but then I enjoyed it.
January 1, 2016
A sexy, interesting story.
November 16, 2025
I read this novel years ago and enjoyed it immensely - it was, I believe, one of the first novels that Rupert Smith wrote under the pseudonym of James Lear - and for a long time I was puzzled why I had such glowing memories for this novel when his later works left me cold and it was only recently that I discovered the cinematic equivalent of this novel in the early films of J.D. Cadinot (please see my footnote *1 for a full explanation).
In this novel Lear creates a beautifully realised story about a young man on the make in 1930s London - it certainly has taken inspiration from classic 18th century novels like Tom Jones or Fanny Hill - both in terms of the heroes rise and fall but the explicit sex, only this time entirely queer sex. It is wonderfully sexy, readable and fun. Only at moments did I feel that the sex scenes were working through a check list porn tropes and this was largely because the plot and storyline was so well done.
I have no hesitation in recommending it as long as you understand what I have said.
*1 J.D. Cadinot is often described as a French maker of gay pornographic films but in reality was an auteur of gay erotic film-making because his early films like 'Sacré Collège' and 'Les Minets Sauvages' and many others are so much more than pornography. They are films in which sex is not hidden but it arises from stories and characters that are complete, believable and true - they are probably the best gay erotic or pornographic films ever made. Cadinot continued to make films until his death in 2008 but there is a difference between his early 'films' and his later work which was made on video which never rose to the complexity or sweetness of his early films. This was no doubt in partly to do with the changes associated the abandonment of film for video but I also think the imagination can only use 'erotic' theme so many times and remain fresh. Ultimately porn is porn and story-telling is story-telling and in sense the simplicity associated with his post film videos was simply responding to what the market could now insist on - sex but no stories.
In this novel Lear creates a beautifully realised story about a young man on the make in 1930s London - it certainly has taken inspiration from classic 18th century novels like Tom Jones or Fanny Hill - both in terms of the heroes rise and fall but the explicit sex, only this time entirely queer sex. It is wonderfully sexy, readable and fun. Only at moments did I feel that the sex scenes were working through a check list porn tropes and this was largely because the plot and storyline was so well done.
I have no hesitation in recommending it as long as you understand what I have said.
*1 J.D. Cadinot is often described as a French maker of gay pornographic films but in reality was an auteur of gay erotic film-making because his early films like 'Sacré Collège' and 'Les Minets Sauvages' and many others are so much more than pornography. They are films in which sex is not hidden but it arises from stories and characters that are complete, believable and true - they are probably the best gay erotic or pornographic films ever made. Cadinot continued to make films until his death in 2008 but there is a difference between his early 'films' and his later work which was made on video which never rose to the complexity or sweetness of his early films. This was no doubt in partly to do with the changes associated the abandonment of film for video but I also think the imagination can only use 'erotic' theme so many times and remain fresh. Ultimately porn is porn and story-telling is story-telling and in sense the simplicity associated with his post film videos was simply responding to what the market could now insist on - sex but no stories.
August 16, 2023
Well-written just porn.
So I didn't finish it.
Yay for smart choices.
So I didn't finish it.
Yay for smart choices.
August 15, 2009
In this departure from previous work, James Lear delves into the psyche of a morally bankrupt young man as he discovers and rampages the backroom gay scene of London in 1935. This wonderfully written and beautifully executed story is almost lost in the wealth of sex and degradation that fills the pages. The lack of redemption for the main character of Paul will inevitably turn some readers away while the author’s masterful handling of the prose will compensate for others. Overall, this is a powerful and graphic depiction of seedy gay life through the eyes of a sex addict with a small dose of morality, although some will argue Paul is without any redeeming qualities.
Paul arrives in London with barely any money to his name and is introduced to the world of rent boys almost immediately when engaging two wealthy men in a gentleman’s bathroom. This opens Paul’s eyes to possibilities as he supplements his meager income from a theatre with some behind the building activities. From slums to palaces, Paul experiences the best and worst within the rarified airs and the lowest ghettos. His incredible appetite for sex and lack of inhibitions combined with his surprising naïveté cast Paul into a unique world as he plays out his porn filled fantasies.
