A hypnotic, erotic story about the love affair between a French aristocrat and a young farmer he plucks from obscurity, Lovers is a little gem. Balthazar and Sébastien meet the day Balthazar is thrown from a horse and Sébastien saves his life with medicinal herbs. Sébastien Faure is a sensitive farmer's son who becomes aware of his homosexual attractions when he stumbles up on two men making love. Balthazar de Créon is an aristocrat who finds a purpose in Sébastien as well as a love he can't deny.
The two are besotted with each other and Sébastien soon moves into Balthazar's chateau to learn healing arts; but Sébastien decides he wants to be a painter instead, and Balthazar, who scorns his position and refuses to go to Versailles to attend to the king, finds himself dogged by ugly rumors and is brought to trial and condemned to death. When Balthazar's story ends, Sébastien takes to the road but finds that some things aren't so easily let go of.
Lovers is like a prose poem about passion and a love that defines the lives of two men. It's a quick read but one that will leave you entranced and enchanted.
It's my 9th book for the 2012 Europa Challenge.
FTC Disclosure: I borrowed this book from the galley room at the bookstore where I work.
