Patrick Hamilton: Hangover Square

Holiday reading begins. Very impressive so far...

Very pleased. Entire book finished in one day. Marvelously powerful and moving story. It gives a superbly vivid picture of some many things and aspects of life and people...the U.K. in the days before the declaration of war...The major events are occasionally referenced to remind us where we are and to indicate that in terms of the main character that, while he is utterly absorbed in his own life and crises, he is still, to a degree, aware of what is happening in the world. It also gives a stunning picture of the world of cheap bedsits and bars in London at this time and conveys a creepy sense of grubbiness...physical and moral...as well. The central character is of almost tragic grandeur as he does have some terrible awareness of his flaws but too late and too distorted to allow him to change or act upon his moments of self-awareness.

Netta is a remarkable picture of a totally amoral and despicable person, as powerful as anyone that I have read.

Superb book and now want to try others particularly Gaslight and perhaps others. Anyone else read either this or any other works by him?

In looking online though it seems that the film in no way does justice to the book so my initial thoughts of wanting to see it have no completely gone.