Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Unavailable
    Mr. Chartwell: A Novel
    Unavailable
    Mr. Chartwell: A Novel
    Unavailable
    Mr. Chartwell: A Novel
    Audiobook7 hours

    Mr. Chartwell: A Novel

    Written by Rebecca Hunt

    Narrated by Susan Duerden

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    July 1964. Chartwell House, Kent: Winston Churchill wakes at dawn. There's a dark, mute "presence" in the room that focuses on him with rapt concentration.

    It's Mr. Chartwell.

    Soon after, in London, Esther Hammerhans, a librarian at the House of Commons, goes to answer the door to her new lodger. Through the glass she sees a vast silhouette the size of a mattress.

    It's Mr. Chartwell.

    Charismatic, dangerously seductive, Mr. Chartwell unites the eminent statesman at the end of his career and the vulnerable young woman. But can they withstand Mr. Chartwell's strange, powerful charms and his stranglehold on their lives? Can they even explain who or what he is and why he has come to visit?

    In this utterly original, moving, funny, and exuberant novel, Rebecca Hunt explores how two unlikely lives collide as Mr. Chartwell's motives are revealed to be far darker and deeper than they at first seem.


    From the Hardcover edition.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateFeb 8, 2011
    ISBN9780307879943
    Unavailable
    Mr. Chartwell: A Novel
    Author

    Rebecca Hunt

    REBECCA HUNT graduated with a first class degree in fine art from Central Saint Martins College in 2002. Her paintings have been successfully exhibited in London and all over the UK. In 2008 she started writing and her short stories have already been published in several eminent literary magazines.

    Related to Mr. Chartwell

    Related audiobooks

    Coming of Age Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Science Fiction And Fantasy

      Dec 3, 2020

      John Ironmonger Weidenfeld & Nicolson 2020 Hb, 276pp, £16.99, ISBN 9780297608233 Heloise was born in 1759, when Halley’s comet was in the sky; her father, a French nobleman and astronomer, named her after the god of the Sun. Her family are caught up

      4 min read

    • Article

      Books

      Feb 19, 2021

      At a local newspaper in South East London in 1957, journalist Jean Swinney receives a curious letter written to the editor. Gretchen Tilbury – abeautiful, well-to-do woman – claims her 10-year-old daughter is the product of a virgin birth. Gretchen h

      5 min read

    • Article

      Letters

      Oct 8, 2020

      Thank you for making my life more joyful month after month. I can’t tell you how important to me the Fortean Times is. Kevin Hope By email Regarding Matt Salusbury’s Forum article on sunken bells [FT396:54-55], there is more to the bells of Aberdyfi

      14 min read

    • Article

      A Venerable Name Revived

      Feb 2, 2022

      A Venerable Name Revived
      5 min read

    • Article

      Remastering The Mythos: Questions For Ruthanna Emrys

      May 4, 2017

      When Ruthanna Emrys first read H.P. Lovecraft's classic tale "The Shadow Over Innsmouth," her sympathies were squarely with the monsters — and that sympathy was the seed of her new book, Winter Tide.

      5 min read

    • Article

      The 40 Greatest Books To Read Before You Die

      Apr 25, 2021

      Books, books, books. They will increase your lifespan, lower your stress and boost your intelligence. They will give you fuller, thicker hair. Whatever the breathless claims about reading, one thing is certain: losing yourself in a great novel is one

      14 min read

    • Article

      The 40 Best Books To Read In Lockdown

      May 29, 2021

      Books, books, books. They will increase your lifespan, lower your stress and boost your intelligence. They will give you fuller, thicker hair. Whatever the breathless claims about reading, one thing is certain: losing yourself in a great novel is one

      14 min read

    • Article

      The Magic Of The Duchy

      Nov 30, 2023

      The Magic Of The Duchy
      8 min read

    • Article

      Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Krauss, Cárdenas, and More

      Nov 3, 2020

      It's election day. Go vote. Then check out new titles from the likes of Nicole Krauss and Mauro Javier Cárdenas. The post Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Krauss, Cárdenas, and More appeared first on The Millions.

      4 min read

    • Article

      Chips, With Everything

      Oct 28, 2021

      Henry ‘Chips’ Channon: The Diaries 1938-43 edited by Simon Heffer (Hutchinson, £35) Christopher Pincher is Minister of State for Housing DIARIES ARE CAPTIVATING, they tell us so much about so much. They magic up the mood behind the headlines of the t

      5 min read

    • Article

      Hilary Mantel: Her 10 Greatest Books

      Sep 23, 2022

      Dame Hilary Mantel, who has died suddenly aged 70, was late to become a household name, but once she did, there was no stopping her. The arrival of the third volume of her Wolf Hall trilogy – after an eight-year wait during which it felt as if the wh

      4 min read

    • Article

      Readers’ Letters

      Feb 9, 2022

      The Oldie, 23-31 Great Titchfield Street, London, W1W 7PA letters@theoldie.co.uk To sign up for our e-newsletter, go to www.theoldie.co.uk SIR: Like Gyles Brandreth, my husband and I are great fans of Bargain Hunt. As well as enjoying the banter betw

      6 min read

    • Article

      The Searing Clarity of Hilary Mantel

      Nov 20, 2023

      Mantel the essayist was eager for ideas, light on her feet, yet sharp as a raptor. The post The Searing Clarity of Hilary Mantel appeared first on The Millions.

