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Mad Hatter (164)
When British hat manufacturer Christopher Brooke is arrested under Regulation 18B in June 1940 a slow process of personal disintegration begins. Taking us into the pre-war political era of Ishiguro's Remains of the Day, Mad Hatter delves into the lives of Britons, tracking them through a darkening time. Irish farm girl, Mary Byrne, arrives in England in July 1940 to work as housekeeper for Cynthia Brooke and her three children, bonding with the family. When Mary is shockingly expelled from the house upon Christopher's release, her narration continues through the mouth of 15-month-old Katie. Mad Hatter charts the slow unravelling of a marriage as the story of the Brooke family moves inexorably to a tragic conclusion.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
462 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 21, 2019
This novel took me a on reading journey that was as delightful as it can be for a reader, though there are no delights in the Mad Hatter itself.
I requested this book after reading that it tells a story that is linked to the Regulation 18B, introduced at the beginning of WW2, under which anyone who expressed any form of sympathy towards fascist ideas or was of German or Italian origin, was detained for a certain period in different locations across Great Britain. Also, all rights regarding habeas corpus were suspended. I had a vague idea how the 18B influenced British citizens, so I thought this book might be interesting. It turned out to be much, much more than just interesting.
The novel revolves around Christopher Brooke, the hatter, who well before the war got involved with the Mosley circle, and who during the time of his internment shifted his sympathies towards Hitler. His ideas ruin his life and shatter the lives of his wife, Cynthia, and children.
Apart from Brooke's story, Ms Hale describes the war times in Great Britain and the post-war austerity, and I believe there are not many novels that manage to capture the atmosphere of those days so perfectly.
The story of a gradual downfall of a man who had it all, a beautiful wife, lovely children, wealth and position in the society, and who eventually loses it all, is truly depressing, however, the writing is exquisite and I never thought of not finishing this novel. I know it will stay with me for a very long time ...
*Many thank to Amanda Hale, Guernica Editions and Netgalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
I requested this book after reading that it tells a story that is linked to the Regulation 18B, introduced at the beginning of WW2, under which anyone who expressed any form of sympathy towards fascist ideas or was of German or Italian origin, was detained for a certain period in different locations across Great Britain. Also, all rights regarding habeas corpus were suspended. I had a vague idea how the 18B influenced British citizens, so I thought this book might be interesting. It turned out to be much, much more than just interesting.
The novel revolves around Christopher Brooke, the hatter, who well before the war got involved with the Mosley circle, and who during the time of his internment shifted his sympathies towards Hitler. His ideas ruin his life and shatter the lives of his wife, Cynthia, and children.
Apart from Brooke's story, Ms Hale describes the war times in Great Britain and the post-war austerity, and I believe there are not many novels that manage to capture the atmosphere of those days so perfectly.
The story of a gradual downfall of a man who had it all, a beautiful wife, lovely children, wealth and position in the society, and who eventually loses it all, is truly depressing, however, the writing is exquisite and I never thought of not finishing this novel. I know it will stay with me for a very long time ...
*Many thank to Amanda Hale, Guernica Editions and Netgalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
August 31, 2019
Christopher Brooke was a man of privilege. He was director of Brooke Hats, his father's manufactory. He was handsome, charming and an accomplished ballroom dancer. Cynthia Blackwell's parents discouraged their union but Cynthia felt it was her "birthright" to marry Christopher. Could he just abandon his "bloody politics"? With the outbreak of war, Britain instituted Defense Regulation 18B:
"If the Secretary of State has reasonable cause to believe any person to be of hostile origin or association or to have been recently concerned in acts prejudicial to the public safety or the defense of the realm...", said individual(s) could be detained for an indefinite period of time without charge or trial. Christopher Brooke, a pacifist, was detained.
War is hell on the homefront...just ask Cynthia Brooke. Upon Christopher's arrest, her family was shunned. Her desire and longing for friendship was fulfilled when she hired Mary Byrne as housekeeper. Mary, newly arrived from Ireland, crossed "the channel" wanting "a man in my bed to keep me warm, a good dinner in my belly and my own babies to hold." For now, Cynthia and Mary were "wartime friends". Neither had anyone else to turn to.
Christopher's internment wrecked havoc on his life. He was moved from camp to camp, "from dark cell to bright cell...until he [lost] all sense of placement..." The hoaxes were terrible. "Pack your bags. You're going home today". Not happening. How do Christopher's children fare? Their behavior seemed strange. They often gathered, holding hands in a "Magic Circle". Cynthia tried to hold it together but was often "shamed" in front of her children by family members.
