“The cost of oblivious daydreaming was always this moment of return, the realignment with what had been before and now seemed a little worse.” — Ian McEwan, Saturday
Chapter 1: A Morning in February
Henry Perowne, a successful neurosurgeon, wakes before dawn in his London home. He gazes out the window and observes a burning plane descending toward Heathrow, sparking fears of a terrorist attack. The post-9/11 tension lingers as he reflects on global instability. Later, he prepares for his weekly squash game, a ritual that grounds him.
Chapter 2: The Squash Game
Henry meets his anesthetist colleague, Jay Strauss, for their match. Their competitive game serves as a temporary escape from professional and personal anxieties. Henry’s analytical mind dissects every move, mirroring his surgical precision. After winning, he feels a fleeting sense of control in an unpredictable world.
Chapter 3: A Traffic Altercation
Driving home, Henry accidentally bumps another car, leading to a confrontation with Baxter, a volatile young man with a neurological disorder. Henry recognizes Baxter’s symptoms as Huntington’s disease, but his medical authority fails to defuse the tension. The encounter leaves Henry shaken, foreshadowing later conflict.
Chapter 4: Family Reunion
Henry returns to his upscale townhouse, where his wife Rosalind, a newspaper editor, and their adult children—poet Daisy and blues musician Theo—gather for dinner. The family debates politics, art, and terrorism, revealing generational divides. Daisy’s unpublished poem becomes a symbolic centerpiece, hinting at themes of vulnerability and defiance.
Chapter 5: The Intrusion
Baxter and an accomplice break into the Perowne home, wielding a knife. He threatens the family, demanding Daisy read her poem aloud—a humiliating power play. Henry exploits Baxter’s deteriorating condition, distracting him long enough to disarm him. The police arrive, and Baxter is arrested, but the trauma lingers.
Chapter 6: Aftermath and Reflection
The family processes the attack over a delayed dinner. Henry operates on Baxter the next day, saving his life despite their history. The novel closes with Henry contemplating the fragility of order, the randomness of violence, and the ethical weight of his profession.
Key Ideas
- The fragility of modern life in a post-9/11 world
- The intersection of science and human vulnerability
- Moral ambiguity in moments of crisis
- The tension between privilege and chaos
- Art as both weapon and solace
Notable Adaptations
| Year | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | BBC Radio 4 Drama | Starring Anton Lesser as Henry Perowne |
Who should read this book?
- Fans of literary fiction exploring psychological depth
- Readers interested in post-9/11 societal tensions
- Those drawn to medical or ethical dilemmas