Darkened Rooms by Philip Gibbs is the type of book I seek when combing used bookstores. Comparable to favourite authors like James Hilton, W. Somerset Maugham, Cecil Roberts and Nevil Shute, Gibbs has created unforgettable characters in a mystical story surrounding their inner lives and the themes of religion, friendship, and higher love.
The name Emory Jago is recommended in society circles as a man who conducts seances, connecting to another world. The headlights of a Rolls-Royce sweep the front of his photography shop in Brixton, and popular actress Rose gets out with her male companions. She is reluctant but feels safe accompanied by psychology professor Boyd, young sceptic Neal, and London's top lawyer Adrian Mallard. They have a curious experience leaving them undecided if Jago is authentic.
Set in three parts, and we first learn the history of Mr. Jago, a self styled magician who yearns to become a medium at all cost, his girlfriend Belle Chubb who may have a true gift, and their rise within spiritual circles. The second part is Adrian Mallard, who is entranced by the notion he can connect to his brother, lost in the war. Boyd, Billy, Rose and Mallard stay the summer at Mallards country house, and think it a lark to invite the psychics for weekend seances. Each man is enamoured with Rose, but it is deeper with Adrian. Separated from his wife, and older, wiser, he doesn't sully their romance with physicality - theirs is a deeper spiritual love that goes beyond life itself. They both happily pledge eternal devotion. The final act is Rose seeking Jago out after Mallard dies, knowing he is waiting, perhaps wth a message from the other world, confirmation of their everlasting pledge.
"Love has no death and spirits meet across the bridge"
Mallard's country estate is the hiding place of beauty, a perfect place to ruminate on life, religion, spirituality, and romance. The foursome explore the supernormal faculties, whether they are against the church, against god - whether supernatural sensibilities are indeed a reality. Mallard is a terrific character - an egoist who begins to doubt his power, a man at middle age afraid of the future after death - we learn his fears and desires and, I was shocked and saddened when his end came. This is a character driven drama in the old style, meaning it explores the greater themes of the inner life and the power of love. An all around terrific novel, for me, a classic I wanted to read again as soon as it was over.
Philip Gibbs was an official British reporter in the First World War and wrote well over 100 books of fiction, history, and politics. By 1937 was a widely known author with several titles filmed as movies - including this one in 1929 starring Evelyn Brent. His brother A. Hamilton Gibbs wrote Undertow, and his three other siblings, father, and own son were writers.
1929 / Hardcover / 298 pages
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