"Mad Hatter" by Amanda Hale is a work of historical fiction that describes British internment during the Second World War. Freedoms could instantly be curtailed. Pacifists perhaps were housed with enemy aliens. There was no recourse. Family members traveled an emotional roller coaster. What will post-war life be like for Christopher and Cynthia Brooke? A very enlightening, excellent read.
Thank you Guernica Editions Inc. and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "Mad Hatter".
"If the Secretary of State has reasonable cause to believe any person to be of hostile origin or association or to have been recently concerned in acts prejudicial to the public safety or the defense of the realm...", said individual(s) could be detained for an indefinite period of time without charge or trial. Christopher Brooke, a pacifist, was detained.
War is hell on the homefront...just ask Cynthia Brooke. Upon Christopher's arrest, her family was shunned. Her desire and longing for friendship was fulfilled when she hired Mary Byrne as housekeeper. Mary, newly arrived from Ireland, crossed "the channel" wanting "a man in my bed to keep me warm, a good dinner in my belly and my own babies to hold." For now, Cynthia and Mary were "wartime friends". Neither had anyone else to turn to.
Christopher's internment wrecked havoc on his life. He was moved from camp to camp, "from dark cell to bright cell...until he [lost] all sense of placement..." The hoaxes were terrible. "Pack your bags. You're going home today". Not happening. How do Christopher's children fare? Their behavior seemed strange. They often gathered, holding hands in a "Magic Circle". Cynthia tried to hold it together but was often "shamed" in front of her children by family members.
"Mad Hatter" by Amanda Hale is a work of historical fiction that describes British internment during the Second World War. Freedoms could instantly be curtailed. Pacifists perhaps were housed with enemy aliens. There was no recourse. Family members traveled an emotional roller coaster. What will post-war life be like for Christopher and Cynthia Brooke? A very enlightening, excellent read.
Thank you Guernica Editions Inc. and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "Mad Hatter".
September 9, 2019
This was a fabulous novel, just splendid historical fiction. The couple, Christopher and Cynthia Brooke, were often infuriating to me: stubborn, cold, aloof and a bit snobbish, and when the warm and fuzzy feelings Christopher had for fascism were revealed, I was wanting to scream. Beautiful writing about a horrible time, combining dangerous religious mania, fascism and mental illness which combine to devastate a family. A great book, read it if you enjoy historical fiction. This one will stay with me for quite a time.
#MadHatter #NetGalley
#MadHatter #NetGalley
October 14, 2019
Hold on to your hat because this mad hatter will surprise you. A carefully crafted plot that tells a difficult story of delusions and the lies we tell ourselves. We see a family shattered by WWII in a totally different way--through the aftermath of a belief in fascism and then through the father's religious delusions. There is also much about class in this book and about the impact adult battles have on children.
Amanda Hale's story-telling is masterful and nuanced. Her characters carry you along in a text rich with period allusions.
And why does the mad hatter surprise? That you will have to see for yourself.
Amanda Hale's story-telling is masterful and nuanced. Her characters carry you along in a text rich with period allusions.
And why does the mad hatter surprise? That you will have to see for yourself.
Read
October 13, 2019I just finished reading Amanda Hale's book Mad Hatter and I was truly blown away. A fascinating story told by an excellent author I found it informative, educational, entertaining and truly engaging.
I felt I could easily connect to many of the central characters and was moved by their individual stories. I found myself weeping at the end. Such a moving story.
I've read at least four of Amanda's books, all fascinating but this latest has to be her best work yet.
Highly recommended.
I felt I could easily connect to many of the central characters and was moved by their individual stories. I found myself weeping at the end. Such a moving story.
I've read at least four of Amanda's books, all fascinating but this latest has to be her best work yet.
Highly recommended.
May 10, 2020
If you are looking for a nice thick, beautiful, engrossing book, one that will transport you, move you to tears, leave you with new insights about love and life, read this one. I haven't felt this way about a book for a while.
Read
October 24, 2019Amanda's book is a medley of biography, memoir and fiction as she tells and imagines the story of her enigmatic father, Christopher Brooke. He is embroiled in British fascist politics, engendered in pre-World War II Britain by Oswald Mosely. Imprisoned for his beliefs during the war, Brooke becomes further embroiled in this "cause," oddly mixed with a belief in communal living.