      5 min read

    • Article

      5 Identities On The Page

      Mar 31, 2020

      5 Identities On The Page
      4 min read

    • Article

      Science Fiction And Fantasy

      Jan 5, 2022

      AJ Elwood Titan Books 2021 Pb, 365pp, £8.99, ISBN 9781789096859 We have three wonderfully fortean concepts to start with. We all know that fairies, even if they might sometimes be pretty, delicate little winged creatures, are rarely benign, and in AJ

      4 min read

    • Article

      Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Sacks, Zambreno, Lawlor, McEwan, and More

      Apr 23, 2019

      Out this week: new Ian McEwan, a fascinating study of the American heartland, and the final collection from the late, great Oliver Sacks. The post Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Sacks, Zambreno, Lawlor, McEwan, and More appeared first on The Milli

      4 min read

    • Article

      Books

      May 22, 2023

      Books
      6 min read

    Reviews for Mr. Chartwell

    3.5/5

    190 ratings35 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      Mr Chartwell is the story of six days in the lives of two people, Winston Churchill on the eve of his retirement in 1964, and Esther Hammerhans, a librarian with a room to rent. Mr Chartwell is interested in moving in but Esther has her doubts. You see, Mr Chartwell is a dog, a very large dog. Who talks. This is such an imaginative story, I really couldn’t help but like it. Black Pat is the personification (dogification?) of Churchill’s Black Dog and he is quite a character. Esther’s story comes out slowly and provides a bit of suspense but this is really just a quiet, blackly humorous tale. I thought the writing was lovely and the descriptions of Black Pat were great. I know this was offered as an ER book. I had to look back at the description to see why I decided not to even request it. I think I was turned off thinking I’d be reading about Churchill and depression. Well, I was, but it was done in such an inventive manner and with a wonderfully light touch, that it really did work for me.
    • 4/5
      Wonderfully original.
    • 5/5
      What an extraordinary first novel. Rebecca Hunt has taken an audacious, ambitious premise, and executed it in an insightful, rich way. Winston Churchill is a well-known depressive who referred to his sometime companion as The Black Dog. Hunt has personified The Black Dog with Mr. Chartwell, the new (canine) boarder at the home of librarian Esther, who is a widower. His presence is entirely unwelcome, yet strangely irresistible. Esther allows him to move in, but resents his presence. He has moved to be conveniently situated near Winston Churchill, who is reflective on the eve of his retirement from Parliament, but he has other jobs as well. This novel really should have been a disaster with this premise. A dog who walks on two legs and affects human manners (though not so well that he can resist chomping on a bone in the hallway) sounds laughable, and not in a good way. But Hunt approaches the subject of depression with sensitivity and deep understanding, and "Mr. Chartwell" embodies it nobly, with messy rudeness and plaintive pleas for understanding. Hunt's language reveals a sensitivity to the nuances of depression, as well as an elegant precision. Churchill says that "the prospects of retirement could not yet be fully contemplated, being too full of awful passion. It churned the heart with thistles."*** Esther feels that "...the weeks of her life had drifted past as ghosts. There was the rare bump of pleasure, perhaps from a meal out or a visit to the cinema, but it was brittle and shattered under the lonely monotony of the ghost days." But she doesn't immediately recognize that her relationship with "Black Pat" is much more complicated than that of a landlord and boarder. He explains his "job" to her, nicely summing up the symptoms of depression: "With Churchill we know each other's movements, so we have a routine, I guess. I like to be there when he wakes up in the morning. Sometimes I drape across his chest. That slows him down for a bit..." Churchill speaks to Black Pat with familiarity, even affection, but also with bitter resentment. He always knew that Black Pat would return for Churchill's retirement, and he reluctantly accepts the presence. Hunt's Churchill is fully believable and complex, a great man plagued by doubt, dreading retirement. Esther represents a different stage of visitation by depression, still adjusting to Black Pat's charms. She is also a well-developed character in her own right; a young widow still mourning her husband and coming to terms with loss while attending to new and old friendships and her job, which eventually leads her to Churchill's study to take dictation. Their encounter is the crux of the novel, beautifully exquisite and surprising. I fully expect this to be my favorite novel released in 2011. Hunt's writing is utterly inventive and surprising, her story told with wisdom and sensitivity.***All quotations are taken from an uncorrected proof and should be checked against a final copy, tentative publication date 2/22/11.FTC Source Disclosure: I received an Advance Reader's Edition from the publisher.
