My Policeman

This article is about the novel. For the film adaptation, see My Policeman (film).

My Policeman

File:My Policeman (book cover).jpg
Authors	Bethan Roberts
Language	English and Spanish
Publisher	Chatto & Windus
Publication date	4 August 2012
Pages	304

My Policeman is a 2012 romance novel written by Bethan Roberts. It is set in Brighton, East Sussex, England, in the 1950s.

Plot summary

The novel is set in Brighton in 1957. Tom Burgess, a policeman, is gay. Marion, a schoolteacher, falls in love with him nonetheless. So does Patrick Hazelwood, a museum curator. Because of the social constraints of the era, Tom and Marion get married, even though Tom is only in love with Patrick. When Marion becomes jealous, she exposes Patrick, who gets arrested for indecency.

Critical reception

The novel received positive reviews in the press. Writing for The Guardian, Natasha Tripney said the style was "fluid and tender". In The Independent, Richard Canning wrote a positive review, suggesting the novel had "a strong period feel and a sprightly structure." Moreover, he added that the "euphemistic references to homosexuality and rich period slang" were congruous.

Film adaptation

Main article: My Policeman (film)

In February 2021, it was reported that a film adaptation of the novel was in the works, directed by Michael Grandage and starring Emma Corrin as Marion, David Dawson as Patrick Hazelwood, and Harry Styles as Tom Burgess with shooting to begin in April of that year. It was later reported the film would also featured Gina McKee as an older Marion, Rupert Everett as an older Patrick Hazelwood, and Linus Roache as an older Tom Burgess with the film starting with the arrival of Patrick to Marion and Tom's home during the late 1990s, triggering an exploration of the events from 40 years ago in the 1950s.