Paul Lemoyne is a young man with no education or prospects, but is clever, intelligent and willing to do anything to survive. His voracious appetite for sex is enhanced by his lack of boundaries. He will degrade himself and others to no end for the brief release and high of sex. Paul is an engaging and fascinating character taken through the pits and valleys of life as a rent boy. He makes quite a bit of money with his clients, able to quickly and easily discern what makes them happy and delivering with a rare flair and delight for his work. Unfortunately, Paul spends and looses his money as easily as he makes it, thus starting a long line of foolish decisions that he inevitably never learns from.
The story is incredibly well written as the author has a unique gift for language and prose. The vivid descriptions of London at the time shine through in both its glory and squalor. The graphic nature of the sex may be disturbing for some but other than the sheer volume of the scenes, the explicit erotica didn’t offend. The book is littered with sex, filled to the brim with scene after scene, each one more inventive and designed to show the depths Paul will sink to in his voracious appetite for sexual gratification. There is nothing too taboo and the kinkier the better for Paul. He flirts with crime but never develops a real taste as his thoughts are consumed with sex and the procurement of such. He has no preference over his lovers, giving sex for free or for payment, depending on his level of satisfaction and intelligence at the time.
Often Paul becomes besotted with various characters in the book, men who revolve around his orbit in the world. All of these men use Paul to some degree, rending him blind to their motives and lack of true feeling. He is kept on a string by his own attachment and need for love, yet carelessly breaks and ruins the few opportunities offered for somewhat more healthy relationships. His need for sexual gratification rules his life just as his lack of connection to people cause him to follow others’ control, most notably Albert Abbott. Paul never learns from his mistakes and displays a lack of moral integrity and compassion. Paul indulges gluttony and avarice to their very core and allows the hedonistic lifestyle to overwhelm his every thought.
Paul’s tale is fabulously written and explores a darker, seedier side to gay sex that is often degrading, humiliating, painful, shocking, and ultimately fascinating. This nonstop thrill from one trick to the next from Paul’s eyes has hints of deeper pain and need, but is hidden underneath a thoroughly dirty sexual romp. Paul is easy to judge and dislike, as are the wealth of unsympathetic characters that drift in and out of the story. Liked or not, Paul is a riveting character with an engaging voice and relentless pursuit for sex, to his own demise. I’m not sure if I enjoyed the book, but it was well worth reading.
Paul arrives in London with barely any money to his name and is introduced to the world of rent boys almost immediately when engaging two wealthy men in a gentleman’s bathroom. This opens Paul’s eyes to possibilities as he supplements his meager income from a theatre with some behind the building activities. From slums to palaces, Paul experiences the best and worst within the rarified airs and the lowest ghettos. His incredible appetite for sex and lack of inhibitions combined with his surprising naïveté cast Paul into a unique world as he plays out his porn filled fantasies.
Paul Lemoyne is a young man with no education or prospects, but is clever, intelligent and willing to do anything to survive. His voracious appetite for sex is enhanced by his lack of boundaries. He will degrade himself and others to no end for the brief release and high of sex. Paul is an engaging and fascinating character taken through the pits and valleys of life as a rent boy. He makes quite a bit of money with his clients, able to quickly and easily discern what makes them happy and delivering with a rare flair and delight for his work. Unfortunately, Paul spends and looses his money as easily as he makes it, thus starting a long line of foolish decisions that he inevitably never learns from.
The story is incredibly well written as the author has a unique gift for language and prose. The vivid descriptions of London at the time shine through in both its glory and squalor. The graphic nature of the sex may be disturbing for some but other than the sheer volume of the scenes, the explicit erotica didn’t offend. The book is littered with sex, filled to the brim with scene after scene, each one more inventive and designed to show the depths Paul will sink to in his voracious appetite for sexual gratification. There is nothing too taboo and the kinkier the better for Paul. He flirts with crime but never develops a real taste as his thoughts are consumed with sex and the procurement of such. He has no preference over his lovers, giving sex for free or for payment, depending on his level of satisfaction and intelligence at the time.
