Gaywyck

This is how gothics should be written, IMO. Oftentimes, gothic writers tend to be all style, with zero substance - you know, all the flowery, literary (or TRYING to be literary) prose, but when you come right down to it - there's nothing THERE, like in Anne Rice's books (sorry, I don't like her - I gave her books a chance and - meh....wasn't impressed...there are far, far, better writers of the gothic genre than Anne Rice, IMO.) Anywho, I really liked this one; not only was it well-written, but the time in which it was set (turn of the century) was portrayed accurately.

If you are a fan of gothic romance, as I am, "Gaywyck" is for you. Of course, it's a gothic romance with a twist, with the main romantic characters both being men. But, all the symbols of the genre are here and done well. Robert Whyte is both lovely and gentle. Donough Gaylord is kind and brooding with terrible secrets in his past. They are both shy and inclined to solitude, and from their very first meeting you can tell they are meant to be together. But, as in all gothic romances, there are secrets to be uncovered first before true love can prevail. I do have a minor nitpick. Virga is sometimes too enamoured with the written word and quotes other works liberally. It makes sense in one way, since Robert Whyte is Gaywyck's librarian and he loves literature, but at times, it slows down the plot. That notwithstanding, "Gaywyck" is a lovely novel and truly deserving of a read. If you do decide to take a look, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

This book may have been written in the 1980s but to me the story is timeless. It has everything a gothic romance should have and much more. Dark secrets, alluring isolation in a mansion by the sea, frightening twists and turns, sensual love story, tormented and passionate heroes doomed yet saved in the end. A well described era in New York with fascinating characters you could cheer for. I wish there is more of this in contemporary friction.

Vincent Virga's language, character depictions, and setting all work together to create what I consider to be a carefully crafted piece of literature. Yet, what struck me most was Virga's portrayal of Robert's and Donough's relationship with one another. That is, Virga's wonderful metaphors and intimate descriptions of scenes in which Donough and Robert experience one another physically, sexually, and spiritually truly elevate the ordinary to extraordinary. For example, in the following scene, Robert writes in his journal his impression of Donough rising out of the water as he went for a swim in the ocean, "He rose with a fiery brightness discharging light into the universe. When he tossed his head, a galaxy of stars exploded..."[p.114]. Such exquisite writing captures both the sensuality of the perceived (Donough)along with the longings of the perceiver (Robert). Also, Virga's style shifts the focus from Donough's and Robert's relationship from that of a "homosexual" relationship to that of a "human" relationship. This is, in my opinion, perhaps one of the greatest qualities of the novel. Gaywyck is a story about two people who happen to fall in love -- and they happen to be two men. This is a story about human emotion, human experience, and human companionship. Granted, the medium of the "Gothic" genre as a vehicle to convey these notions might appear as trite to some readers, but overall the sense and depth of Virga's story cannot be overlooked or even discounted as mere triviality or fluff. This is truly a romance that transcends the ordinary!

I read this book in 1980 when it first came out and immediately fell in love. The overwrought purple prose, the excessive digressions into 19th century minutiae, the classic "gothick" plot reminded me of both the gothic novels published in the mid victorian era-- LeFanu's Uncle Silas, anyone? and the then current gothic romance market. The beautiful pale Robert Whyte trips as lightly though this book as any nightgown clad governess clutching a candle, Donough is a master of brooding, more effective than most Owner of Gloomy Old Mansions, and their romance, littered with misunderstandings, has nearly every cliche belonging to the genre. If ever there was a couple who deserved to be together! I am very happy to see it back in print so I can at last replace my tattered old Avon copy.