The Short History of a Prince: A Novel

I enjoy Jane Hamilton’s novels, partly because I can usually “place” them – she typically writes about Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin, and partly because she can so beautifully expose the dynamics of a family under stress. “The Book of Ruth” is probably my most favorite of her works, this book, about Walter McCloud, is lesser known (Oprah didn’t put it on her list) but excellent as well. Here, we follow a coming of age of Walter, a young man growing up gay in the 1970’s. During his sophomore year of high school, his brother Daniel dies of cancer, while Walter comes to terms with his homosexuality. Walter is a dancer, striving to be the best in the world, but held back by his middling talent.

We follow him into the 90’s when he teaches poetry at a small school in Wisconsin, and finally comes into his own. This book is a gentle coming of age story that left me smiling when I finished reading. ( )

First of all, I’ve never read anything by Jane Hamilton, despite the fact that her books have often caught my eye in bookstores. [The Short History of a Prince] is not her best known book, nor her most recent. (It was published in 1998.) But I found it to be beautiful written, and I am so glad that I was nudged to pick up this book.

The Short History of a Prince provides two points of entry into Walter McCloud’s life. Half of the chapters are set in 1972-73 when Walter is a high school student taking ballet lessons and dealing with his older brother’s serious illness. Interspersed with those chapters are chapters set in 1995-96 when Walter has recently moved to Otten, Wisconsin to teach high school English. At both points in his life, Walter faces identity challenges. As a teenager, he seems to be losing his footing. His family is rocked by his brother’s illness, and Walter loses an important foundation due to the frequent absences of his parents. His relationship with his friends and his involvement in ballet also shift during this year. Plus, he has his first homosexual relationship. In middle age, Walter is still trying to negotiate who he is (though with a bit more wisdom than before). He moves from New York City to Otten and faces the possible loss of a lakeside house that has served as a gathering place for his family for years.

There are so many threads running through this story. It is an honest look at the challenges of growing up as a homosexual in a small town. It is a story of extended family (Walter’s aunt Sue Rawson is a strong force in his life) and of a small town neighborhood of the kind that seems to have almost disappeared. It is a heart-wrenching look at illness and a tender story of relationships. And, I know that I said it before, but it is beautifully written. ( )

I enjoyed the first half of this book, but it is about a third too long. I had to force myself to finish it, and I don't know why I bothered. ( )

Amazingly this book was written by a woman and yet she seemed to inhabit the skin of an adolescent /homosexual man. You do not love Walter and then you realize Walter was 14 years old struggling with his own sexuality and the death of his brother. The back and froth between the the 1970's and the 1990's was great. Jane Hamilton is a very interesting author who pushes the boundaries. Great book.

Affecting, certainly, in particular the winding down of Daniel's life. (Not a spoiler, since it's clear from chapter one that he's doomed.) Hamilton has also pretty much nailed the adolescent experiences of a little gay boy, trying but unable to hide in plain view. Ultimately, though, I found the book unsatisfactory, somewhat overlong and for sure overdone. "Enough with the summerhouse metaphor!" I wanted to shout at times. ( )