A Single Man: A Novel

A Single Man: A Novel was written by Christopher Isherwood and published in 1964. Christopher Isherwood (1904-1986) was born in England and later moved to the United States. Because Isherwood was gay and moved to escape the stifling atmosphere of England, the novel can be said to loosely resemble, or at least be inspired by, his own life, much like his 1939 novel Goodbye to Berlin. Isherwood’s novel chronicling the last day in the life of a gay man in Los Angeles is noteworthy for its honest and realistic depiction of such a person, especially considering the time period in which it was written and published. A Single Man was later adapted into a film of the same name by Tom Ford in 2009.

This guide utilizes the 2010 Vintage Books edition of the novel.

Plot Summary

Set in Los Angeles, California, in 1964, A Single Man chronicles the last day in the life of a gay college professor named George. The story is written in both the third person and through George’s perspective, providing a unique view of George, his thoughts, and the events of his day. George wakes dissociated and refers to himself as “it” until he is dressed and appears socially acceptable. He walks downstairs to the kitchen and is immediately hit with the realization that his partner and the love of his life, Jim, is dead. Jim was killed in a car accident a few years prior, leaving George unable to cope or move on.

George observes the neighborhood he lives in, noting the shame and ignorance of his neighbors regarding his sexuality. Cynical, he constantly wrestles with his past, present, and future. George receives a call from his friend Charlotte, who invites him over—but he declines. He eventually musters the motivation to get in his car and drive to work at a community college, where he teaches one class. On the freeway, he feels free and in control. But by the time he arrives, he returns to his cynical self.

George teaches his class and unintentionally engages himself in an extended rant about minorities, their treatment, and the motivations behind Hitler and the Nazis. He shocks his class and isolates himself further. One student, Kenny, takes an interest in George and follows him after class. George and Kenny flirt, and Kenny buys George a pencil sharpener. George’s day is brightened once more. He leaves the college and drives to the hospital to see Jim’s old lover, Doris. Doris and Jim spent a summer together when the former became curious about women, and while George continues to resent Doris for this, he visits her because Jim is a part of her. However, he realizes she is too sick, too far gone, and any part of Jim she had is no longer there.

George begins to dread the thought of being alone at home, so he calls his friend Charlotte and goes over to her house. When he gets there, she is already partially drunk, and he begins drinking with her. The two get completely drunk and start reminiscing about the past. Charlotte is upset that her son no longer wishes to speak to her, and George cannot get over his partner’s death. When George finally gets up to leave, Charlotte kisses him romantically. He accepts her kiss without returning it and leaves. Rather than go home, he makes his way to the bar where he and Jim first met: The Starboard Side.

At The Starboard Side, he sees Kenny sitting at the bar. Kenny admits that he went there specifically to look for George, and George begins to fantasize about all the things that could happen between them. The two talk and drink for a while before impulsively deciding to strip down and dive into the ocean. While swimming, George gets caught up in the moment, feeling free and clean. Because he is drunk, he cannot keep himself afloat, and Kenny ends up having to drag him out of the water. Kenny suggests that they go back to George’s place. There, Kenny plays coy while George engages in word play. Nothing results, George eventually passes out from exhaustion, and Kenny leaves. George wakes to find him gone and becomes depressed again.

George decides to go to bed. Consumed by the past, he was never able to think about the present in a healthy way. He dreaded the future and his own death. As he lies in bed drifting off to sleep, he finally realizes he must live for the present, find love again, and make one last attempt at happiness. He falls asleep and dreams about the ocean, imagining people and rock pools and comparing consciousness to a tide’s ebb and flow. But soon after, George’s organs shut down, and he dies. He is never given that last attempt to find the happiness he finally decided to seek.