The Charioteer, Mary Renault
Summary The Charioteer by Mary Renault is a historical fiction and LGBT+ book set in England during World War 2. The novel follows the recovery of Laurie Odell, a 23 year old who sustained an extensive knee injury in Dunkirk, in a rural rehabilitation center. During his recovery, a Quaker and conscientious objector, Andrew Raynes, begins working as an orderly at the center. Against the backdrop of quaint, rural hospital life these two kindle an understanding- which eventually teeters into the gray area and expectations of something more. Interrupting this, however, Laurie reunites with an old mentor and idol from his boarding school, Ralph Lanyon, while receiving a series of special treatments in the city. Ralph comes with an introduction to a tiresome gay scene, which is in sharp contrast to the quite life he lived with Andrew. Eventually Laurie is forced to choose between not only these two men, but these two lifestyles and, ultimately, so much more. Review This work elicit...