Our book group choice for July 2023 is The Slaves of Solitude by Patrick Hamilton. First published in 1947, the book is set in the fictional town of Thames Lockdon (based on Henley-on-Thames) during the Second World War.
The novel follows the story of Miss Roach, a middle-aged woman who has fled London during the Blitz and taken a room in a boarding house run by Mrs. Payne. Miss Roach is a lonely and insecure woman. She is constantly worried about her appearance and her social standing. She is also very repressed, and she has a difficult time expressing her emotions.
The other residents of the boarding house are a motley crew. There is Mr. Thwaites, a retired colonel who is a tyrannical and demanding man. There is Miss Steele, a prim and proper spinster. There is Miss Barrett, a faded beauty who is always trying to relive her past glories. And there is Mr. Prest, a retired comedian who is always telling jokes and stories.
Miss Roach soon finds herself caught up in the drama of the boarding house. She is drawn into a feud between Mr. Thwaites and Mr. Prest. She also becomes involved in a love triangle with a young American lieutenant and a local woman.
Through it all, Miss Roach struggles to find her place in the world. She longs for love and companionship, but she is afraid to take risks. She is also afraid to let go of her old life, even though it is no longer possible.
Discussion Questions for The Slaves of Solitude
- How does the setting of the Rosamund Tea Rooms contribute to the novel’s atmosphere?
- What are the different ways in which the characters in the novel experience loneliness?
- How does the relationship between Miss Roach and Luke Carrington develop over the course of the novel?
- What role does Vicki Kugelmann play in Miss Roach’s life?
- How does Mr. Thwaites’s character reflect the social and political tensions of wartime Britain?
- What are the different ways in which the novel explores the themes of isolation, self-determination, and the struggle for power?
- What is the significance of the novel’s title?
- What do you think of Miss Roach as a character? Do you find her sympathetic?
- How does the novel’s depiction of the Rosamund Tea Rooms compare to your own experiences of boarding houses or other communal living arrangements?
- What do you think of the novel’s portrayal of the war? Is it realistic?
- What do you think of the novel’s ending? Is it satisfying?
- Wouid you recommend the novel? To whom?
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