The Gentleman's Madness

By: Summer Devon, Bonnie Dee

Narrated by: Mark James

Two men imprisoned. One in body, the other in mind.

Caught in the throes of passion with another man, scholar John Gilliam agrees to asylum treatment for perversion at the request of his worried parents. He intends to fake a cure then return to his normal life, but an attack on his person leads him down a darker path.

Transferred to another facility, he is denied any devices by which he might harm himself - even books and writing materials. Half crazed by isolation John finds an unexpected friend in his caretaker, Sam Tully.

Tully feels sorry for the patient everyone calls “the professor”, but he must keep his head down and perform his duties. His family relies on his earnings. He refuses to acknowledge the stirring of excitement inside him every time he is in Gilliam’s presence. Thirst for the knowledge the scholar offers wars with the carnal hunger he must deny.

In John’s small cell, learning and mental freedom blossom as the two forge a friendship. Forbidden attraction evolves into physical action. But in the asylum there is more than curative treatment taking place. The pair uncover a terrible secret and must fight not only for their freedom but their very lives.

A Rainbow Award winner.

©2017 Duet Publishing (P)2019 Duet Publishing

Fun and sweet gothic novel

This was fun and sweet, despite the heavy subject matter. John is "caught in the act" with another young man at university and ends up in a mental institution. He is of a wealthy family and he is therefore better treated at the asylum than some of the lower class may be, but it's still a horrid place to be confined.

He develops a friendship and later a love affair with one of the attendants at the place and I was quite concerned as to ow this would end well. The plot is a bit too gothic novel / penny dreadful type thing for my liking, but it was a fun ride after all and I was enjoying myself whilst listening.

The ending is sweet and all you could ask for.

3.5 stars for John and his bear of an attendant.

Great society portrait.

The setting of this book is extremely interesting, an asylum near London at the end of the 19th century.
John Gilliam is an inmate in the asylum and forms an unlikely friendship with one of the attendants, Samuel Tully, which then develops into something more. Through their stolen times together they will discover that the asylum has secrets, and they will work together to uncover them.
Though it can be considered in the category of M/M romance, the book is a great commentary of the society’s situation at the time: it has great insight in the life of the asylum, it doesn’t fully condemn the institutions but it exposes its weaknesses, as well as highlighting its strengths.

Mark James narration is lovely, and makes this historical romance a thing of beauty to listen too.

Good story

Loved the story. The setting was so different and so good. Narrator did a great job. Perfect listening experience. Highly recommend.

overdue triumphs

This story is a glimpse of how being gay in the early ages was dealt with in conversion asylums. I loved the disparity of the relationship that developed and grew between Tully (a caretaker) and John (a patient). Their interactions and banter were endearing and heartwarming. I empathized with the inpatients and their plight. It was good to see the lengths Tully and John went to to gain a fresh start together. The ending was oh so sweet. The narrator's voices added to my enjoyment of the book.

Let Me Out!!

Charming, suspenseful, exciting. A wonderfully concocted story tat will hold the listeners interest until its conclusion.
Mark James narration is spot on.