This is an auction for THE CHARIOTEER, by Mary Renault.

From Wikipedia:

“The Charioteer is a 1953 war novel by Mary Renault. It was first published in the United States in 1959. The Charioteer is significant because it features a prominent gay theme at an early date and quickly became a bestseller within the gay community… This novel is set in the period of World War II at a military hospital during nightly bomb raids and blackouts. The story's protagonist, Laurie Odell, is a young soldier wounded at Dunkirk who must decide if his affections lie with a conscientious objector or a naval officer. The conscientious objector, Andrew Raynes, is a young Quaker, as yet unaware of his own homosexuality, who is working as an orderly at the military hospital where Laurie is being treated. Ralph Lanyon, who commanded the Merchant Navy ship which brought Laurie back from Dunkirk, was Laurie's boyhood hero at school, but he was expelled for an incident with another boy. He is sexually experienced and an established member of the homosexual sub-culture of the nearby city. Laurie must come to terms with his own nature as well as the two different aspects of love characterised by Andrew and Ralph: the 'pure', asexual nature of his love for Andrew; and the sexual satisfaction of his love for Ralph. The story's wartime setting enabled Renault to consider issues such as how gay men could be valued and useful members to society whilst still remaining true to their nature. In her subsequent novels, Renault focused on stories about male lovers in the warrior societies of ancient Greece. Thus she no longer had to deal with modern gay issues and prejudices, and was free to examine the nature of male love and heroes as the object of love.”

More on Wikipedia.

Paperback 1993.

347 pages.

Good condition.

The cost of shipping is $3.95.

There is of course no charge for shipping if you collect this book from my shop in Palmerston North following the auction.

Payment within seven days, please.