Often Paul becomes besotted with various characters in the book, men who revolve around his orbit in the world. All of these men use Paul to some degree, rending him blind to their motives and lack of true feeling. He is kept on a string by his own attachment and need for love, yet carelessly breaks and ruins the few opportunities offered for somewhat more healthy relationships. His need for sexual gratification rules his life just as his lack of connection to people cause him to follow others’ control, most notably Albert Abbott. Paul never learns from his mistakes and displays a lack of moral integrity and compassion. Paul indulges gluttony and avarice to their very core and allows the hedonistic lifestyle to overwhelm his every thought.
Paul’s tale is fabulously written and explores a darker, seedier side to gay sex that is often degrading, humiliating, painful, shocking, and ultimately fascinating. This nonstop thrill from one trick to the next from Paul’s eyes has hints of deeper pain and need, but is hidden underneath a thoroughly dirty sexual romp. Paul is easy to judge and dislike, as are the wealth of unsympathetic characters that drift in and out of the story. Liked or not, Paul is a riveting character with an engaging voice and relentless pursuit for sex, to his own demise. I’m not sure if I enjoyed the book, but it was well worth reading.
January 25, 2020
Gay erotica where the writing doesn't stink is very hard to find. This one was pretty good.
July 18, 2011
This book is available in a Kindle edition.
Set in London between the two World Wars, this tale of sex and debauchery is an amusing and often poignant picture of life at the time and the hypocritical figures that populated the upper echelons of society and the arts.
The book is as much a social commentary as a tale of Paul’s sexploitation. The sheer variety of all the different personalities he fucks, not just their size or sexual proclivity adds to the enjoyment. The chapters on the Russian artist, Boleslavsky, and the inspiration behind some of his “masterpieces” are amusingly droll.
A rake’s progress or in this case a whore’s progress, the narrator grows from a rebellious eighteen year old run away, through a life of ease and fame, back down again to be reborn as an adult going off to war.
While I enjoyed his better known book “The Back Passage”, I found this one had a lot more meat to chow down on.
Set in London between the two World Wars, this tale of sex and debauchery is an amusing and often poignant picture of life at the time and the hypocritical figures that populated the upper echelons of society and the arts.
The book is as much a social commentary as a tale of Paul’s sexploitation. The sheer variety of all the different personalities he fucks, not just their size or sexual proclivity adds to the enjoyment. The chapters on the Russian artist, Boleslavsky, and the inspiration behind some of his “masterpieces” are amusingly droll.
A rake’s progress or in this case a whore’s progress, the narrator grows from a rebellious eighteen year old run away, through a life of ease and fame, back down again to be reborn as an adult going off to war.
While I enjoyed his better known book “The Back Passage”, I found this one had a lot more meat to chow down on.
May 6, 2016
A fun sexy read, though not as good as his mystery novels.
April 21, 2019
plot: ⭐
characters: ⭐
porn: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🍆
ending: ⭐⭐⭐
VERY graphic and explicit sex scenes and really good writing
characters: ⭐
porn: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🍆
ending: ⭐⭐⭐
VERY graphic and explicit sex scenes and really good writing
January 10, 2021
Surprisingly good for a porn book 😂
May 21, 2015
Copied from my Live Journal
http://junkfood-monkey.livejournal.co...
Our hero in this story – told in first person - is Paul Lemoyne, who comes up to London in 1934 at age 18 to make something of himself. He becomes a stagehand at the seedy "Palace of Varieties" theatre, but soon learns that both the acts and the back stage staff have other ways of supplementing their incomes...
