A Leap of Faith
In apartheid South Africa of the early 1950s, two men meet at a hospital mission: Father Daniel Blakemore, an Episcopal priest, and Dr. Eddie Raleigh. The two men are instantly drawn to each other, but their romance is impeded by the illegality of and attitudes toward homosexuality, and both of their careers could be ruined by any ensuing involvement.
The book switches between a first-person narrative by Blakemore and a third-person close from Raleigh’s point of view, keeping the two distinct while allowing the reader more information about each character. The South African political situation is merely a backdrop, and the book mostly focuses on the budding romance between the two men. Both are veterans of WWII, but only Blakemore served in a combat situation, and the depiction of PTSD (“shell shock,” as it was known then) is both sensitive and compelling.
The characters are likable, and it’s easy to root for their romance. It’s slightly graphic, and there is limited cursing, but those scenes effectively address the internal conflict of those taught that their sexual orientation (indeed, sexuality generally) is sinful. An enjoyable m/m romance with insight into gay romance in the postwar period.
