Hannah and Writing

Hannah began writing 'Beneath the Perfect World' when she moved to New Zealand in 2011. She found the less chaotic way of life in New Zealand gave her the clarity to focus. Being new to the country, she didn’t know the place well enough to set the novel in a New Zealand location, so chose somewhere she knew well. Hannah spent a lot of time cycling in the Yorkshire Dales in her twenties and early thirties and was therefore able to describe landscape accurately. The protagonists are united by their passion for mountain biking.

The idea of an insular community was inspired by her seventies and early eighties upbringing in an inner city suburb where everybody knew each other. The church was the hub of the community and there was a lot of gossip. Hannah came to resent the ‘holier than thou’ attitude of some of the parishioners. Her parents were traditional Anglicans and objected to modern practices being brought into their Sunday worship. Their break with the church had a profound effect on Hannah, who at a young age began to question the belief system she'd been brought up with.

Hannah drew much of her inspiration from 'In My Father's Den' by Maurice Gee. In Paul Prior she saw a protagonist who, like Alan in her novel, had the world at his feet but could not psychologically leave his home town. She could relate to Gee's representation of religious people who were so self-righteous, it made them ungodly. 

The book examines the contentious issue of whether it is acceptable for a twenty-six year older man to date a teenager. Working in education, older men dating school-aged girls came up frequently with the assumption that the bloke was always being exploitative. The scandal around Chief Schools Inspector Chris Woodhead's involvement with a pupil broke early in her career. Hannah , however, has seen plenty of guys being 'jail-baited' by girls pretending to be older. Plenty of school girls wanted the kudos of being asked out by an older guy, even if they were underage. It meant they were mature, so they would actively court their attention.

Although the book centres upon this relationship, Hannah also questions the motives of those who judge Alan's actions. She places the protagonist in a position that makes him an easy target for those who already had a grudge against him. It's a 'face fits' situation and many of the other characters get away with far worse because they are part of the 'in crowd.'  Catherine and Alan are presented as well suited. She is mature beyond her years and the couple are compatible on an emotional and intellectual level. Their relationships with others are far more damaging. The novel questions whether the residents of Clayton object to Alan's relationship with Catherine because it is harmful to her, or because Alan persistently challenges their idealised view of society.

Hannah's novel also deals sensitively with the issue of paternal access to children after separating from their partners. Alan is embroiled in a battle with his ex-partner, Diane, to see his five year old son. Diane is embittered by Alan's emotional neglect of her during the relationship and denies Alan access to the boy to get back at him, in the guise of protecting the boy's interests. This scenario is set against cases where there has been domestic violence and drug abuse.

The novel examines a wide range of social issues witnessed first hand in Hannah's work and personal life. It doesn't necessarily reflect Hannah's personal view on anything. Primarily, she seeks to engage the reader with a good story that has some meaty issues to think about.