Red Lion Square Dreams

Benjamin and Edgar Bowen grow up in London, 1763, under the strict, ambitious guidance of their Dutch mother and Welsh father. Their parents, outsiders themselves, dream of social advancement for their sons through education, refinement, and the cultivation of Englishness. The boys are home-schooled, isolated from society, and drilled in Enlightenment ideals, but their cloistered upbringing leaves them naive and unprepared for the world's realities. Their mother's plan is for them to become "good people" and be accepted by the English elite, but the paradox is clear: she keeps them apart from the very world she wants them to conquer. The family's secrets—especially their mother's mysterious past—cast a long shadow over the brothers' futures.

The Grand Tour Begins

When Benjamin and Edgar come of age, their parents send them on the Grand Tour of Europe, a rite of passage for young men of means. The journey is meant to complete their education, build social connections, and prepare them to inherit the family shipping business. Their mother's guidebook, filled with instructions and Enlightenment philosophy, is their constant companion. The brothers are excited but anxious, each with different hopes: Edgar dreams of parties and acceptance, while Benjamin is more introspective, aware of his own difference and secret desires. The stage is set for both adventure and disillusionment.

Parisian Masks and Cruelties

In Paris, the brothers are swept into the world of English expatriates and the city's rigid social codes. They befriend Sir Gideon Hervey and Augusta Anson, who introduce them to the games of status, mockery, and exclusion. Benjamin, more reserved, is targeted by Augusta's cold wit, while Edgar thrives on the attention. The brothers' lack of pedigree and their father's trade background make them vulnerable to subtle and overt snubs. The cruelty of the English Elite is masked by elegance, and Benjamin begins to see the limits of his mother's dreams. A humiliating encounter at a party leaves Benjamin shaken and Edgar angry, foreshadowing deeper fractures.

The Secret of Rue des Rosiers

A slip of paper with the name "Cardoso, Rue des Rosiers" leads the brothers to Cardoso—revealing their mother's hidden Jewish heritage. The encounter is fraught: Edgar reacts with horror, fearing social ruin if their background is discovered, while Benjamin is more curious and unsettled. The revelation that their mother was disowned by her family for marrying outside her faith, and that the brothers are "half-Jews," becomes a source of shame and division. Edgar insists on secrecy, terrified of the consequences, while Benjamin feels the weight of truth and the burden of lies.

Through the Italian Alps

The brothers leave Paris, their relationship strained by secrets and shame. They travel through Germany and over the treacherous Alps into Italy, encountering other English Tourists and the challenges of the journey. Edgar falls ill, leaving Benjamin alone for the first time. In the isolation of the Italian mountains, Benjamin's sense of self and longing for connection intensify. The landscape is both beautiful and foreboding, a metaphor for the uncertain path ahead.

Meeting Horace Lavelle

In Aosta, Benjamin meets Horace Lavelle, a dazzling, irreverent, and enigmatic young man. Lavelle mocks social conventions, Enlightenment ideals, and the very notion of "goodness." He is magnetic, beautiful, and dangerous—utterly unlike anyone Benjamin has known. Their friendship quickly becomes intense, filled with wit, provocation, and a shared sense of being outsiders. Lavelle's philosophy is one of rejection: reject rules, hypocrisy, and the world's expectations. Benjamin is both seduced and unsettled, drawn into Lavelle's orbit even as Edgar grows wary and resentful.

Seduction and Rebellion

As the trio travels south through Italy, the tension between Lavelle and Edgar escalates. Lavelle delights in provoking Edgar, exposing the emptiness of social games and the hypocrisy of the elite. Benjamin, increasingly infatuated, is torn between loyalty to his brother and the thrill of rebellion with Lavelle. Their relationship becomes physical, a secret and forbidden love that offers Benjamin a sense of freedom and self-discovery. But it also deepens the rift with Edgar, who feels betrayed and abandoned.