    • 3/5
      Originally published on Read Handed.Winston Churchill is a widely admired and respected figure. A renaissance man, he excelled at writing, painting, politics, oration, history, military service, leadership, and more. And, apparently, he did it all while suffering from depression.Rebecca Hunt's novel Mr. Chartwell gives insight into Churchill's depression, which he called his "bête noire", literally "black beast", but often interpreted as "black dog." The book follows Churchill through his final days in parliament as he prepares to retire. It also follows the struggles of a library clerk named Esther Hammerhans as she commemorates a dark anniversary. Throughout these days, the two characters are hampered by Black Pat Chartwell, a giant black dog who insists on making their lives even more difficult.Esther decides to rent out her spare room for some extra money and receives only one response to her advertisement: someone called Mr. Chartwell. When Esther opens her front door when he arrives for their meeting, she is shocked to see "a mammoth muscular dog about six foot seven high" (pg. 10). Oh, and he can talk. For some reason, this is much easier for Esther to swallow than for the reader. The strange character took some getting used to, but by the end of the book proved to be an effective and accurate personification.Black Pat is depression. With Esther, he creeps in innocently enough. She does, after all, invite him into her house and rents her spare room to him. For Churchill, he is a lifelong, uninvited companion. He has dealt with Black Pat for years and has seen him take over the lives of dear family members. Once Black Pat has his victim's attention, he hangs around, annoying and distracting them with his foul odor, disgusting habits, and tendency to destroy everything. Esther doesn't know how to deal with Black Pat, and doesn't really understand his purpose in her life, but Churchill knows him too well.Structure-wise, the book follows a chronological pattern, separating the action into days and times and alternating between Churchill's and Esther's stories. The writing is light, funny, and descriptive. The side characters, such as Esther's friends Beth, Big Oliver, and Corkbowl, are quirky and fun. Hunt's descriptions are unusual, striking, and apt. For example: "Corkbowl watched Esther's cheeks light with a nunnish smile. He looked at her hair, hair that had never been lavished with attention. A plaster wrapper around the end of her index finger was found to be mystically stylish. Corkbowl's heart rang like a tuning fork" (pg. 88).Or "Black Pat burst through like a bowling ball smashing into fresh pins" (pg.169).And, as an example of Hunt's understated wit: "He made a welcoming sound over a mouthful of flapjack and shut his newspaper. He did the universally understood spin of his hand to show he couldn't understand why it was taking so long to swallow. It was the spin that said, I'm bored of chewing; I can't believe I'm still chewing" (pg. 131).And, finally, an example of how disgusting Black Pat is: "Black Pat's head rolled to manoueuvre her hand to the base of his ecstatic ear. She scratched it, swearing never to eat with this hand again. Fur worked loose in clouds" (pg. 143).Hunt depicts Winston Churchill as a highly intelligent, determined, and tender old man who loves his wife.Overall, Mr. Chartwell was good: imaginative if a little strange, witty and delving.
    • 3/5
      I purchased this audio book for $1.00. If I did not like it I felt I could just pass it along. I'll be honest there were times I was board and not as engaged as I'd like but Miss Hunt's use of Mr. Chartwell as the shadow of depression or the feeling of malaise was very unique and interesting. Also using a well known historical figure (Sir. Winston Churchill) made the story that more realistic.
    • 3/5
      I thought this book was going to be historical fiction but it's not. It takes place at a historical moment - Churchill's retirement - but the story itself is about depression. Depression takes the form of an imaginary creature, a large dog, named Black Pat. Black Pat regularly visits Winston Churchill and now is also dropping in on Esther Hammerhans, a librarian at the House of Commons. It's an interesting and clever concept but try as I might, I just could not get into this story. Maybe because there wasn't much of a story, just a lot of conversation. There were a few humorous moments and it made me think about depression and how it affects people, but mostly it left me unsatisfied and glad it was a short book.
    • 3/5
      I originally picked up this book because the cover was interesting and the author was British. The fact that I'm a fan of British literature coupled with the mysteriousness of the characters made it a must read.

      Heed my warning...if you're looking for a fun, whimsical piece of British literature...this is not the book for you.

      I was immediately drawn into the story because of the shroud surrounding Mr.Chartwell and his intentions. While at first he seems like a friendly enough visitor, you soon discover that his intentions are not as they seem, and he's exactly the type of company you don't want in your house.

