The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold
Encyclopedia
The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold is a novel first published in 1957 by English writer Evelyn Waugh
. Strong parallels may be drawn between events in the novel overtaking the eponymous protagonist, Gilbert Pinfold, and episodes in the author's own life. In fact, Waugh later admitted that 'Mr Pinfold’s experiences were almost exactly my own', referring to this period in his life as 'my late lunacy'. He was advised to write the book by the then head of the psychiatric department at St Bartholomew's Hospital
who interpreted the voices Waugh heard as hallucinations consequential to prolonged overconsumption of a mix of phenobarbitone and alcohol
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The novel was published in different versions for British and American consumption, particularly with regard to a number of racial slurs articulated by the hallucinatory voices which were excised from the US edition.
. Pinfold books a passage on the SS Caliban, assuming it would be a nice break, however his crisis deepens and he slips into madness. Are the voices he hears the result of the drugs, or is he a victim of the LIDA machine, http://mindjustice.org/tvlist.htm the Soviet device that bombards brains with low-frequency radio waves?
Evelyn Waugh
Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh , known as Evelyn Waugh, was an English writer of novels, travel books and biographies. He was also a prolific journalist and reviewer...
. Strong parallels may be drawn between events in the novel overtaking the eponymous protagonist, Gilbert Pinfold, and episodes in the author's own life. In fact, Waugh later admitted that 'Mr Pinfold’s experiences were almost exactly my own', referring to this period in his life as 'my late lunacy'. He was advised to write the book by the then head of the psychiatric department at St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital, also known as Barts, is a hospital in Smithfield in the City of London, England.-Early history:It was founded in 1123 by Raherus or Rahere , a favourite courtier of King Henry I...
who interpreted the voices Waugh heard as hallucinations consequential to prolonged overconsumption of a mix of phenobarbitone and alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
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The novel was published in different versions for British and American consumption, particularly with regard to a number of racial slurs articulated by the hallucinatory voices which were excised from the US edition.
Plot summary
Gilbert Pinfold is a middle-aged Catholic novelist teetering on the brink of a nervous breakdown. In an attempt to cure his nerves Pinfold dosed himself liberally with bromide, chloral and crème de mentheCrème de menthe
Crème de menthe is a sweet, mint-flavored alcoholic beverage. Its flavor is primarily derived from Corsican mint. It is available commercially in a colorless and a green version...
. Pinfold books a passage on the SS Caliban, assuming it would be a nice break, however his crisis deepens and he slips into madness. Are the voices he hears the result of the drugs, or is he a victim of the LIDA machine, http://mindjustice.org/tvlist.htm the Soviet device that bombards brains with low-frequency radio waves?