Watch Alan Hollinghurst discuss The Sparsholt Affair

In this series of videos, the Man Booker winning author discusses his new novel, The Sparsholt Affair.

The Sparsholt Affair is the long-awaited sixth novel from Man Booker prize winning author Alan Hollinghurst. Beginning in Oxford during the Second World War and ending in London in 2013, The Sparsholt Affair is a masterly novel about sexuality, art and family secrets, told through the lives of three generations of one family. In this series of videos, Alan Hollinghurst discusses the novel, its themes and characters, and shares his reasons for writing about wartime Oxford. 

Alan Hollinghurst on: The Sparsholt Affair

Alan Hollinghurst on: David and Johnny Sparsholt

Alan Hollinghurst on: writing about Oxford in the Second World War

Alan Hollinghurst on: writing about life before and after the decriminalization of homosexuality

Alan Hollinghurst on: the changing landscape of class

Alan Hollinghurst on: the appeal of writing about the upper classes

Alan Hollinghurst on: the distinction between novelist and portraitist

Alan Hollinghurst on: the artist Paul Maitland


The Sparsholt Affair

by Alan Hollinghurst

Book cover for The Sparsholt Affair

Alan Hollinghurst’s masterly new novel evokes the intimate relationships of a group of friends bound together by art, literature and love across three generations. It explores the social and sexual revolutions of the most pivotal years of the past century, whose life-changing consequences are still being played out to this day. Richly observed, disarmingly witty and emotionally charged, The Sparsholt Affair is an unmissable achievement from one of our finest writers.