      I thought Winston Churchill was an admirable character in terms of how he confronted and dealt with Mr. Chartwell. I don't know that I could stand being constantly nagged by someone or something like Mr. Chartwell and remain sane, although I guess one could argue the point of Sir Churchill's sanity.

      Esther, who I regard as the main character since much of the action in the story revolves around her, was a little disappointing to me. When I realized who Mr. Chartwell was and what he really wanted from Esther, I was screaming for her to say "NO!" It was maddening watching her consent to the whims of Mr. Chartwell. However, she began to redeem herself once she crossed paths with Sir Churchill who gave her some of the soundest advice I've ever stumbled across..."Do not consent to the descent."

      My three favorite characters were Corkbowl, Big Oliver, and Beth. They were necessary to the story's survival, because if I didn't believe that they would make me laugh during a point where the story was beginning to get immensely sad, I probably would have stopped reading the book half way through.

      In essence, this book wasn't really what I expected it to be, and I'm not faulting it for that. I'm only giving it three stars, because if I had known the true subject matter of the book, I probably wouldn't have bought it. Also, the language was a bit choppy. I'm all for creative license and writing however you want, but there were way too many fragments throughout the book, and it was increasingly difficult to read so many short, incomplete thoughts. I suppose if these fragments had been in the form of speech I might be more willing to accept them. I should also note that I'm giving this three stars because I think the story was supposed to have some profound effect on me, but it didn't. Good first try, though, Rebecca Hunt. Moral of the story...if a Mr. Chartwell comes knocking at your door...don't let him in!
    • 4/5
      Read from February 07 to 12, 2011To turn something tragic like depression into something entertaining seems impossible, but Rebecca Hunt manages to do just that. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Even the horrible Mr. Chartwell, aka Black Pat, was a pleasure. (I feel the need to learn more about Winston Churchill after reading the book though!)
    • 4/5
      This book offers a really interesting perspective on depression through two sufferers. Winston Churchill's suffering is a burden programmed into his psychology; Esther is experiencing more situational depression, it may pass, or it may take her over. Imaginatively told with depression represented via a very large, mostly unpleasant black dog, this book is informing as well as a page turner.
    • 5/5
      I originally saw this book on LibraryThing Early Reviewers and immediately wanted to get it the moment it came out. Happily, I discovered it at my local library and immediately check it out.I've always been the type to shy away from historical fiction, but I must admit that this book is not only well-constructed but let's you see history from a different point of view.Mr. Charwell, or Black Pat is a big black dog. A big black dog that can talk.In the book he is shown in the lives of two people, Winston Churchill and Esther Hammerhans. He is the legendary "black dog" that bothers Churchill throughout his life. He is also the new tenant at Esther's house.Throughout the series it is hinted as to what Black Pat really represents and upon realizing it, the two main human characters can learn to live through their "ordeal".I loved this book from page one. It is a story that occurs over the course of five days, and yet the story changes the two humans forever. Chruchill learning how much Black Pat is tied to him, while Esther realizes the truth of what happened to her husband and her.I recommend it to anyone interested in Churchill as it provides a different insight to what the man went through, as well as anyone who has ever gone through depression.
    • 3/5
      Summary: Winston Churchill is about to step down from the Parliament and his old enemy, the black dog, reappears in his life as it has at many stressful moments. He has also seen what it did to his father and his daughter (who committed suicide in 1963 - the book takes place in 1964). He apparently referred to this black dog in his life frequently and his bouts with depression are well recorded. Here, Hunt thrusts the black dog (called Black Pat or Mr. Chartwell) on an unsuspecting young widow (Esther) on the second anniversary of her husband's suicide as well as Churchill. The concept (as others have agreed) is an interesting one - to 'flesh out' that depression as a literal black dog. I will have to take their word on it that Hunt's descriptions are what depression feels like and I applaud her efforts there...and recommend that people interested in learning more about that read this book. As just a stand alone story, though, I felt it lacked something - it did not really hold my interest. Hunt did not draw me into the story of two depressed people dealing with big moments in their lives enough for me to really care about them. I found Churchill interesting and searched the internet a bit to read more about him, and may even pick out a biography to learn more and perhaps see if Hunt really did her research. The information I've found does refer to alcoholism (Hunt does portray him taking a drink frequently, but not showing him outright as an alcoholic) and also indicates that by 1959 he was using a wheelchair, which Hunt does not convey at all, 4 years later...although he is generally seated or on the bed, he is also taking walks through the garden at times. It is a quick read, the chapters are short and there is a slight side story with a new co-worker that might be able to help Esther through her visit from the black dog. I found the ending a bit 'pat' shall we say (pun totally intended)...as if wrapped up (too) nicely for a Hallmark movie. I guess it is supposed to feel hopeful, and it does to a small degree, but just seemed unrealistic as the black dog seems to show compassion toward both main characters. Three stars - not awful, but not great. Read it if you want to explore depression in an interesting way.
