DownloadThe Portobello Bookshop Gift Guide 2024

The New Life

A tale of love, courage, and societal transformation

Tom Crewe author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Vintage Publishing

Published:11th Jan '24

Should be back in stock very soon

This paperback is available in another edition too:

The New Life cover

In The New Life, John and Henry strive for a revolutionary existence amid societal turmoil, risking everything for love and acceptance during a pivotal time in history.

Set in London during the year 1894, The New Life follows the intertwined lives of John and Henry, two men who dare to envision a different existence amidst a society rife with prejudice. As the infamous Oscar Wilde trial stirs public sentiment and ignites controversy, their hopes for a new way of living are placed in jeopardy. Both men are navigating their desires in a world that offers little acceptance, yet they find solace in each other and share an ambitious dream of advocating for the legalization of homosexuality through a groundbreaking book.

John, having finally discovered love, is determined to protect his newfound relationship, while Henry believes that his unconventional marriage will provide the freedom they seek. Together, they embark on a journey to articulate their vision, but the arrest of Oscar Wilde serves as a catalyst that threatens to unravel their aspirations. As they grapple with the implications of their work, the question looms: how much are they willing to sacrifice for their beliefs and the possibility of a new life?

The New Life is a beautifully crafted narrative that explores themes of desire, identity, and the moral complexities faced by those who dare to challenge societal norms. With rich character development and poignant storytelling, this novel delves into the lives of individuals who not only seek personal fulfillment but also aspire to inspire societal change. The book has garnered critical acclaim, being recognized as a significant contribution to historical fiction and a testament to the enduring struggle for love and acceptance.

I loved this book -- Zadie Smith
'Tom Crewe inhabits the minds, lives and bodies of his visionary late-nineteenth century characters with almost eerie precision and intensity. The result is subtle, sexy and beautifully crafted - a wonderful book' * Sarah Waters *
'Clever and kind, The New Life is a book of wonderful generosity and compassion' * Alice Winn, author of In Memoriam *
It is a pleasure to discover a young novelist with such a wise sensibility - and also, one who can construct such convincing characters. * Sunday Times *
This is a corker... one of the literary debuts of the year * The Times, *Books to Look Out For 2023* *
'Extraordinary in its depiction of reform and liberalism in Britain in the late-1800s' * Jonathan Bailey, star of Bridgerton *
The New Life is filled with nuance and tenderness, steeped in the atmosphere of late nineteenth century London, a world on the brink of social and sexual change. Tom Crewe's brilliant novel dramatizes the relationship between the visionary and the brave, charting the lives of men and women who inspired not only political progress but an entire new way of living and loving. -- Colm Tóibín
'A beautifully written debut set in Victorian London... some of the best writing on desire I've read' * Douglas Stuart *
[Tom Crewe is] a very fine new writer -- Kate Atkinson
Electrifying. Tom Crewe's forensic love of the physical puts the body back into history and makes the past a living, changing place -- Anne Enright

ISBN: 9781529919714

Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 23mm

Weight: 268g

384 pages