He is, clearly, mentally ill - as the title alludes to. There is a suggestion this stems from childhood sexual abuse at the hands of Christopher's nanny. Anyone who has tried to reconcile and understand life with someone suffering from mental illness will recognize his wife Cynthia's confusion and compassion. However, Cynthia herself is not a simple person: she is dependent, sometimes cruel and narcissistic. But she can also be incredibly loving and forgiving. From a few facts, letters and memories, Amanda Hale tries to make sense of this time and discover who her father actually was. It's beautifully written; accomplished.
Here are a few passages that particularly touched me:
When Christopher first meets Cynthia, a mutual friend fills him in on the details. This incredibly creative passage is from the perspective of their unborn children: "Adele's honeyed voice trickles in the background as their eyes meet and we surge forward, baby oh baby, me and my siblings, clamouring for our existence, bundles of cells striving to assemble, oh joy the chance to create our living bodies from the glimmering exchange of light in their eyes." (p 35)
An emotional reunion between Christopher and Cynthia: "...the breath leaving her body as he clasped her. A slight moan escaped her, and those little noises in the throat where your longing lives." (p 116)
"Vera seemed to her the kind of woman who couldn't do without a man." (p 211 - oh I do want more on this topic)
Cynthia finds a note written by Christopher:
When we sleep we dream about each other.
I see you smiling down at me,
and when we wake our toes are curled with pleasure.
Spectacular!
He is, clearly, mentally ill - as the title alludes to. There is a suggestion this stems from childhood sexual abuse at the hands of Christopher's nanny. Anyone who has tried to reconcile and understand life with someone suffering from mental illness will recognize his wife Cynthia's confusion and compassion. However, Cynthia herself is not a simple person: she is dependent, sometimes cruel and narcissistic. But she can also be incredibly loving and forgiving. From a few facts, letters and memories, Amanda Hale tries to make sense of this time and discover who her father actually was. It's beautifully written; accomplished.
Here are a few passages that particularly touched me:
When Christopher first meets Cynthia, a mutual friend fills him in on the details. This incredibly creative passage is from the perspective of their unborn children: "Adele's honeyed voice trickles in the background as their eyes meet and we surge forward, baby oh baby, me and my siblings, clamouring for our existence, bundles of cells striving to assemble, oh joy the chance to create our living bodies from the glimmering exchange of light in their eyes." (p 35)
An emotional reunion between Christopher and Cynthia: "...the breath leaving her body as he clasped her. A slight moan escaped her, and those little noises in the throat where your longing lives." (p 116)
"Vera seemed to her the kind of woman who couldn't do without a man." (p 211 - oh I do want more on this topic)
Cynthia finds a note written by Christopher:
When we sleep we dream about each other.
I see you smiling down at me,
and when we wake our toes are curled with pleasure.
Spectacular!
September 24, 2020
A riveting story which, I feel sure, will gain a great following for Amanda Hale who writes with great consideration for words as much as for composition. The history is interesting in itself but the association with the family involved provides a real feeling of experiencing the era first-hand. Enjoy this great escape!
Read
March 16, 2020I have known Amanda Hale casually on Hornby Island for some years.
From a sense of camaraderie and respect I bought Mad Hatter from her at a Saturday market. I had no expectations of a great read. Hence the immense pleasure and and reward when I did read the book and found it to be a superbly written semi-fictional semi biographical account. The historical context and the place in that context - the Mosely Fascist pro-Nazis - in which Amanda finds her "father" is interesting and relevant. The family is ostracized for their pro-Nazi stance. But what I found most fascinating and engaging about Mad Hatter was the success of the author, herself born in 1943, in recreating the subjective world of her parents, their extended family and their relationship to the world as it was. The writer is deeply motivated to come to terms with the people that her mother and father were and to understand her love for them, despite their decisions and despite the terrible politics of her father. Ultimately she is able to understand and forgive.
From a sense of camaraderie and respect I bought Mad Hatter from her at a Saturday market. I had no expectations of a great read. Hence the immense pleasure and and reward when I did read the book and found it to be a superbly written semi-fictional semi biographical account. The historical context and the place in that context - the Mosely Fascist pro-Nazis - in which Amanda finds her "father" is interesting and relevant. The family is ostracized for their pro-Nazi stance. But what I found most fascinating and engaging about Mad Hatter was the success of the author, herself born in 1943, in recreating the subjective world of her parents, their extended family and their relationship to the world as it was. The writer is deeply motivated to come to terms with the people that her mother and father were and to understand her love for them, despite their decisions and despite the terrible politics of her father. Ultimately she is able to understand and forgive.
