Michael Harrington Nelson (1921–1990)[1] was a British novelist best known for his 1958 gay novel A Room in Chelsea Square, originally published anonymously.[2][3]
Born in 1921, Nelson was a journalist before the Second World War. He was a secretary to publisher John Lehmann during the war, and served as a captain in the Royal Army Service Corps. Nelson later owned a bookstore in Winchester where he lived with his then boyfriend. Nelson married Rachel Holland, who knew he was gay, and they remained married the rest of their lives. Nelson died in 1990.[4]
Writing
Nelson's first novel Knock or Ring (1957), which drew from his own experiences, was about a "ring" of booksellers who conspired to fix auctions.[4] It received good reviews, but was never reprinted until its 2013 Valancourt Books edition.[4][5]
His second book, A Room in Chelsea Square (1958), was published anonymously owing to its explicit homosexual content.[2][3] It is about a wealthy gentleman who lures an attractive younger man to London with the promise of an upper-crust lifestyle, and has been called a "gay classic".[4][6] It has been reprinted several times.[2] The 2013 Valancourt edition features a new introduction by Gregory Woods.[2][7]
Nelson's other books are Blanket (1959) (published under the pseudonym "Henry Stratton"), When the Bed Broke (1961), Captain Blossom (1973), Captain Blossom Soldiers On (1974), Nobs & Snobs (1976), Captain Blossom in Civvy Street (1978), and Fear No More (1989).[4]
References
^Gay Novels of Britain, Ireland and the Commonwealth, 1881-1981: Drewey Wayne Gunn, McFarland, 2014, p. 111
^ abcdCordova, Steven (26 June 2014). "A Room in Chelsea Square by Michael Nelson". Lambda Literary. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
^ ab. ValancourtBooks.com. Archived from the original on 7 September 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
^ abcde"Author biography: Michael Nelson". ValancourtBooks.com. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
^"Book Description: Knock or Ring (1957) by Michael Nelson". ValancourtBooks.com. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
^Healey, Trebor (28 May 2014). "Early Gay Literature Rediscovered". Huffington Post. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
^Woods, Gregory (29 January 2014). "Introduction to A Room in Chelsea Square". Retrieved 7 September 2014.
January 06, 2023
michael, nelson, novelist, michael, harrington, nelson, 1921, 1990, british, novelist, best, known, 1958, novel, room, chelsea, square, originally, published, anonymously, michael, nelsonmichael, nelson, 1950born1921died1990, aged, namehenry, strattonoccupatio. Michael Harrington Nelson 1921 1990 1 was a British novelist best known for his 1958 gay novel A Room in Chelsea Square originally published anonymously 2 3 Michael NelsonMichael Nelson c 1950Born1921Died1990 aged 68 69 Pen nameHenry StrattonOccupationNovelistLanguageEnglishNationalityBritishGenreFictionGay literatureNotable worksA Room in Chelsea SquareSpouseRachel HollandEarly and personal life EditBorn in 1921 Nelson was a journalist before the Second World War He was a secretary to publisher John Lehmann during the war and served as a captain in the Royal Army Service Corps Nelson later owned a bookstore in Winchester where he lived with his then boyfriend Nelson married Rachel Holland who knew he was gay and they remained married the rest of their lives Nelson died in 1990 4 Writing EditNelson s first novel Knock or Ring 1957 which drew from his own experiences was about a ring of booksellers who conspired to fix auctions 4 It received good reviews but was never reprinted until its 2013 Valancourt Books edition 4 5 His second book A Room in Chelsea Square 1958 was published anonymously owing to its explicit homosexual content 2 3 It is about a wealthy gentleman who lures an attractive younger man to London with the promise of an upper crust lifestyle and has been called a gay classic 4 6 It has been reprinted several times 2 The 2013 Valancourt edition features a new introduction by Gregory Woods 2 7 Nelson s other books are Blanket 1959 published under the pseudonym Henry Stratton When the Bed Broke 1961 Captain Blossom 1973 Captain Blossom Soldiers On 1974 Nobs amp Snobs 1976 Captain Blossom in Civvy Street 1978 and Fear No More 1989 4 References Edit Gay Novels of Britain Ireland and the Commonwealth 1881 1981 Drewey Wayne Gunn McFarland 2014 p 111 a b c d Cordova Steven 26 June 2014 A Room in Chelsea Square by Michael Nelson Lambda Literary Retrieved 7 September 2014 a b Book Description A Room in Chelsea Square 1958 by Michael Nelson ValancourtBooks com Archived from the original on 7 September 2014 Retrieved 7 September 2014 a b c d e Author biography Michael Nelson ValancourtBooks com Retrieved 7 September 2014 Book Description Knock or Ring 1957 by Michael Nelson ValancourtBooks com Retrieved 7 September 2014 Healey Trebor 28 May 2014 Early Gay Literature Rediscovered Huffington Post Retrieved 7 September 2014 Woods Gregory 29 January 2014 Introduction to A Room in Chelsea Square Retrieved 7 September 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Michael Nelson novelist amp oldid 1104583638, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
