The Slaves of Solitude

The Slaves of Solitude is a novel authored by Patrick Hamilton, first released in 1947 and later republished by New York Review Books Classics in 2007. Its original American edition carried the title Riverside.

Plot

The narrative unfolds in 1943 within the fictional town of Thames Lockdon, modeled on Henley-on-Thames. It centers on Miss Roach, who has relocated to the Rosamund Tea Rooms guest house after evacuating London during the Blitz. Other inhabitants include Mr Thwaites, Miss Steele, Miss Barrett, and Mr Prest.

Miss Roach is employed at a London publishing company, fulfilling secretarial and various other duties. The story juxtaposes the hectic environment of London's workforce with her subdued existence at the guest house. During shared meals, Mr Thwaites—a Nazi sympathizer—asserts a domineering presence, ridiculing Miss Roach by accusing her of being a 'friend of the Russians.' This creates a strained atmosphere until two American servicemen arrive. Miss Roach then embarks on a romantic involvement with Lieutenant Pike, characterized by visits to local pubs and secret meetings. The relationship becomes complicated when Vicki Kugelmann, Miss Roach’s German acquaintance and eventual adversary, arrives. Vicki captivates Mr Thwaites and sparks an emotional rivalry between the two women.

Critical reaction

Renowned poet John Betjeman acclaimed Hamilton as "one of the finest novelists alive," considering this his most outstanding work. David Lodge praised it as "among the finest novels about the Second World War." On 5 November 2019, BBC News included The Slaves of Solitude in its list of the 100 most influential novels.