Hotel du Lac

Hotel du Lac is a Booker Prize winning novel (1984) by Anita Brookner.


Plot introduction
Romantic novelist Edith Hope is staying in a hotel on the shores of Lake Geneva, where her friends have advised her to retreat following an unfortunate incident. There she meets other English visitors, including Mrs Pusey and her daughter Jennifer, and an attractive middle-aged man, Mr Neville. She rejects the possibility of a relationship with the latter when she realises he is an incorrigible womanizer.

Edith reaches Hotel Du Lac in a state of bewildered confusion at the turn of events in her life, a secret and often lonely affair with a married man, and an aborted marriage later, she is banished by her friends; who advise her to go on "probation" so as to "grow up", and "be a woman", atoning for her mistake.

Edith comes to the hotel swearing not to change, and yet, the silent charms of the hotel; observing people at different walks of their lives- Mrs. Pusey and her daughter, Jennifer, their love, and the splendid oblivious lives they live. Mme De Bonneuil, who lives at the hotel in solitary expulsion, from her son. Monica, come to the hotel for her husband's demands- all tug at Edith with questions of her identity, forcing her to examine who she is, and what she has been. She falls for the "ambiguous" smile of Mr. Neville, who asks for her hand, but finally realizing what her life is expected to be, once again, she breaks chains, and decides to take things in her own hands.


Awards and nominations
The novel won the Booker Prize in 1984.


Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
A television adaptation of the novel by Christopher Hampton was produced by the BBC and A&E Television Networks in 1986, and aired in the UK on 2 March 1986. It was directed by Giles Foster, produced by Sue Birtwistle with music by Carl Davis and cinematography by Kenneth MacMillan. The televised play stars Anna Massey as Edith Hope and Denholm Elliott as Philip Neville with Googie Withers, Julia McKenzie, Patricia Hodge, Irene Handl and Barry Foster (actor).

The TV play was nominated for 9 BAFTA Awards and won three: Best Actress (Anna Massey), Best Film Editor (Dick Allen) and Best Single Drama (Sue Birtwistle and Giles Foster).