Do not let the title fool you; The Company He Keeps: Victorian Gentlemen’s Erotica, is not erotica written in the Victorian era. Instead, it is a delightful collection of short, erotic stories based in the mid to late nineteenth century. But, while the setting is nineteenth century, the language is decidedly twentieth century.
Because Chase provides enough character development and plot movement to keep the reader involved, Company is not purely erotica. The stories are fun, fast-moving, and not too long for a short story collection. Moreover, while the tales are based on upper-class men, there are a few that include lower-class men, which was a refreshing change to see. All of these elements are seen in one of the short stories, “Letters from Abroad,†which provides not only erotic situations, but also a plotline about a missed lover and what happens when he eventually returns with an unexpected guest.
The Company He Keeps is perfect for readers who love the Victorian era and gay erotica, or for those who want to branch out from reading only nineteenth century classics. Public and academic libraries that have an erotica collection should add this book.
Due to the explicit nature of Company, I would recommend it only to ages 18 and up.
Reviewed by, Talia Earle
St. Catherine University