    • 4/5
      A curious novel about depression which many describe as a black dog. Do people have the choice to reject him when he first appears? Is his company hereditary?
    • 4/5
      This was a delightful book. A quick-read with very interesting characters. Mr. Chartwell is an unwelcome visitor to Sir Winston Churchill and a young librarian. As the story progresses, you start to figure out why Mr. Chartwell is there. It's a dark reason, but the writing is so light you can handle it. As Mr. Chartwell is a big black dog who can talk and walk, you have to suspend reality to best enjoy the story. Highly recommended.
    • 5/5
      It's rare that I review a book and attempt to comment on how well it is "crafted" (I don't feel I'm in a position to comment on how an author's process works), but Mr. Chartwell just seems to beg that kind of description. In her debut work, Hunt was able to capture a unique concept and develop it in such a way where enough is described to draw the reader in, but mysteries remain hidden until they are needed. In addition, the "real people" of her narrative were so deftly incorporated that the reading becomes even more personal without drifting into pseudo-biography.Her unique concept? What if depression were a physical entity? What if Winston Churchill's "Black Dog of Depression" was, in fact, a big black dog? And where does that dog live when he's not bothering Churchill? On intimate terms with Churchill - and many members of Churchill's family - the Black Dog takes on increased significance in the final days leading to Churchill's retirement from Parliament. So the walking, talking dog is spending more time with Churchill and needs to find a nearby room to rent. Enter Esther, with a story of her own, unsure of how she feels about letting the dog into her house. Hunt parses out bits of Esther's story in such a way that you're never 100% sure what the full story will end up being. Both the dog (Mr. Chartwell) and even Churchill end up serving as conduits to understand a character which may have initially seemed expendable. Highly recommended
    • 4/5
      Winston Churchill fought a life-long battle with clinical depression. He characterized that depression as being a big black dog that bedeviled him. In "Mr. Chartwell," Rebecca Hunt takes that metaphorical description and makes it literal. Churchill's depression is literally a big black dog who gives his name variously as Mr. Chartwell (Chartwell being the name of Churchill's home estate) and Black Pat. When widowed and lonely young librarian Esther Hammerhans advertises for a boarder, she is unprepared for who turns up to take the room. A huge, talking black dog who walks on his hind legs and cracks impenetrable jokes and whose name is Black Pat is not exactly whom she expected. But she finds herself unable to say no and he moves into her spare room, and, from there, into the rest of her life and her house. After an encounter with Churchill in which each recognizes the other as an unwilling companion of the obnoxious dog, Esther comes to realize that if she cannot find the willpower to deny Black Pat entry into her life, she will be trapped with him for the rest of her life...which might not be terribly long under his baleful influence.A dark subject, lightly treated.
    • 4/5
      Well worth a little sojourn to capture this little gem of a novel. Go on it won't take you more than a day or two to read it. If you have ever suffered from depression then this is a useful way of looking at the topic, with the aid of Churchill's Black Dog. Ok so it does not explore all of the issues to do with depression but it looks at a very touch subject in an engrossing and endearing way. It certainly cheered me up and got rid of the Black Dog for a few hours!
    • 4/5
      When there is a grey fog of sadness surrounding you and you can't find a name for it, nor can you escape its malevolent presence you may have allowed Mr. Chartwell into your life. Centered around the end of Sir Winston Churchill's last days in Parliament the story follows Churchill and Esther Hammerhans and their dysfunctional relationship with Mr. Chartwell, a dog that speaks and walks upright. Please understand this is NOT Marley and Me! Esther, a young librarian, puts one foot in front of the other each day just trying to survive after the death of her husband Michael. Looking to earn extra money she has placed an advertisement in the paper looking for a lodger. The only response she receives is from Mr. Chartwell who offers her a deal that is too good to be true. Rebecca Hunt has written a truly innovative tale- a fast, enjoyable read.
    • 5/5
      Mr. Chartwell is a large, black dog with a dark, seductive presence. Esther is a lonely young widow. Churchill is facing retirement and the conclusion of his life's work. Their paths intersect.I don't want to give much away, not because there's some trick at the end, but because I think that sometimes it's better to start reading something without much of an idea of where it's going to go. I waited a long time for this book, and I wasn't at all disappointed.
    • 4/5
