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Henry Dobbs is born into ugliness and squalor in the Kensington slums in London. He is a strange boy in many ways; he cares a great deal for well-made and rare things and the beauty that he sees in them, but people are a different matter. They seem relatively unimportant to him, really only there for his convenience.
As he grows up, despite a savage and loveless relationship with his harridan mother, Henry begins to flower. His one-eyed attention to lovely things is translated slowly into knowledge, which eventually earns him a job with Riley's, an up and coming firm of removalists. As his career blossoms, he reaches the position of foreman of what the company hopes will be the finest team in the land, the one to get them the best contracts.
One day it seems as if their hopes have been fulfilled. Sir Isaac Epstein hires Riley's to transport his priceless collection to his new home in the country. Henry comes face to face with items he has dreamed about, and which bring out in him a strange new sense. Is it that he wants to protect them? Or is it something more mixed and concerning that secretly comes out in his beauty-loving soul? The extraordinary effect of the beautiful pieces of the Epstein collection precipitates an action that will change Henry's life...
The Lover of Things was first published in 1934. Radclyffe Hall's insightful and careful delineation of a character who would now be seen as neurodiverse (on the autism spectrum) was way ahead of its time, and confirmed her reputation for exploring challenging and less usual territory.
About the author
Radclyffe Hall was an English author best known for her groundbreaking works exploring themes of sexuality, gender identity, and social norms. Born in 1880, she gained prominence in the early 20th century, particularly for her novel "The Well of Loneliness," which centers on the struggles of a lesbian protagonist. Another significant work, "The Unlit Lamp," delves into the life of Joan Ogden, a young woman navigating her identity amid societal expectations and familial pressures.
Hall's writing often challenged conventions, addressing the complexities of love and identity. She was an influential figure in the LGBTQ+ literary canon, remembered for her candid portrayals of same-sex relationships at a time when such topics were often taboo. Her work contributed to the discourse around gender and sexuality, providing a voice for those marginalized by society. Hall passed away in 1943, leaving behind a significant body of work that continues to inspire and provoke thought today.
