Harry's Great Trek
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- Category: Fiction » Gay & lesbian fiction » Gay
- Published: Feb. 3, 2015
- Words: 184,760
- Language: English
- ISBN: 9781311104731
Roger Michael Kean spent his childhood in Nigeria, West Africa then survived (just) a British boarding school. He studied fine art and film technique (he edited TV sports films for a decade) before accidentally dropping into magazine and, eventually, book publishing. After the African experience, he has travelled widely for exploration as well as relaxation. In the mid-1980s, he was co-founder of a magazine publishing company which launched some of Britain’s most successful computer games periodicals, including CRASH and ZZAP!64. Since then he has edited books on subjects ranging from computer games, popular music, sports and history, including "The Complete Chronicle of the Emperors of Rome", with links to the original illustrations at the Recklessbooks.co.uk website. In addition to the titles shown here, Kean has also written, under the name of Zack, his artist-partner, the paperback "Boys of Vice City" and "Boys of Disco City", available in paperback and Kindle from Amazon. The third in the series, "Boys of Two Cities" is out in November 2012.
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Reviews
I’ve been waiting for Harry’s story ever since I was introduced to him in A Life Apart. There was just something about Harry that captured my heart. I’m not sure if it was because he suffered from unrequited love and was never able to find another to replace his one true love or because Harry seemed to flounder and I’m drawn to those characters. It’s funny, he’s not a main character in A Life Apart and I really didn’t get to know a lot about him but I couldn’t get him out of my mind. He didn’t get his HEA in A Life Apart or in Gregory’s Story, book 2 of The Empire Series and I really thought he deserved to have one of his own.
Harry’s Great Trek isn’t just a story about the love of two men in a time when it was forbidden but a story about friendship, duty and sacrifice. It follows British Army Officer Harry Smythe-Vane and his company from one mission to another trekking their way through places that very few if any westerners have traveled mapping new lands. Engaging tribes that are primitive but no less dangerous, Harry and his crew align themselves with some and fight others.
Between missions Harry returns to London navigating society and its own pitfalls. Harry finds himself rubbing elbows with Winston Churchill - who accompanies Harry on later missions - and partying with Oscar Wilde who lives a secret life that eventually lands him in prison. It’s at a party with Oscar Wilde that Harry encounters his godson Jolyon whom he hasn’t seen for many years. Jolyon has grown into one of the most beautiful men Harry has ever seen and he’s instantly smitten but Jolyon resists Harry’s charms favoring the wilder side of London society and people. Eventually Harry wears Jolyon down and the two start a heart-warming romance. Wishing to be by Harry’s side Jolyon trains to be a munition and bomb expert then joins Harry’s company to travel to far off places.
Harry’s Great Trek took me to places I’d never be able to go except in my mind and Roger Kean’s narrative paints a vivid picture that makes it easy to imagine being there. I laughed, I cried, I cringed and I was put through a whole gamut of emotions with this story. There are times when the drama makes me want to hide my face behind my hands - an encounter with a particular tribe being a bit brutal and frightening, but it’s important to the growth of Harry and Jolyon’s relationship.
It’s a long story close to 500 pages but every word of this story makes it what it is: a wonderful adventure and a beautiful love story. I got my HEA or should I say Harry got his HEA and I’m forever grateful to author Roger Kean for giving me such an amazing story, with wonderful characters...but mostly for making Harry come to life.
One last note: 5 Stars for the cover art work by Oliver Frey