Way of Love

James Courage (1903–63) was a New Zealand–born novelist who spent most of his life in England. He had a prolific literary career, and wrote eight novels, several plays, and numerous short stories. Published by the leading literary publishers of his day, his many novels have since fallen out of print.

‘A Way of Love vibrates with a mix of relief and tension behind each word, and I deeply recognised that feeling. In it I found the thread that knots with my own experiences – a connected family tree of queer fiction, voiced in a different era, but borne of the same convictions.’ Anthony Shapland, author of A Room Above a Shop‘A Way of Love is an important mid-century queer novel. In the framing of central character Bruce and his relationship with the younger Philip, James Courage reveals what daily, domestic life was like for queer men and the challenges they faced (and still face) in navigating the boundary between discretion and openness. This isn’t a sensationalist story, but rather a humane, observational account of one man’s attempts to live his life on his own terms.’ Christopher A. Adams, author of Obscenity, Literary Censorship, and Queer British Fiction‘London, the mid-1950s: an accidental encounter at a concert leads to a bittersweet love affair. James Courage’s brave and compelling novel of love and loss shows how much has changed for gay men in the intervening 70 years - and how much has stayed the same. Beautifully-observed and exquisitely-written, A Way of Love is a gay classic.’ Neil McKenna, author of The Secret Life of Oscar Wilde‘Finally we get to read this important almost-lost novel that helped change how Britain viewed gay men and contributed to decriminalisation - it’s a wonderful, hopeful book.’ Layla McCay, author of The Queer Bookshelf: a reader’s guide