Like The Back Passage this is definitely VERY smutty. Paul shags his way though every part of London society, from the highest to the lowest. But there's more to the story than the Back Passage. 100 pages more for one thing, and they aren't just 100 pages of smut. The story feels denser. It's more dramatic, the events matter more. There are several pretty dark moments, including where the main character himself does some very dark things, as he allows selfishness and lust to lead him. He regains our sympathy though by paying for these things and regretting them. For instance at one point he's stealing from men he's been seeing (this is a fairly mild example!) but later feels bad about it, and even sees to it that he pays them back when he moves on to more high-paying adventures. But he also loses their trust and any chance of being able to call on any of them for help later.
The character development is more important than in The Back Passage (naturally enough, since that takes place over such a short time period) and Paul ends up on quite a rollercoaster of highs and lows. Towards the end of the book he's falling into a deep low, having done some bad things and already seeing his "career" being over after only a few years. Becoming conscious of the passing of time and how quickly it will take away his greatest assets – youth and looks.
Still it ends on a hopeful note, and with hints of a sequel, which I'd very much like to see. It's a naughty, and riveting read.
Again it's more male fantasy than romantic, though love is certainly in there. Paul falls in and out of love a few times, like the callow youth he is, but that doesn't mean he's not interested in doing everything that moves. Very different from the romantic true love in the two J L Langley books of my previous reviews. This contrast is definitely interesting me. :D The Langley books remind me often of slash fanfic that I've read – as written almost entirely by women. But I've never read any slash that's like the Lear stories, even ones that aren't about hearts and flowers true love.
http://junkfood-monkey.livejournal.co...
Our hero in this story – told in first person - is Paul Lemoyne, who comes up to London in 1934 at age 18 to make something of himself. He becomes a stagehand at the seedy "Palace of Varieties" theatre, but soon learns that both the acts and the back stage staff have other ways of supplementing their incomes...
Like The Back Passage this is definitely VERY smutty. Paul shags his way though every part of London society, from the highest to the lowest. But there's more to the story than the Back Passage. 100 pages more for one thing, and they aren't just 100 pages of smut. The story feels denser. It's more dramatic, the events matter more. There are several pretty dark moments, including where the main character himself does some very dark things, as he allows selfishness and lust to lead him. He regains our sympathy though by paying for these things and regretting them. For instance at one point he's stealing from men he's been seeing (this is a fairly mild example!) but later feels bad about it, and even sees to it that he pays them back when he moves on to more high-paying adventures. But he also loses their trust and any chance of being able to call on any of them for help later.
The character development is more important than in The Back Passage (naturally enough, since that takes place over such a short time period) and Paul ends up on quite a rollercoaster of highs and lows. Towards the end of the book he's falling into a deep low, having done some bad things and already seeing his "career" being over after only a few years. Becoming conscious of the passing of time and how quickly it will take away his greatest assets – youth and looks.
Still it ends on a hopeful note, and with hints of a sequel, which I'd very much like to see. It's a naughty, and riveting read.
Again it's more male fantasy than romantic, though love is certainly in there. Paul falls in and out of love a few times, like the callow youth he is, but that doesn't mean he's not interested in doing everything that moves. Very different from the romantic true love in the two J L Langley books of my previous reviews. This contrast is definitely interesting me. :D The Langley books remind me often of slash fanfic that I've read – as written almost entirely by women. But I've never read any slash that's like the Lear stories, even ones that aren't about hearts and flowers true love.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2019
Paul Lemoyne leaves home at 18 to escape his drunken father. Open arriving in London he is immediately introduced to the world's oldest profession, prostitution, and he loves it. The first two-thirds of the book is scene after scene of Paul sexing it up with men from all walks of life. For the most part, Paul enjoys himself immensely and why wouldn't he? He is young, has no responsibilities beyond himself, and gets paid to enjoy himself in every carnal way possible. Periodically he gets knocked down a peg, and since he never learns to save for a rainy day, has to reinvent himself. But don't despair, Paul's a survivor and he always finds a way to begin again. After awhile Paul begins to tire of his lifestyle. While he enjoys the sex, his life empty and his relationships lack any true emotion. Just as Paul began to tire of his lifestyle, I began to tire of his story. The ending is rather abrupt but I guess it had to end somehow.
