I Am Not Raymond Wallace

Product Information

A "historical" novel that starts in 1963 with some looks back and an epilogue that is set in modern times.

Manhattan, 1963: weeks before the assassination of President Kennedy, fresh-faced Raymond Wallace lands in the New York Times newsroom on a three-month bursary from Cambridge University. It’s shocking to remember that Raymond had come from a country four years away from decriminalising his sexuality, and, of course, it would be many more years before same sex relationships could be both celebrated and recognised in law.If you’re into romance stories, and believe in the power of love and how much it can change a person, I’d recommend you this book. Surprisingly graphic in a few places, the story is lovely and warm, and you can fall in love with the protagonist of the title easily. There are and were scenes of gay sex portrayed quite vividly, but this should be a story that anyone and not only gay men or boys, should read if you know what true and real love and love for LIFE is all about.

The story is highly evocative of Manhattan in 1963 at the start and written in a traditional novel style.In part two which is set in 2003 and starts two thirds of the way through the book - some of the characters use 'letters' to communicate with other people to continue the narrative. He soon discovers his elusive boss, Bukowski, is being covertly blackmailed by an estranged wife, and that he himself is to assist the straight-laced Doty on an article about the ‘explosion of overt homosexuality’ in the city.

Jetlagged and excited, Raymond makes his way to the newspaper’s office wearing one of his late father’s suits. Opening in 1963, it follows a Cambridge undergraduate, fresh out of college, who’s won a three-month bursary at The New York Times and meets the love of his life.

He’s told to wait for Dolores, the editor’s secretary, who sizes him up before introducing him to Bukowski, her boss. As his bursary draws to a close, he’s faced with a choice which we know from the start he will regret. Witty, touching and hopeful, it’s an absorbing novel which ends with a sentence that brought tears to my eyes.