      Mr. Chartwell is a bully. He barges in where he isn't wanted and settles in with his rude, boorish ways. He selects his victims indiscriminantly. In this case, one is an eminent English politician and the other a timid librarian.I liked this debut novel about a difficult topic that plagues many of us for unknown reasons. Ms. Hunt is not afraid to name the elephant in the room. Call it the Black Dog, Black Pat, or Depression, it can come unbidden and stay until its weight of possession becomes a familiar presence. The author takes a dark subject and brings some light to it with her fresh and quirky approach. I'm looking forward to what she'll tackle in her next book. I'll be reading it!
    • 4/5
      Such an interesting concept and a beautifully written book. I really enjoyed the intrusion of Big Pat into Esther's life. It was scary to see how easily depression could come in and take over. And the parts about Churchill and his acceptance of his depression were poignant. All in all a very interesting read.
    • 4/5
      While I do not feel the summary shows this novel in the light it should have been shown, Mr. Chartwell definitely takes it's place among some of the most unique, interesting books I've read. I approached the story believing there'd be more interaction between the famous Mr. Churchill and Esther but instead, found more of a coincidental connection and just one small scene with both involved. This disappointed me a bit, but something else made up for that disappointment.Having dealt with depression in my own life, I can attest to how it is like what Ms. Hunt portrays Mr. Chartwell to be. A mangy, annoying, loud dog skulking about, refusing to leave, worming his way into your every thought. At first I was a bit annoyed by the appearance of a creature I thought belonged in a fantasy book, but as the novel progressed I began to see Mr. Chartwell for who he was and what he represented, and then things began to get interesting.Even if depression is not something you've ever dealt with, this book gives each reader a solid look at what it is like to be in those black depths, to feel the despair and annoyance and be completely unable to claw your way back to the light. It gives a picture of what it is like to overcome and to succumb and I think it's a read that was definitely worthy of my time.
    • 5/5
      When librarian Esther Hammerhans decides to rent out her box room to a boarder, she’s horrified to discover a huge black dog at her door inquiring about the vacancy. But this dog is like none other, for he can speak eloquently and wryly, and seems to have an uncanny way of getting into Esther’s subconscious. Though renting to this absurd creature is the furthest thing from her mind, the dog, known as Black Pat, is soon in residence, and Esther’s life is slowly spiraling into melancholy.When Black Pat isn’t busy hounding Esther and making her uncomfortable, he’s on the other side of town menacing the great Winston Churchill on the eve of his retirement from public office. But whereas Black Pat is somewhat gentle and self-deprecating in his dealings with Esther, he’s a lot more ferocious and malignant to Churchill. Sitting on his chest and making it impossible for him to move, or whispering horrible things to him from the corner of the room, Black Pat is a terrible specter that haunts Churchill malevolently.As Esther and Churchill battle the black dog of depression, they come to find that Black Pat is not only destructive, but also very unwilling to let them go. When an unexpected meeting between Churchill and Esther is scheduled, the two recognize that they are both being haunted by the same menace, and the battle between these two and Black Pat intensifies. With witty verve and a startling poignancy, Hunt manages to catch the elusive ramifications of the depression that Churchill once described as a “black dog” with both a humor and horror that will delight readers to their core.One of the things I found so remarkable about this book was Hunt’s ability to capture all the melancholy and dread of the depressive state through her clever use of the black dog in her narrative. When Black Pat first arrives, he negotiates with Esther over whether or not she’ll let him stay, finally sliding in when her defences are down. This is symbolically accurate from the accounts of depression I’ve read. Later in the story, Esther and Churchill speak about the menace of the black dog being akin to warfare, in which the depressive person must staunchly maintain his defenses from the ceaseless attack of Black Pat. It was curious that Black Pat’s strategy differed between his victims, and I grew to recognize that in his initial attack of Esther, he was turning on the charm and hoping to wiggle in under her radar. Later things would be different, as they were with Churchill. Once the dog was granted admittance for the first time, he was free to take over and became horribly abusive and cloying.Black Pat is the embodiment of depression to a T. Capable of being darkly humorous in his initial attack, he’s portrayed here as obstinate, vulgar and persistent, even as he is uncharacteristically charming and self-aware. Though Churchill has faced Black Pat many times before and knows his opponent, Esther is completely unaware of the danger in letting him linger and is surprised to discover just who her boarder really is. In both cases, the dog makes both a physical and mental nuisance of himself, sometimes playful and other times ominous. He regards his role in the lives he usurps as lamentable but necessary and often claims his existence and persistence is not within his control, believing that he is summoned by affinity. Black Pat is inventive and wily while also being profound and deep. He can be intolerably rude, coarse and undignified, but in him resides a kernel of remorse that he wishes wasn’t there. Though he is dogged (no pun intended) and charming at times, he’s also fierce and dangerously destructive.Though I’ve described the bleaker aspects of this book, it also was rather funny, which was an unexpected surprise. The relationship between Esther