The Patrick Hamilton Appreciation Society discussion

I recently read a book whose depravity reminded me a bit of Hangover Square, Games of the Blind by Evelin Sullivan. The novel is narrated by Paul Avery, who is in prison for killing someone (we know this at the outset). It unfolds chronologically with something that happened in his teen years and arrives at the present. The novel is like a mobius strip of manipulation, deception, and abuse. The spoilers will reveal much so beware.

Paul (I think at 14) is vacationing with his bohemian parents on the Adriatic in Italy. He sees a beautiful woman staying at their hotel, falls instantly in love, finds out she is married. She seems to be reciprocating his interest. After a bit of time they have sex on the beach. (view spoiler)[He believes her husband is domineering and she is afraid to leave the marriage. Later he overhears her telling her husband about the sex on the beach; the husband had no objections (maybe he was in on it) and it was sport for the wife. (hide spoiler)] This is the formative event in Paul's emotional and sexual development. There are definitely echoes here of both Death in Venice and Lolita.

Soon after this Paul's parents (view spoiler)[are killed in an accident and he goes to live with relatives in Chicago. He has a female cousin around the same age and he begins to emotionally, mentally and sexually abuse her. He initiates her into all kinds of sex, none of it really pleasant for her, but she allows it to happen because she is obsessively, pathetically in love with him. He always treats her coldly and manipulates her in various ways. (hide spoiler)] This goes on for three years.

He goes to college and university and becomes a psychotherapist. One of his patients is a beautiful woman (Michelle) who spends all their sessions talking about her husband. Paul quickly develops an obsession with Michelle. She was significantly younger than the husband (I think it was a professor-student relationship). (view spoiler)[The marriage went along well until the husband began pining for his ex, then began sleeping with his ex again. Michelle tells Paul over and over how cruel and mentally abusive her husband is, but she won't leave him. She's desperately in love with him and craves his attention and affection. After awhile Michelle and Paul begin sleeping together, but Michelle still won't leave her husband. One day Paul goes to their house with a gun. (hide spoiler)]

Thanks Lobstergirl


That all sounds very intriguing

I've never heard of Evelin Sullivan or her depravity

Do we know if she wrote other books of a similar nature?

I will investigate your top tip

Thanks again

I don't know if her other books are like this in tone or theme.

Thanks Lobstergirl. I'm going to do some research soon. And thanks again for the hot tip.

Well I don't know how hot it is...but she does have her fans. I made it sound like all plot but it's more of a psychological novel, with lots of self-reflection from the narrator. I'm going to try one of her other novels to see how it compares.

Thanks for the clarification Lobstergirl. Have you decided which novel to try next?

Please report back when you have sampled more of her work. It will be a while until I can fit it in.

I think I'll try Dead Magician or The Correspondence next (the two that preceded "Games of the Blind").

I look forward to discovering your reaction


Thanks Lobstergirl