Summary: London, 1982. Patrick Melrose, 23 years old and in the grip of an all-consuming heroin addiction, flies to New York to collect his father's ashes.

Summary: France, 1967. During a hot summer's day at the Melrose chateau in Lacoste, 8-year old Patrick explores the grounds, a sanctuary of hiding places from the complex adult world.

Summary: England, 1990. Patrick Melrose, now 31, is finally clean and practicing law. Despite avoiding social situations and their inevitable temptations, Patrick is persuaded to attend a high society event in the Cotswolds by best friend Johnny.

Summary: France, 2003. Patrick, 44, is now married to Mary, with sons Robert and Thomas. Patrick may be off the heroin, but is back tackling his troubles with substance abuse.

Summary: London, 2005. Having always dreamed of being an orphan, Patrick now has his wish at the age of 46. No longer with Mary, Patrick is clean and living alone in a grim bedsit.