The Underground Man
The Underground Man is the fictionalised diary of the 5th Duke of Portland. Critically acclaimed, this book was shortlisted for the Booker Prize for that year (1997). It tells the story of the life of the reclusive Victorian Duke, loosely modelled on William Cavendish Scott-Bentinck, 5th Duke of Portland. His scheme involves building a set of tunnels beneath Welbeck Estate.
The duke has just completed a network of tunnels beneath his estate. His health is failing, but his imagination seems to know no bounds. And while he spends more time underground and retreats ever deeper into the darker corners of his house, there are some ghosts that demand to be acknowledged and some memories that insist on making themselves known.
- Paperback
- 266 pages
Our exhibition Tunnel Vision currently on show at The Harley Gallery, reveals the life and work of the famously private 5th Duke of Portland. Exhibits include architectural models for some of his great building projects, his iconic double-letterbox bedroom door, and his only true likeness in the form of his death mask.
Learn more about the 5th Duke's political allegiances in our article by Dr Fiona Clapperton and his bachelor lifestyle in the article by Dr Lauren Batt.
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