Book Review - Henry's Demons

Henry’s Demons by Patrick and Henry Cockburn (published by Simon & Schuster) tells the story of a family’s testing experience of schizophrenia. 

Henry (one of the co-authors) is diagnosed with this condition in 2002 at the age of 20.  While an art student in Brighton, Henry’s behaviour rapidly becomes more eccentric and hazardous, until he ventures, fully clothed, into the sea at Newhaven.  This leads to his admission, as a mental patient, to the Priory Hospital in Hove.   

Parts of the story are narrated by Patrick Cockburn (Henry’s father) in a considered documentary style.  He interweaves explanatory details with narrative account, but what is immediately striking is how little any of the background information on schizophrenia contributes to his (or the reader’s) understanding – the reason for Henry’s development of the condition largely remains a mystery (though cannabis use is heavily implicated as a possible cause).  And so the reader is drawn into the anxiety and bewilderment associated with the situation.

Other parts are narrated by Henry himself, in an almost hurried, but extremely arresting, style.  He talks of experiencing the onset of his condition as a spiritual awakening, with his perspective on the world becoming significantly altered.  As some of the events described take place in Brighton – somewhere I’m reasonably familiar with – I personally find it fascinating to see particular experiences unfolding against recognisable backdrops.  For instance, there’s a vision of the Buddha on Brighton beach and the planting of a banana tree outside the Concorde 2 music venue.  This locatedness – whether in Brighton, Canterbury, Youghal (in Ireland), or elsewhere – gives an additional tangibility to these occurrences. 

As the story unfolds, via one or other of the narrators, a growing sense of the enormity of Henry’s condition becomes apparent.  There is no quick fix for what had happened; in fact, there is no fix at all.  What is more, Henry himself is not always convinced that he has a problem, and so his willingness to take his medication (olanzapine, clozapine, etc.) is intermittent.  When he takes it, his delusions and erratic actions are somewhat controlled (though not reliably so); when he doesn’t, he seems to positively revel in extreme and disturbing behaviour (climbing to great heights, walking close to railways lines, running naked through snow, and so on). What Henry doesn’t necessarily realise, but what becomes clear to his family (and to the reader), is that this is a life sentence.

One particularly valuable service this book does is to underline the injustices associated with mental health problems, especially schizophrenia. Various truths are highlighted, including the fact that the media often demonise sufferers as violent (statistically, very few are), that society in general often treats them with (at best) disregard, and that sufferers are far more likely to be dismissed from their jobs than if they had a physical condition.  It is also pointed out that, on occasions, sufferers placed in hospital wards can be allowed less fresh air and exercise than would a convicted offender.

Given the downbeat quality of the story and many of the associated observations, it is tempting to wonder if there’s any chance of the book ending on a positive, uplifting note.  I won’t give anything away, but it I will say that the reader does not finish the final chapter with a sense of desolation.  Instead (for me, anyway) there is a sense of worthwhile insight bordering on enlightenment.   

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Henry’s Demons: Living with Schizophrenia, a Father and Son's Story by Patrick and Henry Cockburn is published by Simon & Schuster

ISBN 978-1-84737-703-6

Delivered Unto Lions by David Austin is published by CheckPoint Press

ISBN 978-1-906628-21-5

For more information visit www.davidaustin.eu