He'd never really felt as if he suffered under the weight of his particular form of manhood any more than he suffered under his desire for other men. His body might not be configured in quite the way he would have liked, but it generally worked well enough. [loc. 2454]
The setting is New York in 1831: the protagonists are William Blackwood and Augustus Hill, both doctors, who meet when they are engaged to catalogue the scientific and medical collection of the late Doctor Russell. It's not clear why they've been chosen for this task, for both are outsiders: William is Black, educated in Glasgow because no American school would take him, and Augustus is a disabled former Naval surgeon.
The two are immediately attracted to one another, and they don't take things slowly. But then Augustus discovers that a 'hermaphrodite' -- in modern parlance, a trans man -- is being confined at the hospital where he works, and he enlists William's help to free Mr Moss: "Because I am like him."
William does not react well. It is to his credit that he is able to work with Augustus to free Moss, who may have made some powerful enemies. And to Augustus' credit that he sets aside his personal distress for the greater good.
The setting, the supporting cast and the different oppressions and prejudices to which the characters are prey, were fascinating: but the plot didn't really hang together for me. Despite the dangers and the risks, everything fell into place very quickly and neatly -- or, like Doctor Russell's bequest, was left unexplored or unexplained. It all seemed rather too easy, and there was no obvious antagonist. (Well: society.)
Still, a very interesting exploration of a period and location with which I'm unfamiliar, and a sensitive depiction of the issues of trust and honesty in a relationship where neither person has previously been free to be himself.
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