Imre
A Memorandum
Published on 11. June 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
192 pages
978-0-19-888447-7 (ISBN)
Description
'I love thee... once more helpless, and therewith hopeless!--but this time no longer silent, before the Friendship which is Love, the Love which is Friendship.'
Considered one of the first examples of the 'homosexual' novel, Edward Prime-Stevenson's Imre: A Memorandum takes the reader to the almost Arcadian capital of Hungary, where a seemingly chance encounter brings together Englishman Oswald and dashing Hungarian officer Imre. From the initial stages of their friendship, there is no doubt on Oswald's part that this is love at first sight. But will Imre return Oswald's feelings? Will they dare to let their guard down-the figurative 'Mask' that has become second nature to them? Heavily indebted to the newly established classificatory science of sexualities, Imre offers a thrilling and heart-rending account of the relationship between two super-virile men at the turn of the twentieth century.
This edition presents an authentic version of the text that preserves the author's orthographical and other eccentricities, and opens the door to the sexological subtext that propels the plot. Also included is one of Prime-Stevenson's dramatic short stories, 'The Lady with the Madonna-Face', in which Imre returns.
ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
Considered one of the first examples of the 'homosexual' novel, Edward Prime-Stevenson's Imre: A Memorandum takes the reader to the almost Arcadian capital of Hungary, where a seemingly chance encounter brings together Englishman Oswald and dashing Hungarian officer Imre. From the initial stages of their friendship, there is no doubt on Oswald's part that this is love at first sight. But will Imre return Oswald's feelings? Will they dare to let their guard down-the figurative 'Mask' that has become second nature to them? Heavily indebted to the newly established classificatory science of sexualities, Imre offers a thrilling and heart-rending account of the relationship between two super-virile men at the turn of the twentieth century.
This edition presents an authentic version of the text that preserves the author's orthographical and other eccentricities, and opens the door to the sexological subtext that propels the plot. Also included is one of Prime-Stevenson's dramatic short stories, 'The Lady with the Madonna-Face', in which Imre returns.
ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 196 mm
Width: 132 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
148 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-888447-7 (9780198884477)
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Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Zsolt Bojti teaches in the Department of English Studies at ELTE E^"otvoes Lorand University (Budapest, Hungary) and is editor-in-chief to the Department's scholarly journal, The AnaChronisT. His research focuses on the intersection of nineteenth-century German sexology and the English literary history of sexuality at the turn of the century. His first monograph, Queer Reading Practices and Sexology in Fin-de-Siecle Literature: Wilde, Stenbock, Prime-Stevenson, was published with Routledge in 2025.
S. Brooke Cameron is Associate Professor at Queen's University (Kingston, Canada). Much of her research focuses on gender and economic themes in nineteenth-century and fin-de-siecle literature. She has also recently turned her attention to children's literature, as well as popular horror (including Vampire Studies). She authored Critical Alliances: Economics and Feminism in English Women's Writing, 1880-1914 (2020) and co-edited The Vampire in Nineteenth-Century Literature: A Feast of Blood (2022).
S. Brooke Cameron is Associate Professor at Queen's University (Kingston, Canada). Much of her research focuses on gender and economic themes in nineteenth-century and fin-de-siecle literature. She has also recently turned her attention to children's literature, as well as popular horror (including Vampire Studies). She authored Critical Alliances: Economics and Feminism in English Women's Writing, 1880-1914 (2020) and co-edited The Vampire in Nineteenth-Century Literature: A Feast of Blood (2022).
Content
Introduction Note on the Text Select Bibliography A Chronology of Edward Prime-Stevenson IMRE: A MEMORANDUM Appendix: 'The Lady with the Madonna-Face' Explanatory Notes