The ''Gorse Trilogy'' is a series of three novels, the last published works of the author Patrick Hamilton. The stories follow the anti-hero Ernest Ralph Gorse, whose heartlessness and lack of scruple are matched only by the inventiveness and panache with which he swindles his victims. He is thought to have been based on the real-life con-man and murderer Neville George Heath, executed in 1946. Gorse insinuates himself into the lives of his victims with his good looks and easy confidence, and always with a good story. His victims are women, and he flatters his way into their affections until he is in a position to turn things to his advantage.

Graham Greene Henry Graham Greene (2 October 1904 – 3 April 1991) was an English writer and journalist regarded by many as one of the leading English novelists of the 20th century. Combining literary acclaim with widespread popularity, Greene acquir ...

called ''The West Pier'' "the best book written about Brighton", while

L.P. Hartley Leslie Poles Hartley (30 December 1895 – 13 December 1972) was a British novelist and short story writer. Although his first fiction was published in 1924, his career was slow to take off. His best-known novels are the '' Eustace and Hilda'' ...

said, "The entertainment value of this brilliantly told story could hardly be higher." Writing for ''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publish ...

'', critic D. J. Taylor called ''Unknown Assailant'' "an inferior work" while ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'' called it "drink-soaked." An adaptation of ''Mr Stimpson and Mr Gorse'' was produced by

ITV ITV or iTV may refer to: ITV *Independent Television (ITV), a British television network, consisting of: ** ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network covering the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islan ...

in 1987 (called '' The Charmer'' and starring

Nigel Havers Nigel Allan Havers (born 6 November 1951) is an English actor. His film roles include Lord Andrew Lindsay in the 1981 British film ''Chariots of Fire'', which earned him a BAFTA nomination; as Dr. Rawlins in the 1987 Steven Spielberg war dram ...

). * ''The West Pier'' (1952) * '' Mr. Stimpson and Mr. Gorse'' (1953) * ''Unknown Assailant'' (1955) Gorse also appears as a secondary villain in the novel ''Johnny Alucard'' by

Kim Newman Kim James Newman (born 31 July 1959) is an English journalist, film critic and fiction writer. Recurring interests visible in his work include film history and horror fiction—both of which he attributes to seeing Tod Browning's ''Dracula'' at ...

References

{{Reflist, refs= {{Citation , last1 = Taylor , first1 = D. J. , title = Book Review: Gin in the afternoon: 'The Gorse Trilogy' - Patrick Hamilton: Penguin, 7.99 pounds , work = The Independent , date = August 17, 1992 , url = https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/book-review--gin-in-the-afternoon-the-gorse-trilogy--patrick-hamilton-penguin-799-pounds-1540883.html , accessdate= 2013-02-19 , postscript= . {{Citation , last1 = Stevens , first1 = A. , title = Welcome back, Patrick Hamilton , work = The Guardian , date = April 16, 2007 , url = https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2007/apr/16/welcomebackpatrickhamilton , accessdate= 2013-02-19 , postscript= . {{Citation , last1 = Thompson , first1 = Laura , title = Patrick Hamilton: A gifted, whisky-loving chronicler of low life , work = The Telegraph , date = April 20, 2013 , url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10006994/Patrick-Hamilton-A-gifted-whisky-loving-chronicler-of-low-life.html , accessdate= April 1, 2016 , postscript= . English novels 1952 British novels 1953 British novels 1955 British novels Novel series Novels set in Sussex Novels set in Brighton Works by Patrick Hamilton (writer)

Further reading

References