In his room at Eton College in the Autumn term of 1827, the 17 year-old and very handsome William Ewart Gladstone agonised and struggled over his love of and sinful desires for the dazzling beautiful Arthur Hallam, who was two years younger. He loved Hallam so much. He hoped with a pure spiritual love which by the grace of God had not been sullied by the loss of his (Gladstone's) chastity). But thoughts came unbidden to his mind yet again - sinful desires which deeply repulsed and horrified him, but powerfully attracted him, of - he could scarely bear to think them - of having a physical relationship with Hallam.
He knew that for the sake of his eternal salvation and his immortal soul that he must end his friendship with Hallam. So Gladstone wrote Hallam a letter informing him that for spiritual reasons he must break off their friendship.
In his reply Hallam said that he wished they could remain friends, but nothing could do away with their love for each other. The stamp of each of their minds was upon the other.
The starting point for this TL is taken from the book Gladstone by Roy Jenkins, MacMillan, 1995. In his account of the friendship between the "very handsome" Gladstone and the "dazzling beautiful" Hallam, Jenkins wrote:
Hallam's letter is partly taken from that in Gladstone.
In this TL Gladstone had the same parents and upbringing as in OTL.
He knew that for the sake of his eternal salvation and his immortal soul that he must end his friendship with Hallam. So Gladstone wrote Hallam a letter informing him that for spiritual reasons he must break off their friendship.
In his reply Hallam said that he wished they could remain friends, but nothing could do away with their love for each other. The stamp of each of their minds was upon the other.
The starting point for this TL is taken from the book Gladstone by Roy Jenkins, MacMillan, 1995. In his account of the friendship between the "very handsome" Gladstone and the "dazzling beautiful" Hallam, Jenkins wrote:
There is no evidence of homosexual behaviour, but it is impossible to believe that there was not the electricity of infatuation and jealously between them.
Hallam's letter is partly taken from that in Gladstone.
In this TL Gladstone had the same parents and upbringing as in OTL.