by David Storey
First published 1968
Arnold Middleton has built walls around himself, substituting elaborate pretenses for genuine connection with the world. He performs the motions of daily existence while hiding behind carefully constructed illusions that keep reality at bay. His wife watches as he drifts further into his protective shell of make-believe and avoidance. The fragile equilibrium Arnold has created begins to crumble one evening when his mother-in-law drinks too much. In her vulnerable state, Arnold crosses a line he cannot uncross, exploiting her condition in ways that shatter his ability to hide from what he has become. The act strips away his defenses and leaves him exposed, forcing him to confront the damage his retreat from life has caused. With nowhere left to run from himself, Arnold must finally reach out to his wife, the one person who might help him find a path back from the hollow existence he has constructed.
Genres: 20th-century, contemporary, adult-fiction, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-study, introspective, redemption
Period: 20th-century
80 pages · Paperback · Samuel French
Content warnings: mental-illness