Boy Bitten by a Lizard by Jeremy Seabrook

A  young man leaves his provincial home for London and becomes captivated by a Caravaggio painting in the National Gallery. An encounter there opens his eyes to possibilities beyond his working-class roots. 
 
With Anil, Philip finds friendship and deepening love amid the racism, class barriers, and constraints of queer life in 1980s Britain. But, when Anil begins to consider transitioning, they travel to India together. There they face the complexities of family, belonging, and changing relationships. 
 
Boy Bitten by a Lizard is a  story of love, self-discovery and survival in a world that never quite sees you as you are.