Edward Prime-Stevenson (1858–1942)

This book feels like one of those typical children's adventure books for its time (although the characters may be a little older than they typically are, although I do think they are rather naïve). A couple of kids keep running into trouble and need to solve it without adult help. Lots of convenient coincidences occur, as they do in the kinds of stories. The characters are simple and clearly good or bad. While some of the terminology may be unfamiliar, it is very easy to follow due to the simplistic plot wound around these two boys.

The author intended for it to read as gay , but I would say that it still largely reads as a friendship. There are some lines that hint at something more, but even so, they can still be read as being close friends. This is, however, understandable given the times as anything clearly gay was shunned. It was a fun, easy read and definitely holds an important place in queer literature.… (meer)

Fascinating book ... almost unbelievable that it was written in 1906 ... over 115 years ago, but what is most astonishing is how well read the author was ... That may not be entirely evident from this book, but his THE INTERSEXES,, published two years later, in 1908 .. clearly demonstrates the truth of the matter. A reference on page 82 to Imre consulting "The great Viennese psychiater" ... can the man be anyone but Freud? It seems fairly apparent that Prime-Stevenson based much of the two characters in the book on his own life and struggles.

And now we learn that this wasn't Prime-Stevenson's first novel .. that honour goes to a book published in 1891 New York ... entitled: "LEFT TO THEMSELVES: being the ordeal of Philip and Gerald".… (meer)