High Barnet is the story of one man’s journey on the Northern Line one weekday morning in summer. It’s my first novel. I started writing it around 2004, probably, based on an idea that came to me during a disturbing experience on the Northern Line, somewhere between Moorgate and Old Street, a couple of years earlier. By early 2013, writing in snatches when I had the time and the concentration, I had reached chapter 9, which is almost halfway through, and I made a concerted effort to finish the first complete draft in summer of that year.

Our hero’s name is Joe Blanco and he always takes the Northern Line to work. Like thousands of others. This particular journey is destined to be something different from his usual experience, though. It probably helps a bit if you’re familiar with Dante’s trip through hell in The Divine Comedy, but I hope it’s not a pre-requisite.

Each chapter is published on its own page, and they’re intended to be read in the order below.

(everything is © Marcus Hake 2013)

Chapters:
Morden
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Balham
Balham (continued)
Balham (continued)
Balham (concluded)
Chapter 5
Chapter 5a
Chapter 6
Chapter 6a
Chapter 7
Chapter 7a
Chapter 8