On the Beach

Howard Ingham, having achieved mild success as a novelist, arrives in Tunisia in mid-1967 to work on a film script he has been commissioned to write by director John Castlewood. He sets himself up at a beachfront hotel in Hammamet and awaits news of Castlewood's arrival or a letter from his girlfriend Ina who remains in New York.

While he waits, Ingham starts a new novel about a bank forger, and observes news of the Six-Day War taking place in the Middle East. He befriends an American expat named Adams who resides in a neighbouring beach hut and revels in conspiracy theories. He also comes close to Jensen, a gay Danish painter. Ingham finally receives a letter from home in which he learns that Castlewood is dead. Ingham is at a loss, trying to decide whether to return to Ina in New York or stay on in Tunisia to complete his novel.

Over the days and weeks he spends in Tunisia, Ingham's morality changes. He has much time to himself to observe those around him and reflect on his own thoughts and actions. One night he is wakened by an intruder entering his bungalow. Ingham throws his typewriter at the intruder, knocking him back, and then locks the door. Ingham sits quietly inside as he hears hotel staff removing the intruder, not knowing if the man was injured or dead. This event will haunt Ingham as he does not know the impact of his actions and what will happen to him if discovered.

The Tremor of Forgery (1969) is slow, deep and thoughtful. The reader experiences the same apprehension that Ingham feels, waiting for something to happen just as he waits for letters from home. Highsmith's use of Ingham's novel to explore his own moral ambiguity is a clever device. Along the way we observe the local culture, customs and traditions through the eyes of the protagonist, a stranger in a strange land. Ingham's road trip with Jensen made me long to explore Tunisia.

Patricia Highsmith has crafted a compelling and unique tale of morality, love and self-preservation. The apparent simplicity of the story, despite the deep and complex themes, showcases Highsmith's talents. Highly recommended.