The Bastard Club

Love in the time of sex wars

by Andrew Hawkins

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Pub Date 28 Jul 2025 | Archive Date 1 Sep 2025

Troubador

General Fiction (Adult) | New Adult

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Description

Under the leadership of the charismatic Dr Al Eschler, a backlash is being spearheaded against advancing third wave Feminism, in the heart of millennial London. Patrick, a computer systems analyst with his own store of relationship troubles, falls under the influence, and joins the Institute, aka the Bastard Club.

Despite Patrick’s intellectual gifts, even his native scepticism gets worked loose under the glare of Bastard Theory and the mind-warping rigours of the training. His class at the Institute presents an eclectic mix of men’s issues and neuroses, as they battle through strategies, complex and subtle systems of manipulation, Zen arts of chatting up and reporting in.

The American, the ‘Boss’, has the mission and the method. Except Patrick has met and is in pursuit of Lillian, a bright and utterly desirable broadsheet journalist, on whom he must practise and develop his Bastard skills. As his interest in her becomes more compelling, straying even into the ‘heresy’ of love, it becomes increasingly unlikely that this affair, and all that’s riding on it, can work out well…

Under the leadership of the charismatic Dr Al Eschler, a backlash is being spearheaded against advancing third wave Feminism, in the heart of millennial London. Patrick, a computer systems analyst...

A Note From the Publisher

An award-winning actor with many years of experience in the theatre, film, and TV, Andrew Hawkins has a keen eye for character and people’s performative capabilities. As a teacher of actors at institutions like RADA, Drama Centre and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Andrew has learned a huge amount about the ways and means of self-presentation, of confidence and dissimulation. He lives in North London.

An award-winning actor with many years of experience in the theatre, film, and TV, Andrew Hawkins has a keen eye for character and people’s performative capabilities. As a teacher of actors at...

Available Editions

EDITION	Ebook
ISBN	9781836289449
PRICE	£4.99 (GBP)
PAGES	432

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Additional Information

Average rating from 5 members

Featured Reviews

Reviewer 1491639

im not sure if this book was written in the way it was to make the very point it was written about via the subject matter.
but i didn't get the lesson from it and dont think those that NEED this book would either. i imagine they might love it for the lessons given. where as those disgusted with this culture and the topics in this book might just like me feel disgusted and like it didn't hit home a lesson. im sorry to say that i felt like it wanted to make this book almost to sound like it was trying to be good, show the dark culture and make people stop it. but actually it felt like that was an excuse to write it. because it wanted to. because it agreed with it?
that is a very big assumption and reach but i didn't feel woman were supported or shouted for in this book and that is what i would wish for coming away from it. if this was a book to pour evil on the toxic culture i didn't get it. it just was a stark story of it. but maybe that is how we learn. by feeling horrid over this type of stuff and enough people take notice and stop it. but i cant hold my breathe there either.because the fact there was far to much truth to real life in this book is horrific. and the fact it "a thing" says all i need to know about people then doing something to stop it.
maybe i got it wrong. maybe it is just to close right now and if thats the case im sorry. but i wanted to come out of themes like this feeling supported and like it was a call out to protect woman. i ddnt. sorry.

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Hannah R, Reviewer

**The Bastard Club**
by Andrew Hawkins

Bold, irreverent, and full of swagger, *The Bastard Club* dives into the world of outsiders who rewrite the rules. With razor-sharp wit and a flair for the dramatic, Andrew Hawkins delivers a gripping tale of rebellion, loyalty, and the bonds forged on society’s fringes. A riotous blend of dark humour and gritty intrigue. 🃏🖋️🔥