No Make-Up: Straight Tales from a Queer Life - Revised Ed 3013

by Jeremy Norman

"It's a marvellous book. Startlingly candid, unblushingly funny about wealth, privilege and the pursuit of fun. Mr Norman (for ten years proprietor of Burke's Peerage and founder of the Heaven gay nightclub in London) paints an unforgettable picture of gay life in an age of official prohibition." - Matthew Parris in The TimesThis autobiography tells of a life full of conflict, eccentrics, great success, disappointment, sad and glorious experiences; above all of a man who has brilliantly managed to achieve an equilibrium with his times. From the creation of the iconic gay nightclub, Heaven, the ownership of Burke's Peerage, the formation of Soho Gyms and a portfolio of property investments in the trendiest retail streets in London, Jeremy Norman has never lost sight of the promise he made himself on leaving Cambridge in the early 1970s, to find fulfilment, have fun and hopefully to 'make some money along the way'.The book is a gay social history of England in the second half of 20th Century and includes a chapter on the author's sexual experiences at Harrow School.There are fascinating insights into the sensational murder of Lord Erroll in Kenya - the subject of the film White Mischief; the life and sexuality of Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath; the Marchioness Disaster; John Schlesinger, film director; Robert Maxwell and a host of other characters that the author knew.

330 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 22, 2013

Reviews

[Richard Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found out about this book when reading a column of Matthew Parris (The Times 10/9/14), who writes

"It’s a marvellous book. Startlingly candid, unblushingly funny about wealth, privilege and the pursuit of fun, Mr Norman (for ten years a proprietor of Burke’s Peerage and the founder of the Heaven gay nightclub in London) paints an unforgettable picture of gay life in an age of official prohibition."

I have personal experience of Heaven, Soho Gyms, and Cruisaid, three of Jeremy Norman's babies. He writes of times and events through which I have lived and records well how attitudes have changed. He makes wise observations on the lives of gay men throughout the second half of the 20th century. Many of anecdotes in this book are really interesting. Some are about well known people, such as Edward Heath and Michael Portillo. Jeremy Norman has certainly lived a colourful life. I very much enjoyed reading his memories of it.