September 24, 2014
I enjoyed the novel, and really appreciated the descriptions of the sex and the depictions of the milleu. The only thing keeping me from four or five stars is just how awful Paul could be, and the digressions into his future while giving us a laudable glimpse into how he may have fared, ultimately annoyed me because they became an excuse to skip over juicy emotional moments leaving me feeling tricked.
It could be the proximity to me finishing the story to feeling this way. This is no slight on the work. As soon as I finished Palace of the Varities, I bought three more of Lear's works and am reading them now.
It could be the proximity to me finishing the story to feeling this way. This is no slight on the work. As soon as I finished Palace of the Varities, I bought three more of Lear's works and am reading them now.
June 30, 2019
As noted in all the reviews, this is definitely NSFW. Although set in the 1930s, it reads more like one of those late Victorian or Edwardian "memoirs of a gentleman of leisure" until the very end when it takes a surprising and very unprepared-for turn. Although, looking back, there are clues as to there being more than meets the narrator's eyes in one of the characters. But, that narrator is so caught up in his own story that anything outside himself is given short shrift. Still, the book is well-written and definitely erotic, even pornographic. Lear delivers the real goods once again.
October 30, 2023
What an adventure!
I'm sure many of you are familiar with the work of James Lear (Mitch Mitchell, Dan Stagg etc.), so you know the drill when you pick up one of his books. But with this book putting a male prostitute in 1930s London in the center of the story, Mr Lear REALLY gives it his all here.
Or as our young anti-hero Paul Lemoyne so eloquently describes his life in one of the later chapters of this book:
And he doesn't even mention the one time he used a paperweight, lovingly referred to as an 'objet d'art' for a dildo or the time he fucked a policeman with his own baton.
It feels like we've seen it all in this book. And just as you would expect, the story starts off as innocently as a Charles Dickens novel when 18 year old Paul Lemonye runs away from his family after a disagreement with his unemployed father - and with only the shirt on his back and a few pennies in his pocket, he finds work in a London theater as a stage hand (with the theatre manager frequently sucking off Paul and the other equally young and handsome stage hands in his employ whenever he can catch them in a secluded corner).
It doesn't take long for Paul to realize that the theatre world offers much more than just a meagre salary and a bed. It offers access to well off gentlemen who seem to be milling around the premises without a lady by their side, looking to charm the good-looking lads with bodies hardened from manual labor. One chance encounter later, Paul finds himself in a totally new world where men pay him for sexual favors and provide him with an income that he could only dream of as a simple worker.
He quickly throws any remnants of moral values over board and turns his back on healthy friendships, like his bunkmate Kieran who seems to be one of only two wholesome positive characters in this story - but the hardened Lear fan knows not to look for romance in any of these books.
Paul becomes a sought after rent boy who travels the better circles of London society, especially after a certain gentleman takes him under his wing (or acts as his pimp, if we name it directly) and introduces him as a male model to pose for nude paintings.
Within only 2 years, Paul achieves considerable wealth this way and is a frequent guest in some of the most influential houses of the British empire.
But as Paul confesses willingly on several occasions in his story, he is not the smartest, and led by his cock, makes a ton of bad decisions that end with him losing everything he had and finding himself full circle back at the start. And I think nobody is even surprised.
Paul is an anti-hero through and through. His decisions are morally corrupted, he casts positive friendships aside in favor of sex and money. His emotional decisions lead to as much disaster as everything else he does. The story of young and innocent Lee who was destroyed by Paul's cruel compulsion to get what he wants almost brought tears to my eyes.
All in all, this is a fascinating story with a powerful -albeit hard to like - main character and his many sexual adventures.
It's fantasy, it's certainly entertaining and it featured the usual diverse cast of characters that I like so much about anything that Lear writes.
