Mr. Stimpson and Mr. Gorse

Mr. Stimpson and Mr. Gorse is a 1953 work by Patrick Hamilton, serving as the second installment within the Gorse Trilogy.

The 1987 British television drama The Charmer draws loose inspiration from this book, with notable alterations prompting playwright Allan Prior to create a novel adaptation of the series.

Plot

Ernest Ralph Gorse, a charming yet manipulative psychopath and con artist, relocates to Reading, Berkshire to reside with an affluent acquaintance. He sets his sights on Joan Plumleigh-Bruce, an affected widow contemplating marriage to Donald Stimpson, a local estate agent. Both individuals fall under Gorse's spell, who fabricates stories of distinguished WWI heroism and noble lineage.

At London's King's Hotel, Gorse encounters Stimpson and collaborates with the bartender to intoxicate him before escorting him to a prostitute, collecting compromising material for future leverage. Feigning affection for Mrs. Plumleigh-Bruce, Gorse persuades her to establish a joint bank account intended for investments and purchasing a vehicle. He further deceives her into believing he plans to buy a house as a step toward marriage but ultimately absconds with £500.

Upon realizing the deception and drained funds, Mrs. Plumleigh-Bruce turns to Stimpson for assistance, only to discover he has wed her Irish maid. Gorse departs back to London; meanwhile, Mrs. Plumleigh-Bruce leaves Reading in disgrace and spends her final days in a seaside boarding establishment.