Saturday

Saturday is a novel by Ian McEwan, first published in 2005 by Jonathan Cape. Ian McEwan is an acclaimed British author who has been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize numerous times, winning the award for Amsterdam in 1998. In Saturday, McEwan delves into the inner life of a single individual, Henry Perowne, a successful neurosurgeon living in London. The novel takes place over the course of a single day, February 15, 2003, against the backdrop of the anti-war demonstration in London and the impending invasion of Iraq. As a work of literary fiction, Saturday explores the impact of political forces on individual lives, postmodern disillusionment, and what makes a human life meaningful.

This study guide uses the American First Edition, published by Nan A. Talese.

Plot Summary

Saturday takes place on a single day—February 15, 2003—in Fitzrovia, London. The protagonist of the novel, Henry Perowne, is a successful neurosurgeon who is settled in his life with his wife, Rosalind, and their two children, Daisy and Theo. The story follows Henry as he goes about his typical weekend routine, which includes chores, leisure activities, and a family dinner in the evening. However, an encounter with an “unstable” individual after a small traffic incident has repercussions that will threaten the safety and stability of Henry’s Saturday.

The day begins strangely when Henry, standing on his balcony, witnesses a plane crash that feels reminiscent of the 9/11 attacks, which occurred only two years prior. He worries that this could be a terrorist attack aimed at London, but later learns on the news that it was a cargo plane experiencing mechanical difficulties. The only passengers on board were the pilots, who both escaped without injury. Throughout the day, Henry sees the plane crash being covered on the news in various locations, the media playing on anxieties of terrorism and Islamophobia. Henry feels compelled to keep watching, feeling personally linked to the event since he witnessed it first-hand.

After Henry leaves the house to drive over to the racquet club, he is stopped by the streets that have been blocked off to accommodate the hordes of people heading downtown to participate in a protest against the United States’ invasion of Iraq. After a police officer lets him pass through a blockaded area, he gets into a minor car accident with another driver named Baxter, who is accompanied by two lackeys. Even though the damage to his car is minimal, Henry requests that they exchange insurance information. Baxter tries to threaten him into paying for the vehicle’s repairs, and when Henry refuses, the men attack and prepare to beat him. However, Henry recognizes the signs of Huntington’s Disease in Baxter and uses that knowledge to initiate a private conversation with him. Baxter behaves erratically. Sensing danger, Henry flees the scene when Baxter is distracted.

Despite the frightful event he just endured, Henry plays squash with his friend and colleague, Jay Strauss, and visits his mother, who has dementia. He worries about his aging body and mind, knowing that he will soon need to adopt a slower pace of life, and fearful of sharing his mother’s fate. Finally, he goes to see his son Theo, a blues guitarist, rehearse a new song with his band. The music deeply moves Henry, causing him to temporarily forget the stresses of the day and feel a sense of correctness and unity in the world.

That night, the family has plans to gather for a dinner in celebration of Henry’s daughter, Daisy, and her soon-to-be-published poetry manuscript. Daisy is the first to arrive as Henry prepares the meal, and she chastises her father for his lukewarm attitude toward the war. They argue, briefly, though this is typical of their relationship. This argument is interrupted by the arrival of Henry’s father-in-law, John Grammaticus, and soon followed by the arrival of Theo.

The day takes a terrifying turn when Baxter suddenly enters Henry’s home, armed with a knife, and threatens his family. Baxter injures John Grammaticus and forces Daisy to remove her clothing. However, when he demands she recite a poem for him, Baxter is unexpectedly moved and distracted from his purpose. Desperate to protect his family, Henry lies and tells Baxter that he has information on a new, successful trial for Huntington’s Disease, luring him away. With Theo’s help, they shove Baxter down the stairs, where he sustains a head injury. As a neurosurgeon, Henry is called upon to repair Baxter’s injury. The family is left shaken but ultimately unharmed.

Throughout the day, Henry’s thoughts and emotions are affected by world events, personal relationships, and the complexities of his profession. The novel provides an intimate portrait of a man who lives a successful life at the turn of the 21st century and how both the large political forces at work, the domestic dramas, and the unique qualities of the mind shape his days.