‘Today’s outing was to Dulwich, to see the picture gallery. She had been there, unrememberingly, before, when she was small enough to ride in a backpack, little ranee on a jogging elephant, her view of the paintings relieved by the back of her father’s neck. Though he said ‘Look!’ from time to time they had gone there entirely for his own pleasure.’

In this short extract from new novel The Sparsholt Affair by Alan Hollinghurst we are introduced to Johnny Sparsholt, son of David. The latter’s Olympian god-like life has been blighted by a notorious fall from grace. The novel spans seventy years from Oxford in 1940 to London in 2010, and at the heart of the narrative – only obliquely referenced – is the Sexual Offences Act of 1967.

Hollinghurst, possibly the greatest contemporary British stylist, examines the effect of prohibition on humans, and above all the harm caused by legislation restricting the right to love between consenting adults. He portrays myriad outcomes, from blended families, firm friendships, professional success and enduring love to shame, loss, damage, concealment and misrepresentation. The contemporary art world provides the backdrop to this complex, satisfying and important novel from the author of the Man Booker Prize winning The Line of Beauty.

Hear him discuss his latest novel and a career in books with BBC Arts journalist Razia Iqbal.

Venue: The Great Hall, Dulwich College
Price: £15 or £30 including a copy of The Sparsholt Affair (RRP £20)

CLICK HERE TO BOOK