A Gentleman Tutor
A Gentleman Tutor
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This was a bit of a disappointment after all the good reviews. A lot of the writing is overly flowery or obtuse that it was sometimes hard to understand what the author or the main character, Frank/Francis, was trying to say. Something like the nature of his injury, as a major plot point, needs to be more clear - I wasn't even sure if he was partially or fully castrated or not until the salve rubdown scene and even then I wasn't at 100%.
Most importantly, the relationship between Frank and Gracie didn't feel like it had a natural progression, going from 0 to 60 very unnaturally and making me uncomfortable. Mid-book, we have Frank laughing to himself that he's in love with his student a mere week or two after they've first met and have hardly spoken about anything other than geography or Gracie's very unhealthy relationship with Dixie, when ever since returning from the war Frank was of the mind that he'd never be able to love a man as a man (due to his at-this-point-unclear groin injury plus the laws of the era). This “revelation” of his also comes after he walks in on Dixie and Gracie in very brutal and very public S&M session in the front hall, while the Lord (Gracie's dad) is actually home. Frank saves them from the Lord's discovery with what reads like a slapstick comedy scene but that is so poorly written that it's hard to follow.
Frank's various lectures in colonialism was definitely the author trying to get a point across and didn't seem like something a 25 year old Regency ex-soldier would choose as his first (and seemingly only) lesson nor that a spoiled 20 year old viscount would be particularly interested in, enough to kick out his best friend/lover over the tutor's hurt feelings. Dixie's attitude, while grating, was much more realistic as opposed to Gracie's wide-eyed innocent interest. Gracie was also written ridiculously child-like even as well-travelled, sexually experienced, and just as old as he is - another reason this relationship was uncomfortable to read.
Overall, this book feels wholly unrealistic and doesn't have enough smut to make it a pulp romance though the writing is at that level. This is one you can skip.
I just adore Harper Fox's writing style. She's unparalleled at creating a mood, a scene, an interaction. A Gentleman Tutor was full of great moments, but I wish the plot had been given a bit more room to breathe and grow. From the moment we meet Francis “my friends call me Frank” Harte, we sympathize with him - cold, tired, war-wounded in more than one way, and a good friend to his dissolute childhood pal/comrade-in-arms Cyril. The chance to secure a better job as live-in tutor to the charming, immature Viscount “Scapegrace” Gracie seems like a godsend but Francis soon learns that there is a lot of creepy shit happening within the warmth of his new environment. He finds himself falling for his student (it's okay, Gracie is 20 and there are only 5 years between them) but Gracie has a strong, disturbing relationship with his friend Arthur “Dixie” Dickson, not to mention he is engaged to be married to an heiress, so Francis knows his feelings can't be returned. Gracie shows surprising depths at times, but he still seems in thrall to Dixie, and Francis has nothing to offer except his books and his love. Fox does a great job of providing historical context for the book, at the height of Britain's colonial empire and at the point where Oscar Wilde's trial set fear into the hearts of those who engaged in “the love that dare not speak its name.” Francis helps Gracie question the validity of his country's conquests, and it's delightful to watch Gracie struggle to incorporate Francis' lessons into the Euro-centric worldview he has always held. There are many moments in the book to savor between Francis and Gracie, so it pains me to admit that the love story didn't quite work for me. Within two weeks of starting his new job, Francis has decided he is desperately in love, despite Gracie's complicity in some really awful shit. Gracie comes across as a beautiful naif, blind to horrible things happening under his nose. He grows up quickly but not quite sufficiently for my taste. He does make several grand gestures that show his support and love for Francis, but at the end he still seemed more like a boy than a grown man.I thought the book would have benefited from a few more chapters devoted to Francis and Gracie getting to know each other. I had similar feelings about Fox's most recent release, [b:Escort 45275690 Escort (Three Tales of a Silver Fox) Harper Fox https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1555996396l/45275690.SY75.jpg 69984265], but perhaps I am just greedy to savor the author's strong yet delicate style. There are numerous delights in this book's too-few pages, including reflections on [b:Vanity Fair 5797 Vanity Fair William Makepeace Thackeray https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1344386439l/5797.SY75.jpg 1057468] and the surprising resolution to Gracie's fiance's story. I absolutely recommend A Gentleman Tutor, just be prepared to finish it wishing it had been longer.