Prester John was indeed another favourite from that era, but I don't remember any homo-erotic passages.

the one thing I do remember from the book is that the narrator, as a boy, used to walk home in the dark, with a lantern, fully lit, which he used to conceal under his coat, never letting a glimpse of light eacape to illuminate his path.

for some reason, that struck a hugely sympathetic chord with me, I could totally relate to that kid ...