December 18, 2020
I had an opportunity to hear Amanda Hale do a reading of the Mad Hatter on Hornby Island so I got a preview before I read the book. I enjoy reading about the time period during WWII as there are so many interesting stories, of which this is one. I did not want to put it down until I finished it. As I was reading it I could hear Amanda's British accent in my head. I liked the way the story unfolded from different voices. If I was to make one suggestion it might be to label the chapters by who the speaker was so you can change gears before you start the chapter. One of my top books of the year.
March 12, 2020
I really loved this intelligent, gripping novel. I couldn't put it down. It consumed my life during the days I was reading it. It is suspenseful, entertaining, beautifully written and totally engaging, from start to finish. My mother was English and met my father, a Canadian, when he was stationed in England during WW2 so I was immediately intrigued by the fact it was set in England during that time. The characters are so fully fleshed out. It's a real page turner. Please read it. You will love it. I want to read it, again.
January 26, 2020
Amanda Hale’s fictionalized family memoir Mad Hatter—about her pacifist father’s internment in wartime England and his return home after his release—is a profound, personal exploration of curdled idealism and a family’s struggle to make sense of it. It is both a moving work of creative non-fiction and a skillfully crafted historical novel of the highest order.
February 17, 2020
I loved this book. It is an intimate fictionalization of real people and i was riveted to their story. It also introduced me to something in history that i had not considered in any depth. Amanda Hale is a good writer and i actually could hardly put the book down. it wasn't the suspense as much as the people and their lives. I needed to know how it was for them.
August 21, 2019
This is the second time I am writing this review as I must have hit the wrong button when trying to send my first review as it has disappeared; I hope I remember what I said. This is why I used to write my reviews on paper first - curses for trying to save a tree!
Mad Hatter by Amanda Hale was an interesting but sometimes difficult read. I am sat here now trying to reconcile the fact that this novel is based on real people. It was not until I finished reading it that I discovered the author's relationship to the subject. I wonder how it would have colored my interpretation of the book had I been aware of that fact before I started reading it.
It took me a bit longer to read Mad Hatter (several days) as there is a lot to process. This is a story filled with sadness and regret fraught with misunderstandings and if onlys.
There are a few different narrators here. In the book description one is noted as being a 15 month old baby but what if doesn't say is that she starts narrating about 10 years before she is born! It is a bit uncomfortable (and scientifically impossible) but I think I get what the author is trying to accomplish. It does take some getting used to though.
The author's note at the back of the book explains she spent quite a bit of time researching and writing this book. It can't have been an easy journey and it is brave of her to share it with us.
(I am very sorry I lost the first review as I am sure I have forgotten some key points I had originally made and I feel it was expressed much more competently but it is quite late and my frustration is high. I am nervous I will lose it again, so crossing my fingers ...)
Mad Hatter by Amanda Hale was an interesting but sometimes difficult read. I am sat here now trying to reconcile the fact that this novel is based on real people. It was not until I finished reading it that I discovered the author's relationship to the subject. I wonder how it would have colored my interpretation of the book had I been aware of that fact before I started reading it.
It took me a bit longer to read Mad Hatter (several days) as there is a lot to process. This is a story filled with sadness and regret fraught with misunderstandings and if onlys.
There are a few different narrators here. In the book description one is noted as being a 15 month old baby but what if doesn't say is that she starts narrating about 10 years before she is born! It is a bit uncomfortable (and scientifically impossible) but I think I get what the author is trying to accomplish. It does take some getting used to though.
The author's note at the back of the book explains she spent quite a bit of time researching and writing this book. It can't have been an easy journey and it is brave of her to share it with us.
(I am very sorry I lost the first review as I am sure I have forgotten some key points I had originally made and I feel it was expressed much more competently but it is quite late and my frustration is high. I am nervous I will lose it again, so crossing my fingers ...)
December 28, 2022
There is a force in history that paralyzes us and robs us of our humanity. How else can you explain the madness? p140
Living with a secret makes you duplicitous, your every action feels fraudulent. p243
...boys can be bullies....What is it about men that makes them that way? Is it the world we live in, or something they're born with? p139
During a war and it's aftermath, these kinds of questions surface; they remain urgent today. But there are other questions that need to be asked alongside the ones still puzzling over the origins of violence, and they concern the opposite impulse and the ability of people to organize co-operatively. Personal ethics are generally overridden by coercive practices but there will always be some few who cannot abide by orders that are perceived as unjust. These would include freedom fighters and conscientious objectors who numbered in the thousands, imprisoned by the British and generally shunned.
