The Slaves of Solitude

EnglandinthemiddleofWorldWarII,awarthatseemsfatedtogoonforever,awarthathasbecomeawayoflife.Heroicresistanceisoldhat.Everythingisinshortsupply,andtempersareevenshorter.OverwhelmedbytheterrorsandrigorsoftheBlitz,middle-agedMissRoachhasretreatedtotherelativesafetyandstupefyingboredomofthesuburbantownofThamesLockdon,wheresherentsaroominaboardinghouserunbyMrs.Payne.Therethesavvy,sensible,decent,butall-too-meekMissRoachenduresthedinner-tableinterrogationsofMr.ThwaitesandseekstorelievehersolitudebygoingoutdrinkingandneckingwithawaywardAmericanlieutenant.LifeisalmostbearableuntilVickiKugelmann,aseemingfriend,movesintotheadjacentroom.That’swhenMissRoach’stroublesreallybegin.Recountinganepicbattleofwillsintheclaustrophobicconfinesoftheboardinghouse,PatrickHamilton’sTheSlavesofSolitude,withadelightfullyimprobableheroine,isoneofthefinestandfunniestbookseverwrittenaboutthetrialsofalonelyheart.,