The Patrick Melrose Novels: Some Hope
It is a challenging task to write about something society considers a taboo. British author Edward St Aubyn did just that with his semi-autobiographical book series commonly known as “The Patrick Melrose Novels” (published between 1992 and 2011). Threatened with death, lucid, sweat soaked and restless at night; sometimes he lost consciousness from the effort it took to save his own life. More than two decades passed until Patrick’s story, soon to be televised, found its witty, eloquent and carefully chosen words on printed paper – it is no bedtime story. Hence this five part book review includes numerous trigger warnings [addiction, adultery, depression, domestic violence, incest, suicide, severe substance abuse, sexual assault] when needed, continuing with “Some Hope”.
The third volume is set in the English countryside of Gloucestershire and invites to a glittering high society party. Melrose, of course, is among the illustrious circle of guests. Now aged thirty and no longer a junkie though still on the verge of temptation, he begins to reflect on his own life and behavioral patterns – both of which ultimately define his present and future being. An evening of cruelties committed by the social class he was born into unfolds while Patrick, trapped in his argumentative daydreams, is in search of the right words. Not only witty words, but forbidden ones too about the truth of his childhood; words to tell someone.
“’How are you?’ Nicholas asked Patrick. ‘Dying for a drink,’ said Patrick.
‘Well, you have all my sympathy,’ yawned Nicholas. ‘I’ve never been addicted to heroin, but I had to give up smoking cigarettes, which was quite bad enough for me. Oh, look, there’s Princess Margaret. One has to be so careful not to trip over her. I suppose you’ve already heard what happened at dinner.’
‘The diplomatic incident.’
‘Yes.’
‘Very shocking,’ said Patrick solemnly. ‘I must say, I rather admire P.M.,’ said Nicholas, glancing over at her condescendingly. ‘She used a minor accident to screw the maximum amount of humiliation out of the ambassador. Somebody has to uphold our national pride during its Alzheimer years, and there’s no one who does it with more conviction. Mind you,’ said Nicholas in a more withering tone, ‘entre nous, since I’m relying on them to give me a lift back to London, I don’t think France has been so heroically represented since the Vichy government. You should have seen the way Alantour slid to his knees. Although I’m absolutely devoted to his wife who, behind all that phoney chic, is a genuinely malicious person with whom one can have the greatest fun,
I’ve always thought Jaques was a bit of a fool.’
‘You can tell him yourself,’ said Patrick as he saw the ambassador approaching from behind. ‘Mon cher Jaques,’ said Nicholas, spinning lightly round, ‘I thought you were absolutely brilliant! The way you handled that tiresome woman was faultless: by giving in to her ridiculous demands you showed just how ridiculous they were.
Do you know my young friend Patrick Melrose? His father was a very good friend of mine.’” (p. 145-146)
Trigger warning [child abuse] – Initially intended to finish his alter-ego’s story arc within a “Some Hope” trilogy (Picador) published in 2003, author St Aubyn returns with his “Never Mind” like 200 pages and third person narrative. It is noteworthy that the narrative voice gradually retreats throughout the novels as St Aubyn presents a satirical glimpse into the English upper-class he knows. An almost overwhelmingly large number of well-spoken, posh, snobbish and opinionated characters introduce themselves throughout this novel. Among them: George Watford, a friend of David Melrose. Nicholas Pratt, a family friend and ex-partner to the evening’s host. Johnny Hall, a psychoanalyst and Patrick’s best friend.
The vast majority of gossiping characters, though, are a bunch of upsetting misfits keen to cheat on each other and stuck in their own world. They aren’t necessarily likeable company to be in. Nevertheless, “Some Hope” – as its title suggests – offers beautifully-written prose and some light at the end of the tunnel for St Aubyn’s protagonist who bravely conquers a challenge far too few victims of sexual abuse feel able to tackle: to talk even only discretely about what happened to him from the age of five and find some kind of redemption. This novel can be read by all above the age of 16.
“Some Hope” is the third 60 minutes episode from the “Patrick Melrose” TV series (ShowTime/Sky Atlantic), which will air on Saturdays from May 12/13 starring Harriet Walter, Holliday Grainger, Georgia Maguire, Jessica Raine, Margo Stilley, Amanda Root, Lila Prideaux, Pip Torrens, Jamie Bradley, Gary Beadle, Simon Weir, Prasanna Puwanarajah and Benedict Cumberbatch. The TV series includes “Adult Content, Adult Language, Strong Language, Suggestive Dialogue and Sexual Situations”, according to ShowTime.
Book review: Never Mind | Bad News | Some Hope | Mother’s Milk | At Last
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