This is the background of this brave and amazing, verging on unbelievable yet totally effective genre- bending documentary fantasy. In reconstructing her father's controversial life, with rigorous delicacy Amanda Hale leads the attentive reader into ethically murky waters while shedding light on a shadowy corner of British history, putting together a puzzle with many missing pieces.
Children are frequently accused of lying, because they see things as they are and must learn to dissemble and tell the white lies that keep the world afloat and the naked emperor in power. p396
Living with a secret makes you duplicitous, your every action feels fraudulent. p243
...boys can be bullies....What is it about men that makes them that way? Is it the world we live in, or something they're born with? p139
During a war and it's aftermath, these kinds of questions surface; they remain urgent today. But there are other questions that need to be asked alongside the ones still puzzling over the origins of violence, and they concern the opposite impulse and the ability of people to organize co-operatively. Personal ethics are generally overridden by coercive practices but there will always be some few who cannot abide by orders that are perceived as unjust. These would include freedom fighters and conscientious objectors who numbered in the thousands, imprisoned by the British and generally shunned.
This is the background of this brave and amazing, verging on unbelievable yet totally effective genre- bending documentary fantasy. In reconstructing her father's controversial life, with rigorous delicacy Amanda Hale leads the attentive reader into ethically murky waters while shedding light on a shadowy corner of British history, putting together a puzzle with many missing pieces.
Children are frequently accused of lying, because they see things as they are and must learn to dissemble and tell the white lies that keep the world afloat and the naked emperor in power. p396
October 8, 2021
*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.*
Christopher is a normal man who makes hats for a living. When WWII starts, he is taken captive and gets back home a Nazi.
I was never sure if this book was a historical fiction or a memoir, but it shows the problems that could arise within a family when one of them has different and radical views in a time of war.
Regarding characters, I thought it did not have enough development to understand where most of them were coming from, so except from our MC, I would have appreciated more background information about them.
Shamefully, this book didn't give me anything new, but it was quite enjoyable. Hence the 3 stars.
I thought it was well written and the narrator did a fantastic job!
Christopher is a normal man who makes hats for a living. When WWII starts, he is taken captive and gets back home a Nazi.
I was never sure if this book was a historical fiction or a memoir, but it shows the problems that could arise within a family when one of them has different and radical views in a time of war.
Regarding characters, I thought it did not have enough development to understand where most of them were coming from, so except from our MC, I would have appreciated more background information about them.
Shamefully, this book didn't give me anything new, but it was quite enjoyable. Hence the 3 stars.
I thought it was well written and the narrator did a fantastic job!
May 13, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this. It's well researched and regales us with a part of history from the Second World War within Britain that I was not aware of (namely, fascist sympathisers). The writing was dark and brooding, but there were plenty of touching moments, and funny moments, to not make it overly depressing. Told from multiple POV's, and spanning many years, Hare has really accomplished something quite unique.
I'm normally quite hesitant to listen to the audio of a book that is narrated by its author, but Hare has done a really good job with this and has a lovely, soothing voice.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request via Audioboom and have voluntarily left this review.
I'm normally quite hesitant to listen to the audio of a book that is narrated by its author, but Hare has done a really good job with this and has a lovely, soothing voice.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request via Audioboom and have voluntarily left this review.
April 14, 2022
I received the audiobook free of charge through the kindness of its author. She took on a formidable project of intense personal significance. Gifted with a unique and deep imagination, she brings into play the mind of more than one narrator, numerous characters who each have special strengths and profound flaws, a uniquely-featured magic, and more. She explores a range of issues, including dangers to society, trust, the class system, mental illness, and gender roles. Her reading voice is articulate and clear, making the long and complex story easy to follow. In sum, a masterful achievement presenting important concepts from the past, more than ever relevant for today's world.
September 29, 2019
From the corners of this book comes a melody so delicate that it might have been simply an inner thought, a little surreptitious fact, a touch of realism and the almost profound flow of immaculate writing. The Mad Hatter's warm content promises a world against vanity and a barrier against superstition, even though its context is an open-door for the hunger of both. There is a great deal to be read and felt - Hadi Atallah, author of 'Rosemary Bluebell.'
July 22, 2021
audible:Wow!What a book!This is the story of a man,thrown in jail for his pascifism prior to WW2 and let go 3 years later as a Hitler/Jesus nut.His family suffers as they are harrassed by reporters and neighbors alike.I could barely put it down. Amanda Hale was a wonderful narrator as well as the author.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
August 11, 2020
a great book - a poignant and brilliantly worded sensitivity to a difficult life story
highly recommend
highly recommend
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews