Every Man for Himself by Beryl Bainbridge – A Book Review

 

          I wish I had read this book before I had watched the film Titanic. Not because this book is much better than the movie or the other way round, but for the fact that my thoughts wouldn’t have been clouded by scenes from the movie while reading the last chapters describing the catastrophe of the sinking ship.

“Every man for himself”, how true regardless of whether you’re on board an elite ship or otherwise. The story is narrated by Morgan, an orphaned lad of 19. Orphaned but raised by a wealthy aunt, Morgan is a thinker and that’s what renders him different from the multitude of friends; so say some. He’s in love with the beautiful yet cold Wallis only to have his heart broken by the person who he personally looked up to, than her.

                As the mammoth cruise sails on its maiden voyage to New York, little do its passengers, millionaires know its and their fates are going to be tested by a greater power. Through Morgan’s eyes, the reader meets the denizens of the ship; the philosophical and heartless Scurra who claims to have seen life and lived it too, Rosenfelder, an obsessive couturier, irascible Ginsberg, the suicidal chanteuse Adele amongst others.

                As destiny changes in the wink of an eye, as it always does, what will finally matter?

                Can one exist to be as one is, as one has been when one hears death sing a lullaby, a sweet enchantment one wants to shut ones’ ears to? Would one be kinder, gentler, feel the need to reform when one knows there is no waking up from this sleep? Would one still harbour hatred, feel the urge to slaughter an enemy in the final hours? Would one still be a gentleman to hold the door for the pretty lady, or rather push her to get ahead in these times of chaos? Would I help you if I could, knowing you would never do the same? Does humanity resurface in these trying times or does it sink? Would the dandy still be obsessed with the faint stain on his exclusive jacket when the ocean rises to swallow him? Will the pleasure of kicking a cat, years ago be the paramount subject of repentance when I pray to the Lord?

Do we finally find ourselves, do we? Does our ordinariness float like a shattered plank in the gigantic ocean? Does the stupendous importance we give ourselves matter anymore, contrary to how miniscule we really are to the world we live in. Hopefully, the unfortunates got their answers before they perished; hopefully the survivors breathe every single breath knowing them.

Lucid and thoughtful with some intelligent life’s reflections from Beryl’s characters, ‘Every man for himself’ is an enjoyable read, though it doesn’t prod you to the edge of your seat. Again, I wish I had read it before watching the movie, maybe my thoughts would have been different and I would have liked it more.

 

Beryl Bainbridge

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