I am still absolutely in love with Keiran (our hot Irish 'straight' man in this story, cough cough)
This was definitely a 5 star read for me, I'm glad I picked it up!
I'm sure many of you are familiar with the work of James Lear (Mitch Mitchell, Dan Stagg etc.), so you know the drill when you pick up one of his books. But with this book putting a male prostitute in 1930s London in the center of the story, Mr Lear REALLY gives it his all here.
Or as our young anti-hero Paul Lemoyne so eloquently describes his life in one of the later chapters of this book:
I felt that I had done it all. I had been sucked by every type of mouth, fucked by cocks large, small, thick, thin, bent to the left, bent to the right, black, white, brown and yellow. I had stuck my prick into every orifice that would take it. I had shoved it into arses so tight that I thought they would strangle me. I had thrown it into holes so sloppy it was like dangling a piece of string in a bucket. I had come over faces, over backs, over stomachs; I had pissed in mouths, I had taken dildos, I had taken multiple cocks and fingers, I had participated in orgies. I had done it in bedrooms, bathrooms, ballrooms, alleyways, studios, shops, steam baths, public houses, public toilets - anywhere with a floor or a wall and a modicum of privacy. In short, I had done it all, and usually for money.
And he doesn't even mention the one time he used a paperweight, lovingly referred to as an 'objet d'art' for a dildo or the time he fucked a policeman with his own baton.
It feels like we've seen it all in this book. And just as you would expect, the story starts off as innocently as a Charles Dickens novel when 18 year old Paul Lemonye runs away from his family after a disagreement with his unemployed father - and with only the shirt on his back and a few pennies in his pocket, he finds work in a London theater as a stage hand (with the theatre manager frequently sucking off Paul and the other equally young and handsome stage hands in his employ whenever he can catch them in a secluded corner).
It doesn't take long for Paul to realize that the theatre world offers much more than just a meagre salary and a bed. It offers access to well off gentlemen who seem to be milling around the premises without a lady by their side, looking to charm the good-looking lads with bodies hardened from manual labor. One chance encounter later, Paul finds himself in a totally new world where men pay him for sexual favors and provide him with an income that he could only dream of as a simple worker.
He quickly throws any remnants of moral values over board and turns his back on healthy friendships, like his bunkmate Kieran who seems to be one of only two wholesome positive characters in this story - but the hardened Lear fan knows not to look for romance in any of these books.
Paul becomes a sought after rent boy who travels the better circles of London society, especially after a certain gentleman takes him under his wing (or acts as his pimp, if we name it directly) and introduces him as a male model to pose for nude paintings.
Within only 2 years, Paul achieves considerable wealth this way and is a frequent guest in some of the most influential houses of the British empire.
But as Paul confesses willingly on several occasions in his story, he is not the smartest, and led by his cock, makes a ton of bad decisions that end with him losing everything he had and finding himself full circle back at the start. And I think nobody is even surprised.
Paul is an anti-hero through and through. His decisions are morally corrupted, he casts positive friendships aside in favor of sex and money. His emotional decisions lead to as much disaster as everything else he does. The story of young and innocent Lee who was destroyed by Paul's cruel compulsion to get what he wants almost brought tears to my eyes.
All in all, this is a fascinating story with a powerful -albeit hard to like - main character and his many sexual adventures.
It's fantasy, it's certainly entertaining and it featured the usual diverse cast of characters that I like so much about anything that Lear writes.
I am still absolutely in love with Keiran (our hot Irish 'straight' man in this story, cough cough)
This was definitely a 5 star read for me, I'm glad I picked it up!
August 17, 2020
Mentioning shit and piss in an erotica was just not my jam.
This book is really depraved.
I've read James Lear before, so i knew that going in. Its filled with erotica and goes from one scene to the next slowly getting more and more filthy.
So i didnt expect vivid explanations of the smell of dry urine, drinking urine, getting wet with urine and even a few scenes explanations of shit after sex and the shit left over after to be used as erotica as well. Especially the moments where shit were mentioned was super icky.
