The Celibate

By Michael Arditti

Book Overview

The first published novel by the award-winning, bestselling and acclaimed Michael Arditti

'It is unusual to find an English first novel of such unflinching moral seriousness ... a varied and involving read' Gregory Woods, Times Literary Supplement

'An exceptional book - at its core it combines the sexual with the spiritual' Sunday Times

'An ambitious first novel, which traces the liberation of a human soul through a gradual revelation of the meaning of passion and the Passion' Candia McWilliam, Independent on Sunday

The Celibate is the story of a young man with a mind full of God, but a heart closed to love. While studying at the theological college, he is confused by his feelings for a fellow ordinand and suffers a nervous collapse at the altar. His college principal sends him on a placement to London, where he enters an unfamiliar world of outcasts, down-and-outs, rent boys and religious fundamentalists.

In increasing despair, he embarks on a journey through the world of Jack the Ripper, the devastation of the Great Plague and the mysteries of his own family. As the past and present come full circle, he finally understands the true meaning of Passion.

This is an intelligent and emotive novel, potent with atmosphere and rich in ideas and insights. It employs a unique fictional structure which integrates the contemporary and the historical, the personal and the theological, the comic and the polemic in a revelatory way. On its initial publication, it was hailed as the debut of a major literary talent.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1906413223
• ISBN13: 9781906413224
• Release Date: April 2009
• Publisher: Arcadia Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.1" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

A Spirityal Sexual Journey

Arditti, Michael. "The Celibate", Arcadia, 2009. A Spiritual Sexual Journey Amos Lassen An unnamed novice priest, the hero of "The Celibate", has a nervous breakdown while celebrating mass. When he undergoes psychoanalysis as a result we learn that he hates the church and is a homosexual. As he deals with his sexuality he meets hustler and sadists and masochists. He takes a job as a tour guide and he uses the historical approach as he leads tourists. He is sensitive and until he begins to experiment sexually naïve. He descends into a world of outcasts, male prostitutes, religious fundamentalists and AIDS patients. As he guides tourists through the haunts of Jack the Ripper, past and present begin to meet and he begins to understand what passion means. The two major themes of sexuality and redemption are constantly with us throughout the novel. The book is, above all, honest and it offers no apologies as it looks at one man's search for God and as our novice looks his vision of God becomes more stern and narrower. His state of grace is actually more of a state of being and being aware. This road to self -awareness is one of self-hatred and degradation and the book is amazing even though the subject matter may cause discomfort. Written as a double monologue, we watch the novice fall from grace and with it fall his life's hopes.

Focuses on Universal Truths

Mr. Arditti has written the most honest, unapologetic book about a gay man's search for God that I have ever read. This is not a book about religioun, mercifully, or a book with the ancillary purpose of converting readers. Once he begins honestly addressing his gayness, the narrator's search for the stern, narrow God in his mind becomes a discovery of something bigger and truer than he imagined. He might name what he finds "a state of grace"; other phrases that would apply would be "self-actualization," "Nirvana," or "the meaning of life." I hope this review doesn't turn off anti-religion readers -- this book itself is rather anti-religion while focusing on universal truths.

Both honest and unaffectedly insightful

There was a comfortable intelligence in this book. Totally accessable and crafted whilst flowing with ease. Its unusual narrative style, though initially a little disorienting, is well balanced. Though a journey through pain it is a beautiful book that imbues the reader with a sense of hope, love and compassion.

An intense journey into a soul.

I found this book harrowing yet I couldn't put it down.I actually took that tour so I could better visualize what I read.My husband and I often read the same books together and couldn't stop discussing this one long after we had read it.I reccommend this book to anyone who enjoys a deep read.Prepare to have your emotions wrung!

Astonishing, unusual and challenging.

Passing via degradation and self hatred, followed by a slow climb to self awareness, self respect and love, this first novel charts a homosexual priest's struggle to reconcile his sexuality, background and religion. Links are drawn with specific episodes of British history that illuminate both the themes and the events in the book. Written before Pagan's Daughter, this novel is in my opinion, considerably better, and is strongly imbued both with authorial conviction and the clear characterisation that I felt was slightly lacking in the second book. The Celibate is an astonishing tour de force. Despite a subject matter that may be somewhat alien and uncomfortable for some readers, one is left with the feeling that one has grown by reading it. My only quibble is that the authorial device of relating the story by switching between first person confession to a therapist and 'tour guides' could lose quite a few readers as it isn't initially clear what the link is. Once it does become clear, it works well. Highly recommended.