Book description
On its appearance in 1952 the Times Literary Supplement called
Hemlock and After 'a novel of remarkable power and literary skill
which deserves to be judged by the highest standards'. Angus Wilson's
first novel is concerned with the hypocrisies of middle-class society.
The protagonist, Bernard Sands, is a novelist and an intellectual who
tries to found a centre for young writers. However, Sands is a secret
homosexual and in the post-war Britain of the time his liberal ideas
cause much anxiety to those in charge. Surrounded by false friends and
scheming enemies Sands has to come to terms with his emotions and is
forced to decide where his loyalties lie. A compassionately written
novel Hemlock and After explores the conflict of duty and love in one
man's life and the consequences of our choices. Written at a time when
homosexuality was still an offence Hemlock and After is a brilliantly
handled novel from a writer who was described by John Betjeman as
'mercilessly accurate and never dull.'
One of Britain's most distinguished novelists Sir Angus Wilson was
born in 1913. Educated at Westminster and Merton College, Oxford he
joined the British Museum as a cataloguer before being called for
service in 1941. His literary career began with a collection of
short-stories published in 1949. These were followed by other
short-story collections, novels and plays. Co-founder with Malcolm
Bradbury of the MA programme in creative writing at the University of
East Anglia, Wilson was appointed professor in 1967. Chair of many
literary panels, including the Booker prize, and campaigner for
homosexual equality he was knighted in 1980. He died in 1991.
