It’s a well-known fact that British Prime Minister Winston Churchill experienced periods of depression which he referred to as ‘the black dog’. Just a metaphor, of course, but what if the black dog was real? Rebecca Hunt has used this idea as her inspiration for one of the most bizarre books I’ve read for a long time!
It begins with the 89-year-old Churchill waking up one morning in 1964 to find that he’s not alone in the room; someone – or something – is sitting in the opposite corner. Later that morning, librarian Esther Hammerhans is preparing to welcome the new tenant who’s going to be renting her spare room. When she opens the door and is confronted by a huge black dog who introduces himself as Mr Chartwell, Esther is shocked but agrees to let him have the room. He needs to stay in the area for a few days, he says, while he’s visiting a client. But what is Mr Chartwell’s job and who is his mysterious ‘client’?
If you’re going to read Mr Chartwell you need to be prepared to keep an open mind and just accept that one of the protagonists is a dog or you’re not going to get very far with this book! I thought bringing the ‘black dog’ of depression to life was a wonderful idea. Mr Chartwell, or Black Pat as he calls himself, is a fascinating character (and not just because he’s a huge talking dog). He’s manipulative and controlling but sometimes behaves in a more dog-like manner and can even be quite charming and likeable. But although the reader knows what the dog represents (and Churchill knows it too, having been well acquainted with him for many years) Esther has no idea what’s going on and is completely in the dark as to why Mr Chartwell has chosen her house to visit.
Another interesting aspect of the book is that there are little details of Churchill’s life incorporated into the plot, both directly and indirectly. Some of the things he says in the book are based on things that the real Churchill was quoted as saying. And even the dog’s name, Chartwell, was the name of the Churchill family home in Kent.
I loved the opening chapters of this book but started to lose interest a little bit as I got further into the story. The overall tone was quite light (which I know it was probably intended to be) but I think it would have worked better for me if it had been more serious in places and if Mr Chartwell had been portrayed as a less likeable character. The first half of the book in particular is very whimsical, though it does turn darker towards the end where Hunt starts to explain the significance of some of the metaphors and how they relate to depression. Overall though, I thought this was an impressive debut novel and I’ll be looking out for more Rebecca Hunt books in the future.
She Reads Novels 
I started reading this after seeing another positive review, but just wasn’t in the mood for whimsical. I’m glad to see that you thought it was worth it. I might give it another shot one day.
I enjoyed it but I think it’s definitely a book that you’d have to be in the right mood for. I hope you have better luck next time if you decide to try it again.
This is sitting on my shelf and I must get round to it fairly quickly as it has to go back to the library. The only friend who has read it loved it, but did warn that you had to be in the right mood for it. I must make sure it doesn’t join the list of books that go back to the library unread.
I hope you have time to read it, Annie. I hate having to return books unread!
I’m pleased that you enjoyed it, if “enjoy” is the right wod for this book. I know it seems odd that she treats such a serious theme in such an at times light-hearted manner but I think she is spot on by personifying depression in this way. Depressives do have a sense of humour too, indeed some of the most successful comedians have been severely depressed – smoke and mirrors. 🙂
Oh, I appreciate the way she brought some humour to an otherwise serious subject. I think I was probably not really in the right mood for the book, although I did enjoy it anyway!
I had no idea what the black dog was meant to represent when I started reading it but luckly I was reading it with an open mind. I really liked this one and was quite impressed.
I’m glad you liked it too!
I am another one who has the book on my shelf to read! I know I need to be in the right frame of mind for it suffering from my own black dog. But it will get read no doubt.
Lovely review, certainly gave me more of an insight into the book.
I hope you enjoy it when you get round to reading it, Jo!
I’ve been torn over this one. So much praise, but I’m not sure that I could get my head around it.
I was unsure about reading it too, but I’m glad I gave it a try.