Overview

Oliver, raised by two women in Boston, goes to Rome during a summer break from college to meet his biological father. Their long-anticipated meeting forces each to face deep and complex questions about their sexual identity in the shadows of the Vatican. Intrigue abounds as Oliver falls in love with a handsome Roman man, Giancarlo. Their sudden and all-consuming relationship sets in motion a series of twists and turns, some fortuitous and others tragic. The plot unfolds against Roman history and the art and patrimony of the Church - with magnificent descriptions of each. The book is a touching coming of age story, a romantic tale, and a rich and in-depth exploration of whether the Catholic Church has the theological capacity and the political will to embrace gay relationships.

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9780578955100

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Author Information

Michael Hartwig is a Boston and Provincetown-based author of LGBTQ fiction. Hartwig is an accomplished professor of religion and ethics as well as an established artist. His original oil paintings are represented by On Center Gallery in Provincetown. Hartwig grew up in Dallas but spread his wings early on - living in Rome for five years, moving to New England later, and then working in the area of educational travel to the Middle East and Europe. His fiction weaves together his interest in LGBTQ studies, ethics, religion, art, languages, and travel. The books are set in international venues. They include rich local descriptions and are peppered with the local language. Characters grapple not only with their own gender and sexuality but with prevailing paradigms of sexuality and family in the world around them. Hartwig has a facility for fast-paced plots that transport readers to other worlds. They are romantic and steamy as well as thoughtful and engaging. Hartwig imagines rich characters who are at crossroads in their lives. In many instances, these crossroads mirror cultural ones. There's plenty of sexual tension to keep readers on the edge of their seats, but the stories are enriched by broader considerations - historical, cultural, and philosophical.

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