Nigel Balchin (1908–1970)

Fine novel by a writer who was part of wartime weapons research. Balchin was well regarded as a technical researcher and industrial psychologist. These talents shine through every part of this novel. He has a sharp ear for office talk and politics which both form a major part of the story. His technical abilities are apparent in a lucid account of a bomb defusing episode which is the climax to the story.

For more about Balchin:
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An intelligent, easily read topical novel from 1950's Britain.
The action revolves around the firm of Lang's, a parts manufacturer in the Midlands. It pays well and provides good dividends; it has a Works Council since before World War II and a comprehensive welfare system for staff. It is when that company's success finds itself running counter to the private lives and ambitions of the people working for it that the unity becomes unstuck.
Nigel Balchin develops his novel by fleshing out the characters of various members of the staff, and their families, over the course of sudden conflicts which confront the company. These difficulties arise from personal psychological differences, those of class and of business ethics.
The novel never loses its pace; characters are well sketched and varied in temperament and realized as workaday people from the 1950's. The wit, language and manners are recognizable and faithful renditions of the times.
Balchin was a talented industrial psychologist, military planner and advisor, scriptwriter and novelist. This novel is one of his best, just because it is so readable with perfectly recognizable dialogue.
For more about Balchin:
https://balchinfamily.uk/nigel-marlin-balchin-1908-1970… (more)

Boffins working on ingenious weaponry or other special wartime projects, but most of all on battling the obstructions and office politics of the services they work for and with. Clearly based on real experience in the Britain of World War II, and as such a useful counterpoint to some of the cheery patting on back of recent Bletchley Park tales. The tone here is mainly humorous, not indignant, and so we get an early, and enjoyable, portrayal of the extent of banter, of a tongue in cheek mentality, in our technocratic work world. The energy, brisk pace, and the punctuation by drinking recall also the Patrick Hamilton novels of London life from a decade or so earlier. But from the very first sentence of this book, it’s clear that the reader will be breezily entertained: “In 1928 my foot was hurting all the time, so they took it off and gave me an aluminium one that only hurt about three-quarters of the time.”… (more)

I have to confess that I did a thing which I am always telling people they shouldn't guilt themselves into doing...I read a book that I wasn't really all that interested in reading. My rationale was that I had gone out of my way (interlibrary loan from a different state) to get this book and I didn't want to admit that it wasn't worth the effort. *sigh*

The book that I'm referring to is Mine Own Executioner by Nigel Balchin. I want to give you a central theme or something to succinctly explain it but the closest I can manage is saying that it's about a man who is battling an inner turmoil while also trying to be a competent psycho-analyst. There's a lot of discussion around the validity of a medical degree vs hands-on training which leads to our main character, Felix Milne, taking on a very difficult case to 'prove' that he is just as capable as a medical professional. His patient was recently involved in a traumatic experience in the war and as a result he experienced a psychotic break from reality and tried to murder his wife. While Milne tries to uncover the root of this man's troubles he continues to ignore the cause of his own marital problems. He has a strained and virtually platonic relationship with his wife and actively struggles with his feelings for her best friend. I guess there's an irony there that he is able to ascertain and ultimately help heal what ails his patients but he can't clearly see that he is the cause of his own misfortunes and unhappiness. Milne is an acerbic and not altogether likable character who plays God with those he seeks to help (and his wife). He justifies this by saying that it's a necessary part of their treatment that they come to see him this way. I don't think I can say with any conviction that I liked this book. The characters were one dimensional, the plot was fairly predictable, and the ending was highly unsatisfactory. I can't even say that I recommend it to ________ or ________. 0/10

PS They made it into a film. Why?… (more)