Milkman's On His Way

David Rees (1936-1993) was the author of over thirty works, the majority being young adult novels. He was also part of the burgeoning gay journalism scene of the late 1970s, and regularly wrote reviews and articles for magazines and newspapers, including Gay News and Gay Times. In the late 1960s Rees moved to Exeter. Many of his stories are set in Devon and Cornwall, including his Carnegie Medal winning historical fiction, The Exeter Blitz (1978). Between 1968-1984 he worked as a Lecturer in Education at the University of Exeter, and the educational dimension of young adult fiction inspired his writing, especially themes of identity and sexuality. Quintin's Man (1976) and In the Tent (1979) featured gay protagonists but The Milkman's on His Way (1982) was his boldest attempt to foreground the experience of gay teenagers in his stories. Other novels like The Hunger (1986), a gay historical romance set during the 1840 Great Famine, were inspired by Rees' Irish family background. From 1985 David Rees was living with AIDS, an experience explored in his adult novel The Wrong Apple (1987). He continued to write until his death in 1993 from AIDS-related illness.

'For some, this honest tale of young love was an affront to their prejudices. To some of us it was a sign we were not alone. It remains as touching and relevant as ever - a gay classic.' Sir Ian McKellen‘Our children are being corrupted and depraved by it.’ Patrick Moore.‘I was horrified to see such things, and to think it is in the children’s library.’ Peter Bruinvels, Conservative, Leicester East.‘Stomach-turning. I could just could not read it from cover to cover. It is desperate.’ Pat Headd, Parents Rights Group Chairman.‘The book glorifies homosexuality and encourages youngsters to believe that it is better than any other sexual way of life.’ Jill Knight, Conservative, Edgbaston. House of Commons debate, 1987.‘Obscene.’ Parents Rights Group.‘Explicit in the extreme, and the vast majority of parents would view with horror the prospect of their children reading it.’ The Journal.‘David Rees’s novel is a gentle and moving coming-of-age and coming-out story. With tenderness, Rees depicts the initial isolation and fear that queerness frequently meant in the 1980s, and can still mean today, and he gives hope to readers that actually it is possible and even likely that you can live a happy, fulfilled life as a queer person. This is well worth reading for its sweet, thoughtful portrayal of queer life in Cornwall and London in the 1980s.’ B.J. Woodstein, author of We’re Here! A Practical Guide to Becoming an LGBTQ+ Parent; Are the Kids All Right? The Representation of LGBTQ Characters in Children’s and Young Adult Lit; and other books.‘Virtually pornographic.’ The Telegraph.‘Why not read The Milkman’s on His Way yourself and then give it to your parents for Christmas? Its story could be enormously helpful to them as they try to come to terms with your gayness. Equally, it could be the Christman cracker that explodes too loudly. Either way, you’ll come out with a bang.’ C. Connellon, review from 1982.

• Introduction: Paul BakerOne: The Meningitis SummerTwo: The Linga Longa CaféThree: The Fairground SummerFour: First LoveFive: The DiarySix: The Swimming-PoolSeven: Coming OutEight: JamesAfterword: Torsten Højer