| The Charioteer centers around Laurie ODell, a young Dunkirk veteran stationed in a military hospital. Laurie is a homosexual. While undergoing physical therapy for his shattered knee, Laurie falls in love with a young conscientious objector named Andrew Raynes. This love is complicated when an old school mate once again enters Laurie's life. Ralph Lanyon is also homosexual and has deep feelings for Laurie, but Laurie feels that he must remain loyal to Andrew, even though their relationship is built on friendship rather than sex. Laurie remains torn between his romantic feelings for Andrew and his stronger desires for Ralph. Laurie must hide his true nature from his fellow soldiers and his mother while trying to find balance and love in his life. Ralph reveals his true feelings for Laurie, which forces Laurie to face up to the fact that he is romantically in love with Andrew and physically attracted to Ralph.
Shortly after Laurie and Ralph spend the night together, Laurie runs afoul of Bunny, Ralph Lanyon's former lover, who knows of Laurie's romantic interest in Andrew Raynes. Bunny posses as Ralph and suggests that he and Laurie are having an affair. This upsets Andrew and he applies for a new post. When Laurie finds out what "Ralph" did, he immediately reacts by severing all ties with Ralph. He goes AWOL and searches for Andrew in London. When he finds his friend, something inside Laurie changes and he realizes that he loves Andrew and that Andrew loves him, but it is a different kind of love than what he'd wanted or anticipated. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book? - thoughtful Time/era of story - 1930's-1950's Romance/Romance Problems Yes Kind of romance: Kind of sex: - two guys doing it Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Taboo sex story? Yes Unmarried Love Triangle? Yes Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Ethnicity/Nationality Main Adversary Identity: - none Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 4 () Europe Yes Misc setting Writing Style Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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