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Holy Deadlock
PRE-ISBN.
From the front-inside end-paper:
“This entertaining novel has more to recommend it than most books of its kind, because it helped to change the law of the land. It was first published in 1934. In 1935 the author was made a Member of Parliament, and in 1936 he presented a divorce reform Bill called the Marriage Bill. As Sir Alan Herbert says in his new introduction written specially for this edition:
'In July 1937, very surprisingly, after a long, severe, Parliamentary struggle, this received the Royal Assent as the Matrimonial Causes Act, 1937. I do not claim that the Walls of Jericho fell down because of the book; I cannot remember that it was ever mentioned in the debates: but I think it had softened the climate of public opinion in which members of Parliament have their being, and so made it easier for many to support, or accept, a reform which had always been considered politically perilous. No part of the book was conceived in levity, but it was written in the belief that humour is often the best road to reform. '
From the front-inside end-paper:
“This entertaining novel has more to recommend it than most books of its kind, because it helped to change the law of the land. It was first published in 1934. In 1935 the author was made a Member of Parliament, and in 1936 he presented a divorce reform Bill called the Marriage Bill. As Sir Alan Herbert says in his new introduction written specially for this edition:
'In July 1937, very surprisingly, after a long, severe, Parliamentary struggle, this received the Royal Assent as the Matrimonial Causes Act, 1937. I do not claim that the Walls of Jericho fell down because of the book; I cannot remember that it was ever mentioned in the debates: but I think it had softened the climate of public opinion in which members of Parliament have their being, and so made it easier for many to support, or accept, a reform which had always been considered politically perilous. No part of the book was conceived in levity, but it was written in the belief that humour is often the best road to reform. '
- GenresFiction
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1934
About the author
A.P. Herbert
110 books8 followersSir Alan Patrick Herbert, CH (usually writing as A.P. Herbert or A.P.H.) was an English humorist, novelist, playwright and law reform activist. He was an independent Member of Parliament (MP) for Oxford University for 15 years, five of which he combined with service in the Royal Navy.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 4, 2015
This book was first published in April 1934, nineteen months before A.P. Herbert was elected a Member of Parliament. In 1936 he presented a divorce reform Bill which after a turbulent passage through both Houses made it onto the statute books as the Matrimonial Causes Act 1937; later revised on a number of occasions.
In his fictional novel “Holy Deadlock,” Herbert leads his reader through from the happy civil marriage of a couple in 1920; through, and to, their later, co-operative, attempts to divorce.
What begins as a relatively straightforward, though, for both parties, uncomfortable process conducted in all honesty, introduces a spiritually intimidating and compromising compulsion to lie, and to lie repeatedly.
Herbert, in effect, takes the law at the time of writing, and demonstrates through the medium of the novel just how unpleasant and corrupting the process of divorce is (or, to his reader in 2012, was) for an essentially blameless and childless married couple, whose intent all along is to behave like mature and well balanced grown-ups is thwarted.
I surprised myself by how much I enjoyed this book; though on reflection I should not have been surprised. As a well-known and well-regarded contributor to ‘Punch’ magazine, Herbert, who had an abiding interest in the British Common Law and judicial system, was possessed of an absolute gift for satirical writing; many of which (unsurprisingly) he produced in the form of legal judgments.
Thus I found this book to be humorous, thought provoking, and a jolly good read. Unsurprisingly Herbert was firmly of the opinion that this book did help to change the law of the land. The timeless message is writ large: fictionalise to simplify and streamline your cause (there’s nothing as complicated as real life); and en-mass your readers will find it easy (or easier) to support your campaign for change.
In his fictional novel “Holy Deadlock,” Herbert leads his reader through from the happy civil marriage of a couple in 1920; through, and to, their later, co-operative, attempts to divorce.
What begins as a relatively straightforward, though, for both parties, uncomfortable process conducted in all honesty, introduces a spiritually intimidating and compromising compulsion to lie, and to lie repeatedly.
Herbert, in effect, takes the law at the time of writing, and demonstrates through the medium of the novel just how unpleasant and corrupting the process of divorce is (or, to his reader in 2012, was) for an essentially blameless and childless married couple, whose intent all along is to behave like mature and well balanced grown-ups is thwarted.
I surprised myself by how much I enjoyed this book; though on reflection I should not have been surprised. As a well-known and well-regarded contributor to ‘Punch’ magazine, Herbert, who had an abiding interest in the British Common Law and judicial system, was possessed of an absolute gift for satirical writing; many of which (unsurprisingly) he produced in the form of legal judgments.
Thus I found this book to be humorous, thought provoking, and a jolly good read. Unsurprisingly Herbert was firmly of the opinion that this book did help to change the law of the land. The timeless message is writ large: fictionalise to simplify and streamline your cause (there’s nothing as complicated as real life); and en-mass your readers will find it easy (or easier) to support your campaign for change.
October 8, 2023
An entertaining, insightful book that stands as a testament to the ridiculousness of English divorce law in the 1930s. It actually is quite masterful, managing to incorporate a precise and scathing satire into the narrative, while actually presenting us with engaging characters, all trying to do the right thing, but having to work around a legal system that focusses on adultery, rather than on the fact that the two main characters, Mary and John, have no desire to live together as a married couple.
The author weaves in references to Milton, presenting us with his own Adam and Eve (even if a tad obvious), thereby picking up on the Miltonic ethos of needful divorce that he advocated for in 1643. When you think of all the authors, including Herbert, who have so cleverly and accurately pointed to the flaws in divorce laws, and the devastating impact they can have on the ability to live their lives, it still seems somewhat surprising that it was not until this century that no-fault divorce was finally introduced.
A really interesting, valuable read from a legal historical perspective.
The author weaves in references to Milton, presenting us with his own Adam and Eve (even if a tad obvious), thereby picking up on the Miltonic ethos of needful divorce that he advocated for in 1643. When you think of all the authors, including Herbert, who have so cleverly and accurately pointed to the flaws in divorce laws, and the devastating impact they can have on the ability to live their lives, it still seems somewhat surprising that it was not until this century that no-fault divorce was finally introduced.
A really interesting, valuable read from a legal historical perspective.
December 19, 2020
Interesting book. Not my genre, but I like to think 2020 is a time for trying new things. It's a satire about divorce-law, published originally in `34...and though things have changed from then until now, I still find it morbidly funny. Who'd have known.
June 17, 2017
Stands up surprising well. A quick read about the trials of a couple trying to get a divorce.
June 9, 2020
For a novel written in the Thirties it has a surprisingly modern tone. The characters are interesting, believable and ( more importantly) funny. A recommended read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews