The Dark Paintings

Although at times this story reminded me of the works of the American writers John Preston and Dennis Cooper and also of the French writer Yves Navarre's brilliant novel SWEET TOOTH, Hugh Fleetwood's THE DARK PAINTINGS ultimately is his and his alone. I have read only two of his novels-- although he has written many-- and both of them are unique and take the reader into the heart of darkness. In this, his latest, he has created a character, Luigi Teramo, the first-person narrator, who is at once funny, repulsive, depraved and--in his own words-- "the goat-man, the evil genius," the "Lord of Misrule"). He is also much richer than his straight siblings who hate him and much better endowed than his brothers as well as the favorite child of his father. In his defense he maintains that other than his "promiscuity and a fondness for cannabis and cocaine," he is no better or worse than most people. He further alleges that he never subjected anyone to any sexual activity without that person's consent and believes in what he calls "the rather old fashioned notion that one should try to behave to others as one would have them behave to oneself," or the golden rule according to Luigi. Apparently he has forgotten his sadistic bondage session with a most unwilling lover Ernst near the beginning of the novel. The novel's title is derived from a group of paintings that Luigi painted in his youth which have long since been locked up and out of public view when he, now in his 50's tells his story. He goes through a string of artistic lovers, all of whom sans one are pawns in his games. Additionally an old friend of his Italian family and next-door neighbor, Caterina, whom he often describes as a witch, keeps coming in and out of his life, always giving him advice, whether asked for or not. This black comedy has enough suspense to keep even the most jaded of readers interested. It is difficult, however, to say much about the labyrinthian plot without giving it away. There is a big surprise near the end of the novel that the clever author has hinted about to the reader all along. You will never read another novel quite like this one. It deserves to be read by a wide audience.