Our book group choice for July 2007 is Hangover Square by Patrick Hamilton. London 1939, and in the grimy publands of Earls Court, George Harvey Bone is pursuing a helpless infatuation with Netta who is cool, contemptuous and hopelessly desirable to George.
Hangover Square is a 1941 novel by English playwright and novelist Patrick Hamilton. It follows the alcoholic George Harvey Bone (who has a dissociative identity disorder) and his tortured love for Netta Longdon in the months leading up to the Second World War. Subtitled A tale of Darkest Earl’s Court, it is set in that area of London in 1939.
The novel opens with George Harvey Bone in one of his “dead moods,” a fugue state in which his mind shuts down and he proceeds through the world as an automaton. In this state, he is capable of committing acts of violence without feeling remorse.
George is obsessed with Netta Longdon, a beautiful but shallow music hall actress. He believes that she is the only woman who can save him from his own destructive tendencies. However, Netta is only interested in George for his money. She uses him to buy her drinks and clothes, and she flirts with other men in front of him.
George’s jealousy and possessiveness eventually lead him to murder Netta’s lover, Jack Glover. However, George is unable to remember committing the crime, and he believes that he is the victim of a conspiracy.
As the novel progresses, George’s mental state deteriorates further. He becomes increasingly paranoid and delusional. He believes that he is being followed by the police, and he starts to see visions of Netta’s ghost.
The novel is also notable for its depiction of London in the months leading up to the Second World War. The city is a place of fear and uncertainty, and the threat of war is ever-present. This sense of impending doom adds to the atmosphere of dread and suspense that pervades the novel.
Here are some additional details about the novel:
- The title of the novel is a wordplay on the name Hanover Square, an area of London that was once home to many late-night drinking establishments.
- The novel was adapted into a film in 1945, directed by John Brahm and starring Laird Cregar, Linda Darnell, and George Sanders.
- The novel has been praised by critics for its dark humor, its psychological insights, and its atmospheric depiction of London in the 1930s.
- The novel has been cited as an influence on the work of other writers, including Ian McEwan and Martin Amis.
Discussion Questions
- What are the different ways in which George Harvey Bone is portrayed throughout the novel?
- What is the nature of George’s relationship with Netta Longdon?
- How does George’s alcoholism affect his relationships with others?
- What role does the setting of Earl’s Court play in the novel?
- What are the themes of the novel?
- How does the novel explore the nature of obsession?
- What is the significance of the title, Hangover Square?
- What is the relationship between George’s dreams and his reality?
- How does the novel portray the rise of fascism in Europe?
- What is the significance of the character of Peter Prentiss?
- What is the role of violence in the novel?
- How does the novel critique the social and political landscape of the late 1930s?
- What is the novel’s message about the human condition?
- How does the novel compare to other works of literature that explore similar themes?
- What are your thoughts on the novel’s ending?
- Did you recognise any of the London described in the book?
- To whom would you recommend the book? Why?