A Single Man

Posted on | March 11, 2010 | 19 Comments

A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood is set in California during a single day in 1962 and concerns George, a grieving middle-aged English college professor, in th e aftermath of the death of his partner, Jim. A tender and stark evocation of grief, A Single Man is also exceptionally perceptive and was one of the first novels of the Gay Liberation movement; although George’s homosexuality wouldn’t raise an eye-brow amongst modern readers (well, certainly not in this modern reader), in the 1960s it was a bold and courageous move to feature a gay protagonist mourning the death of his partner that should be applauded even now. George’s deep grief, loneliness and alienation from society and from his students -as a result of his age and nationality as well as his sexuality- is haunting. George is an exceedingly sympathetic character and his loneliness is shared by his friend Charley, also English, whose husband and son have left her living alone.

Waking up begins with am and now. That which has awoken then lies for a while staring up at the ceiling and down into itself until it has recognised I, and therefore deduced I am, I am now. Here comes next, and is at least negatively reassuring; because here, this morning, is where it had expected to find itself; what’s called at home.

But now isn’t simply now. Now is also a cold reminder; one whole day later than yesterday, one year later than last year. Every now is labelled with its date, rendering all past nows obsolete, until – later or sooner – perhaps – no, not perhaps – quite certainly: It will come.

The arresting opening to the novella above signifies George’s automaton existence of going-through-the-motions day by day, waking from a dream-like state to the realisation of Jim’s passing, and coming to terms with his new life without him. Coming to terms is the crux of A Single Man: George is now single -involuntarily- and grieving whilst no-one (excluding Charley) knows of Jim’s passing, or if they do know do not know the extent of their relationship. George’s anonymity in his role as grieving lover, partner, friend is alienating and poignant in itself; to live in that perpetual state of mourning without anyone there to empathise with (Charley is rather self-obsessed and not as sympathetic a character as George) is heartbreaking. Isherwood subtly and thoughtfully meditates on grief and the adjustment process of a man in the throes of it.

George is also mourning the loss of his youth and coming to terms with his own mortality. Charley wishes them to live together, console each other in their loneliness, but George is unwilling to accept a substitute for Jim, for love, nor should he.; as he states earlier in the novel, “Jim wasn’t a substitute for anything. And there is no substitute for Jim, if you’ll forgive my saying so, anywhere”. In depicting one solitary day -where George is indeed solitary- Isherwood effectively conveys the absence of Jim, George’s loss and his longing. Bereavement is never an easy subject and yet Isherwood’s work is virtuoso; he captures the pain and loneliness but it is never overwhelming nor trite and is instead touching in its understated tragedy.

A favourite passage:

He pictures the evening he might have spent, snugly at home, fixing the food he has bought, then lying down on the couch beside the bookcase and reading himself slowly sleepy. At first glance, this is an absolutely convincing and charming scene of domestic contentment. Only after a few instances does George notice the omission which makes it meaningless. What is left out of the picture is Jim, lying opposite him at the other end of the couch, also reading; the two of them absorbed in their books yet so completely aware of each other’s presence.

*I had intended to see the film adaptation before reviewing this book but after a friend walked out in the middle as she was so bored, I decided to wait to see the DVD.

Comments

19 Responses to “A Single Man”

Verity
March 11th, 2010 @ 3:19 pm

Ha! I’m sorry I influenced your watching of the film. We decided later, that Colin Firth was actually very good in it, which was why he won prizes for it. I think it sounds like it might work better as a novella; if I had not seen or read the book your review would make me want to. I will read the book one day soon, because I want to see how it compares to the film. But just not yet.
Jackie (Farm Lane Books)
March 11th, 2010 @ 3:47 pm

It doesn’t sound like my kind of book. I think I’ll wait to watch the DVD too!
Simon (Savidge Reads)
March 11th, 2010 @ 5:05 pm

This was a book that I thoroughly enjoyed and have oddly not been to see (but then I havent been to the cinema for a while)as yet. I thought it was wonderfully written and understated is just the right word even though it was also a book brimming with things to say.
Paperback Reader
March 11th, 2010 @ 5:47 pm

Verity, I still want to see the film but not go to the expense of seeing it at the cinema (it is mainly independents or luxury cinemas here that are showing it and hence more costly). I am very intrigued how they have created the ending on screen as it is one very much open to interpretation.