and her boss was a source of many snickering laughs, as were some of the conversations and situations that arose with Black Pat. The book melded both profundity and laughter in a perfect package that at times delighted and often made me ponder depression in a way I hadn’t before. The narrative was also filled with some unique and well-developed characters, who rounded out the story very nicely and gave a lot of heft to what may have otherwise become a thin farce of a narrative. It’s not often that I laugh aloud at a book, but I did so here, which sort of startled me because one wouldn’t expect to find this particular topic amusing.I was also struck by the surprising outcome of the story, for even as I loathed Black Pat, I grew to appreciate him in some ways despite my reluctance. I ended up feeling enormously sorry for him in one sense, and in another I was glad to see him in such reduced circumstances. It was a curiously odd feeling to hate and yet admire a creature so repulsive and all-consuming, but I have to honestly admit that I did. Black Pat was a villain whom I came to care about, though I knew he was rotten to the core. I think part of this had to do with his ability to sympathize with his victims and his need to warn them of his trickery. This made him seem almost a victim of his own circumstances and made me feel that there was more to him than I had first suspected. He was altogether perplexing, in both good and bad ways, and not a character whom I will likely forget.I found this book to be utterly amazing and superbly crafted. The originality of the material coupled with characters that were believable and well-rounded made this a book that I would recommend to a host of readers. In addition to its very nuanced story, the humor of the tale is something I think a lot of readers will find unexpectedly welcome and winning. If you’re on the fence about this book, I would encourage you to take a chance and see what all of the fuss is about. It was an excellent read. Highly recommended.
    • 4/5
      Mr Chartwell is the story of six days in the lives of two people, Winston Churchill on the eve of his retirement in 1964, and Esther Hammerhans, a librarian with a room to rent. Mr Chartwell is interested in moving in but Esther has her doubts. You see, Mr Chartwell is a dog, a very large dog. Who talks. This is such an imaginative story, I really couldn?t help but like it. Black Pat is the personification (dogification?) of Churchill?s Black Dog and he is quite a character. Esther?s story comes out slowly and provides a bit of suspense but this is really just a quiet, blackly humorous tale. I thought the writing was lovely and the descriptions of Black Pat were great. I know this was offered as an ER book. I had to look back at the description to see why I decided not to even request it. I think I was turned off thinking I?d be reading about Churchill and depression. Well, I was, but it was done in such an inventive manner and with a wonderfully light touch, that it really did work for me.
    • 5/5
      We all have our demons, and for Winston Churchill, his was depression. It plagued Churchill his entire life - so much so that he named it "Black Dog." Churchill's battle with his Black Dog has been documented and written about, but not like how Rebecca Hunt does in her extraordinary book, Mr. Chartwell.Esther Hammerhans is a widowed librarian with a room to rent. When a knock comes to her door from her would-be boarder, imagine Esther's surprise when she finds it's a large black dog who calls himself Mr. Chartwell. Mr. Chartwell is all dog - furry, smelly, hungry - but also quite human with eloquent speech and a convincing manner. He somehow persuades the reluctant Esther to take him in as a boarder.For Mr. Chartwell, or Black Pat as he becomes, staying at Esther's has two advantages. First, it puts him near Winston Churchill, who is about to retire from Parliament. It also puts him near Esther, who is grieving over the loss of her husband. Black Pat can only be seen by people he's after - people who are depressed, grieving and maybe a little lonely. Winston and Esther are perfect for him.Hunt's characterization is marvelous. Personifying depression as a big, clumsy, humorous and opportunistic dog was nothing short of remarkable. While Winston may have named it, Hunt gives Black Pat his character. Through Black Pat's actions, you can see how depression isolates people, offering them a sense of security in a world of otherwise happy people. Hunt's depictions of Winston Churchill and the meek Esther also add greatly to this novel. You root for them both, hoping they can kick the proverbial dog to the curb.Thankfully, I've never suffered from depression, so I can't say if Hunt's depiction of this disease is correct or not. I can say, though, that Hunt delivers an inventive and compelling story that gives readers a view of this disease - perhaps one no one has considered. Despite the darkness of depression, after finishing Mr. Chartwell, I was left with a sense of hope that people can overcome this condition - and move on to brighter points in their lives.
    • 2/5
      Mr. Chartwell by Rebecca Hunter follows the progression of Black Pat, a metaphor for depression embodied in a monstrous dog, during 5 days of July, 1964. We are introduced to this mangy beast through two very different characters...Winston Churchill and Esther Hammerhans. Churchill is dealing with his upcoming retirement from parliament, while Esther is greeting "Black Pat" as a potential lodger in her home. Each person is affected by their interaction with this all to real shadow in both subtle and suffocating ways....Winston, having struggled with depression all his life, suffers patiently with this ever-present darkness, while Esther can't quite accept a talking dog that no one else sees or hears. But Black Pat brings each one into his strange stranglehold until fate brings all three of them together in a symbolic last battle for each of their souls. A slow-moving but thoughtful approach to how depression creeps into a life without one's full knowledge or understanding.
