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Tanith
Lee wrote three books with the ‘help’ of mysterious collaborators – the
Garbers. Esther Garber – and her half-brother, Judas Garbah – do not exist in
our reality, but they came through to the author so strongly, characters with such
distinct personalities and voices, they felt as if they were real. And who’s to say they’re not? The Garbers are both gay
and, through them, Lee produced one novel and two story collections of Lesbian
and gay erotica – but erotica with literary depth, and often laced with horror
and the uncanny. 34 is the novel
‘co-written’ with Esther Garber, and has been long out of print. This new
edition introduces the reader to Esther’s autobiography – but how much of it is
true? Are her recollections of her unusual childhood in Egypt with her sister
Anna correct? And what of the mysterious gentleman, who Esther meets in France
after having run away from home, who initiates her into forbidden pleasures? Is
she haunted or merely manipulated? Is she in love or simply obsessed? After one
night of passion, Esther pursues her elusive tormentor into what seems to be a fairy-tale
version of the French countryside, to journey’s end and revelation, but also
further mystery. Sensual,
thought-provoking, and with an unreliable narrator, who twists and turns within
her own tortured story, 34 demonstrates
that haunting comes in many forms. As does desire. This
edition also includes the author’s essay, on her work with Esther and Judas:
‘Meeting the Garbers’.
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