Jackie, this is most definitely not a book for you; it is too gentle and meditative.

Simon, it combines understated and thought-provoking very well. Isherwood is economical with his prose and so much occurs and is raised in such a short work.
Amanda
March 11th, 2010 @ 6:08 pm

This sounds like an amazing book. At first I thought you were saying it was written ABOUT the early 1960s. Then I realized it was actually published back then, which makes it far more appealing in my eyes – you know I’m not a historical fiction fan! Adding this to the wishlist…
Jenny
March 11th, 2010 @ 6:58 pm

Oo, I had high hopes for the film. Hope it isn’t as boring as your friend found it. :/ Regardless I do want to read the book. It is high time I got around to Christopher Isherwood, who, if nothing else, has a fantastic and fun-to-say name.
Aarti
March 11th, 2010 @ 9:22 pm

What? Colin Firth in a boring film?! I don’t believe it.

This book has caught my eye only, I am embarrassed to say, after I learned about the movie. It seems every movie made these days is based on a book, so that should be no real surprise. I would like to read this one- it sounds like a really good character study.
Stujallen
March 11th, 2010 @ 10:13 pm

was just saying to simon(insidebooks) want try and pick copy of this up read few isherwoods before but not this one ,the film looks sleek as well but what you d expect from tom ford
Paperback Reader
March 12th, 2010 @ 9:48 am

Amanda, it is set in 1962 and was published in ’65 so definitely not historical fiction! An LGBT novella you must read and simply a beautiful read.

Jenny, I am still looking forward to the film but have tempered my high expectations some. I do love Christopher Isherwood’s name with its internal rhyme and look forward to reading his other work.

Aarti, it seems like a bit of an oxy-moron, doesn’t it? How can a film with Colin Firth in it ever be boring?!
I figure that this influx of book-to-film adaptations can only serve to bring books to our attention that we otherwise may not have picked up; that can only be a good thing.

Stu, I plan on reading some more Isherwood myself. The film does look sleek and, as one person described it, one long Gucci ad!
JoAnn
March 12th, 2010 @ 8:42 pm

This sounds wonderful! I’ll definitely be reading it. Will watch the film, too, but may wait for the DVD.
Paperback Reader
March 13th, 2010 @ 11:32 am

JoAnn, I think you would really like this; it is a beautiful novella and very interesting.
Mystica
March 13th, 2010 @ 12:18 pm

I think I’d love to read the book as well as look at the DVD if its available here. If its a oldish publication I should be able to find it around.
Paperback Reader
March 13th, 2010 @ 5:08 pm

Mystica, it was published in the mid-Sixties so should be readily available especially with the increased interest surrounding the film hype.
anothercookiecrumbles
March 14th, 2010 @ 8:58 am

I’m not a big movie person, so I’d probably give the movie a skip.

The book, on the other hand, does sound more appealing. Think I’d like to read it… When I was at uni, one of my professors (Computing, not English( was just not likeable. For instance, if you were a couple of minutes late to class, he’d go on about it for a while, in front of all the 200-odd students. Later, found out that his partner had passed on, which made him more miserable. I was a lot more sympathetic towards him then, although still thought he didn’t have to act like a complete ass, if you know what i mean.

Your review of the book kind-of reminded me of him!
Paperback Reader
March 14th, 2010 @ 12:36 pm

anothercookie, I LOVE movies, especially literary adaptations.

George is a far more engaged and amiable professor but his interaction with students is certainly an interesting feature in the book…
Care
April 7th, 2010 @ 10:53 pm

I enjoyed the book and I am just loving these insightful reviews here in blogworld. I had recommended this to my bookclub (and everyone is really disliking it but I have no idea why yet) – I was hoping to watch the DVD after the club mtg but I screwed up since they have yet to release. I love the book-to-movie experience and am very much looking forward to what Tom Ford does with this.
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