1953. The backstreets of Brighton are buzzing with preparations for the celebrations of the Coronation of Elizabeth II and, at the Grand Theatre, illusionist Teddy Brookes is plotting something crowd-pleasing to crown the occasion-with some assistance from glamorous Soho showgirl Pamela Rose. What the audience can never see is that, hidden behind the smoke and mirrors of his act, there is a whole world of secrets and lies...
And a disappearance boy.
In his acclaimed fourth novel, Neil Bartlett once again performs his trademark trick of slipping into the hidden spaces of queer history and bringing them vividly to life. Originally published in 2013, this new edition includes an introduction by the author and an Afterword with world famous illusionist, Derren Brown.
"Seductive, dark, theatrical and fascinating, Bartlett's writing is spellbinding"-Russell Tovey;
"As someone who works in theatre and live performance, I adored the way Bartlett drew out the characters and life of a backstage world, the glamour and sadness that can sometimes go hand in hand in entertainment. Bartlett writes in a way that draws you personally into the story, yet never lets you fully trust what the outcome may be"-Travis Alabanza
"The Disappearance Boy surrounds us in the crumbling spectacle of British variety entertainment-inviting us to an off-season Brighton where performers in lonely digs navigate their marginalised bodies and identities. They long to defy the boundaries of a restrictive and soon to be outdated world. A hypnotic and haunting journey that conjures the ghosts of variety into unexpected and emotive misdirections-the magic cannot be confined to the stage, but breaks through every page"-Marisa Carnesky
"Vivid characters, a fascinating subject and an expertly evoked setting. Excellent."- Daily Mail
"Bartlett delights in taking that which was once hidden and making it clear for all to see." - Independent
"This book and its enchanting characters had me under their spell. I was bewitched." - Sheila Hancock
"Mysterious, tender and utterly compelling." - S.J. Watson
"One of England's finest writers" - Edmund White

Neil Bartlett is an acclaimed author of plays, adaptations, translations and novels. His first novel, Ready To Catch Him Should He Fall, was recently republished by Profile as a Serpent's Tail Classic, his second, Mr. Clive and Mr. Page, was nominated for the Whitbread Prize in 1996, his third, Skin Lane, was shortlisted for the Costa Award in 2007, his fourth, The Disappearance Boy, earnt him a nomination for Stonewall Author of the Year 2014, his fifth, Address Book, was published by Inkandescent and was nominated for the Polari Book Prize 2022. Neil is also a maker of theatre, and was awarded an OBE in 2000 in recognition of his work as Artistic Director of the Lyric Hammersmith. He wrote the script for Orlando, the lead role in which was played by Emma Corrin in the West End of London in 2022. He has created work for the National Theatre, RSC, Manchester Royal Exchange, Bristol Old Vic, Edinburgh International Festival, Manchester International Festival, Aldeburgh and Brighton Festivals, Wellcome Foundation, Artangel, Tate Britain-and the Royal Vauxhall Tavern.