The Disappearance Boy

1953. The backstreets of Brighton are buzzing with preparations for the celebrations of the Coronation of Elizabeth II and, at the Grand Theatre, illusionist Teddy Brookes is plotting something crowd-pleasing to crown the occasion—with some assistance from glamorous Soho showgirl Pamela Rose. What the audience can never see is that, hidden behind the smoke and mirrors of his act, there is a whole world of secrets and lies…

And a disappearance boy.

In his acclaimed fourth novel, Neil Bartlett once again performs his trademark trick of slipping into the hidden spaces of queer history and bringing them vividly to life. Originally published in 2013, this new edition includes an introduction by the author and an Afterword with world famous illusionist, Derren Brown.

"Seductive, dark, theatrical and fascinating, Bartlett's writing is spellbinding"—Russell Tovey;

"As someone who works in theatre and live performance, I adored the way Bartlett drew out the characters and life of a backstage world, the glamour and sadness that can sometimes go hand in hand in entertainment. Bartlett writes in a way that draws you personally into the story, yet never lets you fully trust what the outcome may be"—Travis Alabanza

"The Disappearance Boy surrounds us in the crumbling spectacle of British variety entertainment—inviting us to an off-season Brighton where performers in lonely digs navigate their marginalised bodies and identities. They long to defy the boundaries of a restrictive and soon to be outdated world. A hypnotic and haunting journey that conjures the ghosts of variety into unexpected and emotive misdirections—the magic cannot be confined to the stage, but breaks through every page"—Marisa Carnesky

"Vivid characters, a fascinating subject and an expertly evoked setting. Excellent."– Daily Mail

"Bartlett delights in taking that which was once hidden and making it clear for all to see." – Independent

"This book and its enchanting characters had me under their spell. I was bewitched." – Sheila Hancock

"Mysterious, tender and utterly compelling." – S.J. Watson

"One of England's finest writers" – Edmund White