It really distracted me and made me a little queezy. Why did it have to go there's? This book is filthy enough, it didn't need to literally be filthy.
The overarching story is filthy and doesn't add much other then for loose explanations to get to the next scene. This main character gets used for his body a lot. Thats a given though due to his line of work. Although it's definitely not painted as a respectful career and very much paints it as sinfully depraved and disrespectful.
The main character is super unlikeable. I'm very supportive of sex but this guy really used sex in ways that made it difficult for me to not be judgey.
It was sorta fun seeing the main character get more and more depraved, used and exploring sexuality. Just have to block some of the more disgusting moments from my head to finish the book.
This book is really depraved.
I've read James Lear before, so i knew that going in. Its filled with erotica and goes from one scene to the next slowly getting more and more filthy.
So i didnt expect vivid explanations of the smell of dry urine, drinking urine, getting wet with urine and even a few scenes explanations of shit after sex and the shit left over after to be used as erotica as well. Especially the moments where shit were mentioned was super icky.
It really distracted me and made me a little queezy. Why did it have to go there's? This book is filthy enough, it didn't need to literally be filthy.
The overarching story is filthy and doesn't add much other then for loose explanations to get to the next scene. This main character gets used for his body a lot. Thats a given though due to his line of work. Although it's definitely not painted as a respectful career and very much paints it as sinfully depraved and disrespectful.
The main character is super unlikeable. I'm very supportive of sex but this guy really used sex in ways that made it difficult for me to not be judgey.
It was sorta fun seeing the main character get more and more depraved, used and exploring sexuality. Just have to block some of the more disgusting moments from my head to finish the book.
July 21, 2020
3.75
This was really much better than I expected it to be. There was, of course, a truly shocking amount of sex, some of it quite disgusting. The constant barrage of sexual encounters and the writing style actually reminded me quite strongly of erotic novels from the late 1800s and early 1900s. I’m not sure if replicating that style was the author’s intent, but if so it was well done.
Despite this, towards the end of the book it got to be quite sweet. Somehow through the sex there really was character development of a kind, and that sort of redeemed the book from being just the avalanche of porn it might have been.
This was really much better than I expected it to be. There was, of course, a truly shocking amount of sex, some of it quite disgusting. The constant barrage of sexual encounters and the writing style actually reminded me quite strongly of erotic novels from the late 1800s and early 1900s. I’m not sure if replicating that style was the author’s intent, but if so it was well done.
Despite this, towards the end of the book it got to be quite sweet. Somehow through the sex there really was character development of a kind, and that sort of redeemed the book from being just the avalanche of porn it might have been.
March 27, 2018
James Lear is a gifted writer of smut. I have enjoyed several of his other books but this one became a chore to finish about half-way through. At several points, I became disinterested in the protagonist and his silly shenanigans. It took me about 6 months to finish. This story lacked the wit and crisp movement of his other works. I was none too pleased at the hints of a sequel which never materialized - I suppose Lear also lost interest in this character. I remain a Lear fan but do not recommend this book unless you just want to read his entire collection of work.
October 29, 2017
Although this book was just as full of outrageous gay sex as the Mitch Mitchell series, I didn't find it as enjoyable. The main character wasn't very likeable, and the fact that he's a prostitute throughout much of the book means there isn't much plot besides having raunchy sex. The sex was way filthier which could be a plus or minus, but pee and rape aren't on my list of kinks.
December 3, 2019
It’s very smutty. There’s not really any story beyond the smut.
September 9, 2020
Pretty trashy, a life through the streets, from working the theatre to rent boy, artists model, etc. Not as enjoyable as some of his other books.
April 28, 2021
Lear is a wonderful erotic novelist. I find the Mitch Mitchell series to be much more fun, but this was also well-written and filthy.
November 2, 2023
Typical James Lear. Insatiable cock, bottomless arse, and deceitful, ultimately doomed love.
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