    • 4/5
      Charming and sweet characters, nonsensical names, delightful dialogue, wacky wordplay, and Black Pat make reading Mr. Chartwell a delight. Black Pat is too adorable to be anyone's "bete noir." Messy, annoying - yes, evil - NO. Read this book and have some fun!
    • 4/5
      So. Many. Dangling. Modifiers. ARGH. Overall, this is a well-written book with an interesting premise - the physical embodiment of the idea of a black dog one's shoulder as a metaphor for depression as a giant, messy, slobbering, humanoid-and-yet-awfully-doglike actual dog that can only be perceived by those whom he comes to torment - and tries to tell a story about the nature of sadness and depression but ultimately doesn't wind up making much of a point about it. Or, to be more precise, I found it so hard to care I'm not sure if it was really making any point. I had two issues with the book, which I really did want to like. One is that things like the frequent dangling modifiers are not only distracting in this book but also serve to obscure the author's meaning. I could not tell whether Hunt was using poor grammar intentionally as a tool to disorient the reader at times, or whether some parts of the book just weren't as well edited as others. (On the whole, the writing is actually quite good.) The second is that while there are some vague platitudes about fighting depression and not giving in to the black dog, they neither ring true nor achieve any larger point about the nature of any person's struggle with depression. So much about the way the dog acts as a metaphor for depression are fantastic in here - the way shed fur covers everything in the main character's house, and the way she can't bring herself to try to clean it up, rings very true - but the characters feel like paper dolls, with personalities hung on them by hidden paper tabs. It's hard to care about any of them, even though one wants to. This wasn't a bad book or a bad read, I just hoped for something much better to come out of this idea. Making the dog physically real to the people he haunts (for lack of a better verb) isn't a revolutionary idea at all, but I was hoping the execution would be, and it just wasn't.
    • 4/5
      A wonderful little book. I love the way depression is concretized into a giant, snarky dog--much better than any of those hideous commercials for antidepressants. There's a portion of the book in which two of the characters who are suffering from relationships with the dog--Mr. Chartwell--recognize each other, and have this comically oblique conversation, made even more so by Churchill's circumlocutions. It was the sort of "I'm a (depressed) nobody--who are you?" that happens in real life.Mr. Chartwell is enjoyable, funny (!), and different from the vast majority of books being published. I was so pleased when my ER copy finally arrived, and the wait turned out to be well worth it.
    • 3/5
      Rebecca Hunt's tale of depression personified in the form of a large, black, troublesome dog, named Mr. Chartwell, or Black Pat, is unique and well written. It's obvious Ms. Hunt has done her research both in the symptoms of depression and the innate mannerisms of canines. I enjoyed her choice of characters--particularly her decision to juxtapose the depressive state of Winston Churchill as he ends his political career, with her main character, Esther, who's suffering from the loss of her suicidal husband.Mr. Chartwell is a very quiet, unaffected read. At times, I believe it could use a good charge of action and drama. Otherwise, though thoughtful and intriguing, the book is a bit slow to hold reader's attention. I appreciate Ms. Hunt's wit and ability to portray a complicated emotion in realistic--and even inviting--terms. Mr. Chartwell will do for a rainy afternoon read, drowsing in a favorite armchair.
    • 4/5
      At Chartwell, his English countryside home, Winston Churchill spends his last days before resigning from public life contemplating his life and career. In London, Westminster Palace librarian Esther Hammerhans is dreading an upcoming anniversary. Her colleague and friends are doing all they can to bolster her mood to prepare her for the unhappy day. Both Churchill and Esther are visited by an exceedingly large black dog, Black Pat, seemingly invisible to all but Churchill and Esther, who is determined to attach himself to their lives and bring unhappiness.In Mr. Chartwell, first-time author Rebecca Hunt does an amazing job of representing depression as "other." Black Pat is an unwelcome, oppressive, stubborn entity visited upon those who are unlucky enough to suffer. He is indifferent to class and circumstance; he refuses almost all offers and demands to leave the sufferer be. Hope is the only defense. Though the book is about depression, it is not depressing. Hunt is able to illustrate love, support, longing, frustration, friendship, fear, and hope among her characters. Even Black Pat is multidimensional; he's loyal, gruff, jokey, insistent, and even playful. In the end, Mr. Chartwell is a touching snapshot of a few days in the life of two people living rich and perhaps greatly satisfying lives who have also been affected by depression.As an aside: I am a librarian with personal experience with how people and families are affected by depression. I also recently visited London and Kent and toured Chartwell. This book felt very personal to me. However, the book's themes are universal; no knowledge of WWII history, libraries, or depression is necessary to appreciate this well written book.