Peters' portrayal of Matthew's coming-of-age—with his adolescent awkwardness blossoming into self-awareness and sexual confidence—feels strikingly modern for a novel written nearly 75 years ago.
While there's a general perception that gay America's sexual awakening only occurred after the 1969 Stonewall uprising, the popular conversation around gay lives got started with these 'homosexual novels.'
In the foreword to a new edition of the book, Dr. Christopher Adams highlights a recurring device Peters uses to describe Matthew's conflicting desires, foreshadowing his tragic (and for the time, inevitable) end.
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