Amigos de paso

The episodes comprising this novel span twelve years in the life of the writer—who distances himself to observe his own persona—across four settings: Berlin in 1928, a remote Greek island in 1933, London in 1938, and California in 1940. From each location, the author recalls the person around whom his life revolved: the stiff, solitary Mr. Lancaster, whose old-fashioned morality paradoxically prompted young Christopher to discover his own eroticism amidst the libertine cabaret scene of Berlin; the wealthy Ambrose, disillusioned by England’s intolerance toward homosexuality and resigned to a life where he might satisfy his desires but would likely never find love; Waldemar, a hustler attempting to use a young English heiress to flee Germany; and Paul, an American gigolo who sells his charm to the wealthy figures populating the booming Hollywood industry. Through these characters, Isherwood weaves an intimate, deeply personal narrative exploring the secret lives of a generation condemned to experience affection as sentimental tourists.