Brothers Divided

The brothers' bond, once unbreakable, is shattered by secrets, jealousy, and the influence of Lavelle. Edgar clings to their mother's plan and the hope of social acceptance, while Benjamin embraces Lavelle's rejection of convention. Their arguments become more bitter, culminating in public humiliations and private confessions. Edgar's sense of self is eroded by exclusion and shame, while Benjamin is transformed by love and desire. The family's past—its lies and ambitions—becomes a battleground for the brothers' futures.

Venice: Freedom and Temptation

In Venice, the city of masks and water, Benjamin and Lavelle's relationship deepens. They explore the city's pleasures, from gondola rides to sexual freedom, while Edgar pursues social success among the English elite. The brothers drift apart, each seeking belonging in different ways. Lavelle's philosophy of "reject, reject, reject" is intoxicating but also perilous, pushing Benjamin to question everything he has been taught. The city's beauty and decadence mirror the risks and rewards of living authentically.

Siena: Shame and Confession

In Siena, Benjamin confides in Lavelle about his mother's Jewish heritage and the family's history of secrecy and shame. Lavelle responds with both empathy and provocation, urging Benjamin to embrace pride rather than shame. The city's history of burning "fennels" (a code for sodomites) is a chilling reminder of the dangers they face. The confession brings Benjamin and Lavelle closer, but also exposes the deep wounds inflicted by family and society. The past cannot be escaped, only confronted.

Florence: Madness and Truth

Florence becomes the stage for Lavelle's public breakdown—a furious denunciation of hypocrisy and the emptiness of culture. He exposes the lies of art, society, and even Benjamin's mother's ideals. The episode is both comic and tragic, revealing Lavelle's own trauma and the limits of rebellion. In the aftermath, Lavelle confesses his origins as an orphan abused by a "scholar," explaining his hatred of hypocrisy and his need to reject everything. Benjamin and Lavelle become lovers, united by truth and vulnerability, but the world's dangers remain ever-present.

Rome: Love and Transformation

In Rome, Benjamin and Lavelle retreat into a world of their own, consumed by love and desire. Their relationship is transformative, offering Benjamin a sense of wholeness and purpose he has never known. Edgar, now distant, pursues his own ambitions but is haunted by exclusion and failure. The lovers' happiness is fragile, threatened by the realities of their identities and the impossibility of lasting safety. The city's ancient ruins are a backdrop for both hope and impending tragedy.

Isola Sacra: Betrayal and Loss

A trip to Isola Sacra becomes a turning point. Lavelle, feeling rejected after Benjamin declares his love, seeks out a sexual encounter with a stranger in front of Benjamin, shattering their trust. The act is both a test and a punishment, exposing the limits of Lavelle's philosophy and the pain of loving someone damaged by the world. The relationship unravels, and Benjamin is left devastated. Edgar, trying to save his brother, is unable to bridge the gulf between them.

Naples: The Final Cut

In Naples, the brothers are publicly "cut" by their former friends, led by Sir Gideon, after Lavelle reveals their Jewish heritage. The family's secret, once a source of shame, becomes a weapon used against them. Edgar, overwhelmed by humiliation and betrayal, blames Benjamin for everything and takes his own life. The tragedy is the culmination of years of lies, ambition, and the world's cruelty. Benjamin is left alone, grieving and changed forever.

The Sea and Grief

Benjamin returns to London by sea, haunted by Edgar's death and the collapse of his family's dreams. He buries his brother in a foreign land, isolated and numb. The journey home is a passage through grief, regret, and the realization that the world is indifferent to suffering. The ideals of the Enlightenment, the promise of acceptance, and the hope of love have all been shattered.

Return to London Shadows

Back in London, Benjamin finds his family broken and the house filled with silence and blame. His father is violent and unrepentant; his mother is consumed by grief and denial. The dream of social advancement is revealed as hollow, built on lies and self-deception. Benjamin is expected to resume the family business and continue the charade, but he is changed—unable to return to the life his parents planned.

