DAVID AT OLIVET

by Wallace Hamilton ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 28, 1978

This novel can be regarded as an exegesis of the homoerotic elements which are, in my judgment, implicit (and sometimes very nearly explicit) in the books of Samuel."" So here we have a Biblical young David who takes note of King Saul's roving eyes, teasingly leads Saul on, and then plays hard to get--resisting when Saul makes a move (""Roll over, boy, and spread that pretty rump"") but returning later to receive ""Saul's essence"" in ""throb after throb."" It's Jonathan, of course, whom David's really hot for, but he has to settle for Jonathan's sister, who doesn't understand why David hardly notices her: ""You're a man. . . a big mysterious man. . . ."" All this is provided in flashback, the present tense being old King David's problems with rebellious son Absalom, who takes time out from overrunning Jerusalem to pseudo-copulate with his father's concubines (Hamilton makes the concubines old and ugly, Absalom impotent) and to indulge in some sadomasochism, including the forcing of some oral sex on David's crippled ally Mepshibosheth. Except for the sexual embroideries, this Biblical rehash is unimaginative, colorless, and undramatic (no Goliath, lots of flat anachronisms)--strictly for those who might enjoy envisioning ancient Judea as some sort of vast gay bar with oasis dÉcor.

Pub Date: Feb. 28, 1978

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: St. Martin's

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1978

Categories: FICTION