Alan Hollinghurst, The Line of Beauty

"The worse they are the more they see beauty in each other."

Alan Hollinghurst, The Line of Beauty

"There is a sort of aesthetic poverty about conservatism"

Alan Hollinghurst, The Line of Beauty

"I can’t bear the smell of cigars, can you?” said Lady Partridge. “Lionel hates it too,” murmured Rachel. As did Nick, to whom the dry lavatorial stench of cigars signified the inexplicable confidence of other men’s tastes and habits, and their readiness to impose them on their fellows."

Alan Hollinghurst, The Line of Beauty

"He wanted pure compliments, just as he wanted unconditional love."

Alan Hollinghurst, The Line of Beauty

"Delight is délice, délit is a misdemeanour''Well, it's bloody close...''Well, they often are...."

Alan Hollinghurst, The Line of Beauty