The Price of Acceptance

Benjamin attempts to re-enter society, hosting a lavish party to mark his debut. The event is a farce, filled with snubs and mockery from the English elite. Lavelle reappears, offering Benjamin a chance at escape and love. Together, they plan to leave London, but violence intervenes: they are attacked in the street, a reminder of the world's hatred and the dangers of being different. The dream of acceptance is exposed as a lie, and the cost of survival is high.

The World Never Changes

In a final confrontation, Benjamin and Lavelle demand money from Benjamin's parents to start a new life. The encounter turns violent: Benjamin's father kills Lavelle in a fit of rage, with his mother's complicity. The family's cycle of lies, control, and violence is complete. Benjamin, now truly alone, leaves home forever. He reflects on the lessons of love, loss, and the unchanging nature of the world. The story ends with Benjamin in Paris, older and wiser, recognizing that forgiveness is impossible and that true change must come from rejecting the world's lies.

Characters

Benjamin Bowen

Benjamin is the novel's narrator and emotional center—a young man raised in isolation, torn between family loyalty and personal truth. He is introspective, intelligent, and deeply affected by the expectations placed upon him. His journey is one of self-discovery, as he grapples with his sexuality, the weight of family secrets, and the allure of rebellion. Benjamin's relationship with Lavelle is transformative, awakening both desire and courage, but also exposing him to pain and loss. His psychological arc is marked by a longing for acceptance, a struggle with shame, and ultimately, a hard-won embrace of authenticity, even at great cost.

Edgar Bowen

Edgar is Benjamin's older brother and closest companion, shaped by the same parental ambitions but more eager to please and be accepted. He is optimistic, sociable, and desperate for approval—from his mother, from society, and from his peers. Edgar's inability to reconcile his family's secrets with his own aspirations leads to increasing anxiety, jealousy, and despair. His tragic end is the result of accumulated shame, exclusion, and the betrayal he feels from both Benjamin and the world. Edgar's death is the novel's emotional nadir, a symbol of the destructive power of lies and social cruelty.

Horace Lavelle

Lavelle is the catalyst for Benjamin's transformation—a beautiful, witty, and subversive young man who rejects all conventions. His philosophy is one of radical rejection: of rules, hypocrisy, and the world's expectations. Lavelle's charm masks deep wounds from a traumatic childhood, and his need to provoke is both a defense and a weapon. He is both liberator and destroyer, offering Benjamin love and freedom but also exposing him to danger and heartbreak. Lavelle's inability to accept love, and his ultimate fate, reflect the costs of living authentically in a hostile world.

Rachel Bowen (née Cardoso/Fonseca)

Benjamin and Edgar's mother is the architect of their lives, driven by her own outsider status as a Dutch Jew in England. She is intelligent, cultured, and fiercely determined to see her sons succeed, but her methods are rigid and her understanding of English society is flawed. Rachel's secrecy about her past and her insistence on perfection create a climate of fear and shame. Her inability to accept her sons' differences, and her complicity in the family's tragedies, make her both a victim and a perpetrator of the novel's central conflicts.

William Bowen

The Bowen patriarch is a self-made man, proud of his achievements but emotionally stunted. His love for his wife is absolute, but his relationship with his sons is marked by expectation, disappointment, and occasional brutality. William's focus on the family business and social advancement blinds him to his children's needs. His final act of violence against Lavelle is the culmination of years of repression and denial, sealing the family's fate.

Augusta Anson

Augusta is a young Englishwoman in Paris, admired for her beauty and wit but also known for her coldness and capacity for humiliation. She represents the English elite's capacity for exclusion and mockery, targeting Benjamin and Edgar for their lack of pedigree. Augusta's interactions with Benjamin are a mix of flirtation and cruelty, exposing the dangers of seeking acceptance from those who will never grant it.

Sir Gideon Hervey

Sir Gideon is the brothers' initial guide to English society in Paris, orchestrating introductions and opportunities. His friendliness is superficial, masking a deep-seated snobbery and capacity for betrayal. When the brothers' secret is revealed, he leads the public "cut" that destroys their social standing, embodying the ruthless self-preservation of the elite.

