The Heat of the Day

The Heat of the Day (1948) is a novel by Elizabeth Bowen. The novel takes place in London during World War II (WWII). While the action includes bombing campaigns such as the London Blitz, the narrative mainly focuses on the effect of war on social interaction and individuals’ lives rather than its global impact. The novel’s protagonist, Stella Rodney, is visited by a mysterious stranger who insinuates that her lover, Robert, is a Nazi spy. Faced with this potential crisis, Stella must navigate The Experience of Limbo in Wartime, Personal Versus National Loyalty, and The Effect of War on Personal Relationships. The Heat of the Day was adapted for television in 1989 by the playwright Harold Pinter.

This guide uses the 2002 Anchor Books print edition.

Plot Summary

The novel opens with an open-air concert in London’s Regent Park. It is set in 1942, after the London Blitz and in the midst of WWII. Louie Lewis, a 27-year-old woman, is living alone in London while her husband, Tom, is in India with the British Army. She makes conversation with a mysterious man who is later revealed to be

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