20,000 Streets Under the Sky
| Industry | Literature / Publishing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1929 |
| Founder | Patrick Hamilton |
| Products | Novels (The Midnight Bell, The Siege of Pleasure, The Plains of Cement) |
20,000 Streets Under the Sky is a semi-autobiographical trilogy authored by Patrick Hamilton, released between 1929 and 1934 through Constable Press. The collection comprises The Midnight Bell (1929), The Siege of Pleasure (1932), and The Plains of Cement (1934). Each novel centers on distinct individuals linked by their association with The Midnight Bell pub in London, featuring interconnected storylines.
Hamilton's own background working in London taverns and his battles with alcoholism—which eventually caused his demise—inspired the trilogy. This series provides a detailed depiction of working-class life in inter-war London. In 2004, Vintage reissued the trilogy in paperback format.
Synopsis
The Midnight Bell narrates the story of Bob, a sailor who transitions into a bar waiter and becomes enamored with Jenny, a prostitute who frequents the pub. Meanwhile, Ella, the barmaid, harbors unspoken affection for Bob. Drawing heavily from Hamilton's personal experiences, the novel portrays Bob squandering his savings on Jenny, who shows little sincere interest beyond financial gain.
Originally titled A Glass of Port, The Siege of Pleasure is the briefest novel, chronicling just over a day in Jenny's earlier life. After commencing work as a housemaid for two elderly sisters, Jenny spends her day drinking with acquaintances and men she encounters at a bar, culminating in a car crash and her decision to quit her employment. Neither Bob nor Ella appear in this narrative.
The Plains of Cement, running concurrently with The Midnight Bell, focuses on Ella. She confronts unwanted attention from Ernest Eccles, an older patron, while weighing options between fleeing her dull existence or settling for an unloving marriage. The novel also delves into Ella's family situation, including her mother's abusive relationship. Events from The Midnight Bell are revisited through Ella’s viewpoint, concluding shortly after that story.
A notable stylistic feature throughout the trilogy is Hamilton's use of narrated monologue or free indirect discourse, allowing readers insight into characters' inner thoughts—Bob, Jenny, and Ella—via third-person narration. This approach is especially evident in The Plains of Cement, where Ella interprets Eccles’ ambiguous behavior.
Adaptations
The trilogy served as the basis for the 1963 film Bitter Harvest.
In November 1989, BBC Radio Four broadcast a three-part adaptation of the novels scripted by Frederick Bradnum, starring Steven Pacey, Annette Badland, Emily Morgan, and John Moffatt.
A 2005 serialisation entitled Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky featured Sally Hawkins, Zoe Tapper, and Bryan Dick under the direction of Simon Curtis. It aired on BBC Four alongside the documentary Words, Whisky and Women, and was later made available on DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-ray.