Cardoso (the Paris cousin)

Cardoso is the Jewish merchant in Paris who reveals the truth of Rachel Bowen's origins. His presence is a reminder of the family's roots and the costs of assimilation. His rejection of the brothers is both a reflection of communal boundaries and a catalyst for the unraveling of their identities.

The Bowen Parents' Tutors (Herr Hof)

Herr Hof and other tutors are responsible for the brothers' intellectual formation, instilling Enlightenment ideals and cultural knowledge. Their role is both nurturing and confining, contributing to the boys' sense of difference and unpreparedness for the real world.

The English Elite (Pelham, Cavendish, Granville, etc.)

These minor characters represent the broader forces of English society—exclusive, performative, and quick to judge. Their interactions with Benjamin and Edgar highlight the impossibility of true assimilation and the ever-present threat of social ruin.

Plot Devices

The Grand Tour as Rite of Passage

The structure of the novel follows the classic Grand Tour, a journey through Europe intended to complete a young man's education and prepare him for adulthood. Instead of fulfilling its promise, the Tour exposes the limits of education, the dangers of naivety, and the impossibility of escaping one's origins. The journey is both literal and metaphorical, charting the brothers' movement from innocence to experience, from hope to disillusionment.

Family Secrets and the Burden of Heritage

The revelation of the Bowen family's Jewish heritage is a central plot device, shaping the brothers' identities and their fate. The secret, kept out of shame and fear, becomes a weapon used against them and a source of internal conflict. The novel explores how the past cannot be erased, and how the attempt to do so leads to tragedy.

Social Exclusion and the "Cut"

The English elite's practice of "cutting" undesirables is a recurring motif, symbolizing the arbitrary and brutal nature of social acceptance. The brothers' rise and fall in society is determined not by merit or virtue, but by pedigree and conformity. The "cut" is both a public humiliation and a death sentence for those who depend on belonging.

The Outsider as Catalyst

Horace Lavelle functions as both a love interest and an agent of chaos. His philosophy of rejection, his beauty, and his trauma challenge Benjamin to question everything he has been taught. Lavelle's presence exposes the hypocrisy of society, the limits of family loyalty, and the dangers of living authentically. His ultimate fate is a commentary on the costs of being an outsider.

Foreshadowing and Irony

The novel is rich in foreshadowing, from the early references to the dangers of the world to the repeated warnings about the consequences of difference. Irony pervades the narrative: the very education and refinement meant to ensure success become sources of alienation; the pursuit of acceptance leads to ruin; love, which promises salvation, brings destruction.

The Minute Game and Enlightenment Ideals

The "Minute Game," invented by the brothers' mother, is a recurring device that symbolizes the family's faith in knowledge and performance. The Enlightenment ideals drilled into the boys are shown to be inadequate in the face of real-world prejudice and cruelty. The gap between theory and practice, between ideals and reality, is a source of both comedy and tragedy.

Analysis

Neil Blackmore's The Intoxicating Mr Lavelle is a historical novel that feels acutely relevant to contemporary readers. At its core, the book interrogates the promises and failures of Enlightenment ideals—reason, progress, and equality—when confronted with the realities of prejudice, exclusion, and inherited trauma. Through the story of Benjamin Bowen's journey from sheltered innocence to painful self-knowledge, the novel explores the dangers of living according to others' dreams and the necessity of forging one's own path, even at great personal cost. The relationship between Benjamin and Lavelle is both a love story and a philosophical debate, dramatizing the tension between conformity and rebellion, safety and freedom. The book is unflinching in its depiction of social cruelty, the violence of exclusion, and the psychological toll of shame. Yet it also offers a vision of hope: that in rejecting the world's lies and embracing one's true self, even in the face of loss and rejection, there is a kind of liberation. The final message is clear—true change comes not from forgiveness or acceptance by the powerful, but from the courage to reject what is false and to live authentically, whatever the cost.

Last updated: April 29, 2025