''The Short History of a Prince'' is a novel by American author Jane Hamilton, published in 1998 by Random House. The book is a domestic drama set in the 1970s and 1990s. It was shortlisted for the 1999 Women's Prize for Fiction.

Summary

The novel follows protagonist Walter McCloud, a gay ballet student in Illinois. The chapters jump back and forth between the 1970s and 1990s. As McCloud grows older, he must face the loss of family members and come to terms with his guilt.

Reception

''The Short History of a Prince'' received mostly positive reviews. ''

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' (or ''Kirkus Media'') is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus (1893–1980). The magazine is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fic ...

'' described the book as a "lyrical, bighearted novel that won't easily be forgotten" and praised its characters. '' The Capital Times'' offered a mixed review, criticizing the character's "over-polished" and staged" dialogue but praising Hamilton's "vivid and elegant" prose.

Awards

''The Short History of a Prince'' was shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction in 1999.

References

External links

The Short History of a Prince
' at Hamilton's website {{DEFAULTSORT:Short History Of A Prince 1998 American novels Random House books Novels set in Illinois Novels set in the 1970s Novels set in the 1990s LGBTQ fiction 1990s LGBTQ novels