Set in jazz-era London, As a Lover interweaves a heroic battle against censorship with a tender coming-of-age love story. The story is told from the points of view of Maggie Dillon, a former mill worker from Belfast, and celebrated author, Radclyffe Hall. It was inspired by Hall’s fight to keep her novel, The Well of Loneliness, in circulation after the establishment tried to suppress it. You can read an extract here.
‘Sweeping history, deep emotions and lyrical storytelling animate this tender love story that illuminates the inner lives of neglected legendary heroines. I loved it.’ (Michelle Gallen)
‘As a Lover is that rare and precious thing, an historical novel whose concerns are every bit as urgent now as they were then. A story of real power, told by a writer of consummate skill. Read it. Do.’ (Glenn Patterson)
Hilary McCollum is an Irish writer and creative activist on violence against women and girls, lesbian visibility, and the environment. Her first novel, Golddigger, won the 2016 Golden Crown Literary Society prize for historical fiction. In 2021, she completed a PhD in Creative Writing at Queen’s University Belfast, which focused on lesbian historical fiction. She has written four plays, including Life & Love: Lesbian Style, which was shortlisted for best new writing at the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival. Her memoir, Funny Peculiar (Brandon, 2008), was published under the name Constance McCullagh. She lives by the sea in Ireland with her partner, cat and two dogs.
Reviews (3)
3 reviews for As a Lover
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★★★★★
★★★★★
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★★★★★
Anna Feuchtwang –
I didn’t want to leave this book, I felt so attached to Maggie, John, Seven and Una. It made me smile and weep. It’s full of extraordinary historical details, humour, joy, hope and it’s deliciously sexy. Even though you know the outcome of the trial it’s also very suspenseful and made me furious. I loved this beautiful book.
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★★★★★
Claire Dooher –
This is a truly marvellous book that will make you laugh, cry and everything in between. The writing is powerful and engaging and the dual narrative draws you into the very different yet very similar worlds of Radclyffe Hall and Maggie Dillon. Hilary McCollum is a phenomenal writer and I think this is some of her best work to date.
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★★★★★
Ann Marie Greensill –
The best book I’ve read in a long time.
Rarely have I read such a fabulous, gripping novel that centres lesbian lives and history. McCollum is an exceptional storyteller, and easily takes her place alongside Sarah Waters, Emma Donohue and Jeanette Winterson.
I love how McCollum has chosen to write about this explosive period of lesbian history, with a dual narrative of the author Radclyffe Hall and a fictional character, Maggie Dillon, a young Irish woman training to be a firefighter. It works.
The story of the impact of Hall’s book, The Well of Loneliness (aka the lesbian bible), when it came out almost a hundred years ago is compelling and extraordinary. McCollum creates the world of the underground lesbian scene in the 20s in immersive, vivid colour.
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Anna Feuchtwang –
I didn’t want to leave this book, I felt so attached to Maggie, John, Seven and Una. It made me smile and weep. It’s full of extraordinary historical details, humour, joy, hope and it’s deliciously sexy. Even though you know the outcome of the trial it’s also very suspenseful and made me furious. I loved this beautiful book.
Claire Dooher –
This is a truly marvellous book that will make you laugh, cry and everything in between. The writing is powerful and engaging and the dual narrative draws you into the very different yet very similar worlds of Radclyffe Hall and Maggie Dillon. Hilary McCollum is a phenomenal writer and I think this is some of her best work to date.
Ann Marie Greensill –
The best book I’ve read in a long time.
Rarely have I read such a fabulous, gripping novel that centres lesbian lives and history. McCollum is an exceptional storyteller, and easily takes her place alongside Sarah Waters, Emma Donohue and Jeanette Winterson.
I love how McCollum has chosen to write about this explosive period of lesbian history, with a dual narrative of the author Radclyffe Hall and a fictional character, Maggie Dillon, a young Irish woman training to be a firefighter. It works.
The story of the impact of Hall’s book, The Well of Loneliness (aka the lesbian bible), when it came out almost a hundred years ago is compelling and extraordinary. McCollum creates the world of the underground lesbian scene in the 20s in immersive, vivid colour.
Buy it now.