''Belinda'' is a 1986 novel by Anne Rice, originally published under the

pen name A pen name, also called a ''nom de plume'' or a literary double, is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name. A pen na ...

Anne Rampling. ''Belinda'' follows in the footsteps of '' Exit to Eden'' in its themes of the darker side of human romance. Whereas the earlier novel explored BDSM, ''Belinda'' explores the relationship between a grown man and an underage girl.

Overview

The novel explores the relationship between a 44-year-old divorced children's book author and artist, Jeremy Walker, and a 16-year-old

runaway Runaway, Runaways or Run Away may refer to: Engineering * Runaway reaction, a chemical reaction releasing more heat than what can be removed and becoming uncontrollable * Thermal runaway, self-increase of the reaction rate of an exothermic proce ...

who attaches herself to him. Unaware of who Belinda really is, Jeremy falls in love with her and paints her portraits nude. When he discovers Belinda's true identity, things unravel quickly as his career and freedom are threatened, as well as the love he feels for Belinda. The novel narrates the sexual union between Jeremy and Belinda, managing to convey their love for one another through physical action, but without spending pages and pages describing each individual sexual encounter. The novel deals with an illegal relationship: the

age of consent The age of consent is the age at which a person is considered to be legally competent to consent to sexual acts. Consequently, an adult who engages in sexual activity with a person younger than the age of consent is unable to legally claim ...

in California, where most of the novel's events take place, is 18. When Belinda meets Jeremy Walker, she is 16 years old. Her name is Belinda Blanchard, her mother is international movie and television star Bonnie. Belinda is estranged from her mother and on the run from her controlling but generally clueless Uncle Daryl, who is convinced that Belinda is out to ruin Bonnie's career. Jeremy Walker doesn't know any of this until he is in love with Belinda, and they have been together for several months. The novel describes numerous relationships with large age gaps, including one between Belinda's world-famous hairdresser father, G.G. and an actor named Ollie Boon. Although Belinda is the only character who is a minor, and is much younger than any of the other characters, the novel raises the question whether genuine love can exist between two people with a large age difference, and whether or not it is morally right.

Publication

''Belinda'' was published originally in hardcover in October 1986 by Arbor House, as well as published in softcover by Fitzhenry & Whiteside Ltd., at the same time. Jove Books published it again in May 1988 in soft cover.

References

* Rampling, Anne (1986). "Belinda". New York: Jove Books. 2011. Print.

External links

''Belinda'' by Anne Rampling, Anne Rice
1986 American novels Novels by Anne Rice American erotic novels Works published under a pseudonym Novels set in California Arbor House books Fitzhenry & Whiteside books {{1980s-erotic-novel-stub