Chorus of Witches

by Paul Buckland

A thrilling rediscovery - a lost gay classic about a traveling drag show in 1950s England As far as Eric and Gertrude Ford know, their teenage son Colin is off at art school. So imagine their shock and horror when they attend a show at the Palace Theatre and see him take the stage - wearing a dress and wig! Chorus of Witches is the story of Colin, sexy but heartless, and the two men who love Jock, a rough but tender-hearted Scotsman and Alan, a refined older gentleman. It's also a fascinating look at backstage life at one of Britain's earliest drag shows, with an unforgettable cast of bitchy queens like Josie, Netta, and Tessa, whose bickering and banter is as fresh and funny as any modern-day drag queen reality show. First published in 1959 and never previously reprinted, Paul Buckland's Chorus of Witches is an exciting rediscovery, one of the first novels about drag queens and a forgotten gay classic deserving of new attention.

Genres: Classics, LGBT, Romance, Historical, Fiction

238 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1959

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this and I did not expect it to end how it did, such a pleasant surprise.

A scene with two of the main characters sharing a bed was one of my favorite passages I've read in a novel in a long time.

[arc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book pleased me so entirely! My only regret is that Paul Buckland (almost certainly a pseudonym) published no other books. Maybe its because I'm not well read, but rarely, even in movies or television, does a narrative manage to give equal perspective to every principle character. Colin, Jock and Alan each get their turn in the plot spotlight, and each are afforded their rights and wrongs:

Colin is cold and aloof, except when he risks his entire drag career to go tend to an ailing Jock.

Jock is a sullen, sometimes violent, alcoholic, driven to be so by shame, poverty, and a hurtful uncaring world, and only needs real love and affection to pull him out of it.

Alan is upright, put-together, and kind, except when looking down on effeminate gay men who he thinks give more "respectable" homosexuals a bad name.

I use the spoiler tags because Buckland does a fine job of making all three principles human beings. Each one has a reason for thinking their view of the other, and their behavior in respect to them, is correct. And the reader gets to feel how they feel, and can see how it isn't so easy to make judgements on who is right and who is wrong when it comes to love. Especially when the sheer legality of the relationships in question is involved.

The ending was not what I was expecting, in all the right ways. I was so pleasantly surprised. And with a bit of ambiguity, we can even decide what we think will happen to some of our favorite characters. Speaking of characters, outside the three principles, the full cast is hilarious. Buckland's writing style is refreshingly modern, with many catty quips from Netta and Josie in particular.

It is a product of its time and place, the late 1950s in the UK. But in a way that just makes it seem that much more authentic.

5/5 - Fantastic. Bravo to you Paul Buckland, wherever and whoever you were/are.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, a shout out to the powers behind Valancourt Books who reissued this obscure British novel published in 1959. The book is all over the place in describing several types of gay men, ranging from theatrical drag queens to closeted homebodies against the background of mostly 1950s Edinburgh. It was a fun read as the author, writing under a pseudonym was obviously familiar with the milieu. The ending is a delightful surprise, ending the book on a positive note. Highly, recommended for fans of pre-Stonewall literature,

[Scott Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is much stronger than you might imagine. The characters are well drawn and relatable. I would say I can plot them all on to gay friends in my circle today. In some ways It’s remarkable how little has changed in gay culture in the last 70 years. The story is quite recognizable as something that might have happened in my own life.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.3 stars

[Shawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I was reading I had to keep reminding myself this was written and published in 1959. The language and story felt very modern and fresh. There are some authors I read who publish today and I spend the whole time wondering what decade they wrote the book in, so it is nice to read something that transcends that feeling.
The interactions between the queens was my favorite part. I loved the love mixed with cattiness. This was a treasure of a book, that explored love, friendship, and being true to ones self in a wonderful way.