Product Description

London 1939, and in the grimy publands of Earls Court, George Harvey Bone is pursuing a helpless infatuation with Netta who is cool, contemptuous and hopelessly desirable to George. George is adrift in hell, until something goes click in his head and he realizes that he must kill her.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16688 in Books
• Published on: 2001-06-28
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Review
Suave, clever-clever story of a schizophrenic, his infatuation for a brutal, perverse young miss, and their coterie of dissipates who live in rather seedy circumstances in London's Earl Court. George Harvey Fone, lumberini, gauche, persistent, lonely, has two troubles. One, the "dead" moods which snap on and off and during which he realizes he has to kill Netta. Two, Netta, whom he timorously worships, and who only tolerates him for what he can buy her. How Netta, who "looked like a Byron beauty and was a fish", Peter, her Fascistic friend, go on riding and rooking Bone until finally his schizophrenic alter ego takes its violent revenge. Provocative, and handled with deliberate - acidulous details. (Kirkus Reviews)

Synopsis
London 1939, and in the grimy publands of Earls Court, George Harvey Bone is pursuing a helpless infatuation with Netta who is cool, contemptuous and hopelessly desirable to George. George is adrift in hell, until something goes click in his head and he realizes that he must kill her.

Customer Reviews

Wake Up George!
I discovered this book almost by chance, it just seemed to be screaming at me from the shelf in the bookstore, I flipped through it and thought it was one of those arty books, but I gave it a go anyway.
I got home after work and picked it up, I was instantly hooked. There's something indescribable about this book, I just wanted to grab George by the shoulders and tell him that Netta wasn't worth all this pain and agony! I will say that at times it is a little depressing but definitely a classic that has sadly been forgotten.
I nearly cried at the end because of George's ending, the sad thing is though, there is people like that still in this world who are being taken advantage of at every possible stage.
Please give this book a go as it is truly breathtaking.

Sex, Madness and Utter Moral Failure
It's arguable, but I think this is Hamilton's masterpiece. The reason I say this is the way he creates such a plausible and compelling account of a descent into madness and links it so effortlessly to the moral collapse of Neville Chamberlains England.

I have read this book many times, and Hamilton is so skilled at playing the readers hopes that each time I root for George and hope he will make the two or three simple choices that will save him (one may have the same feelings about England when reading Churchill on the lead up to World War 2). But he never does- the tragedy unfolds from its seeds on the first few pages and is always terrible.

In Netta he has surely also created one of the finest and most repulsive femmes fatale ever.

If you have ever been unhappily in love and been led a merry dance, you will find George Harvey Bone in yourself and be both moved, afraid and grateful that you escaped.

If you have ever lived in a country busy being sold down the river by weak leaders, then the same applies.

Buy this book!

Strangely compelling and really quite touching
I bought this as a holiday read and was expecting it to be a dour struggle to get through. However, it actually turned out to be really quite compelling. It's easy to identify with the lead character. He doesn't have any real friends most of the time and those that he thinks are his friends treat him badly and make him feel sad. He's kind to his cat and really he's just a lost soul. The final scene where images of happier, innocent, times come back to him is extremely touching and will stay with you for ever probably.