Jane Gardam

Historical fiction gives us a window into understanding how the world came to be the way it is. Gardam encapsulates the collapse of the British Empire in this story of Edward, born in Malay to a bureaucrat still suffering from WWI injuries. Raised for four years by servants since his mother died of childbed fever, he is then sent off to an abusive foster home in Wales along with two cousins.
The tale is told by Edward, now in his '80's, as he tries to find meaning in his life after his wife's death. We are only given glimpses of his childhood; he slams the window shut on the painful memories as often as they poke through. Yet his strong sense of moral rightness and duty keeps him prying at his memories. It seems his youth was spent blindered, so focused on excelling in his studies that he is unaware of most facts of life. The absence of loving parents has kept him from really loving anyone. His sole memory of freedom is mixed with the shame of being evacuated from England at age 17 rather than being allowed to fight for his country. We hear other people commenting "you would do well as a lawyer", but we never hear him express any desire for any career. He is intelligent and courteous, therefore he is respected by all who know him.
This tale includes many thoughtful phrases which are a pleasure to read. Edward, "Old Filth", remained in my mind in between my reading opportunities. Louise Erdrich referenced study by a pair of social psychologists and the New School who found that reading complex literature increased a person's empathy. This book will work on you; it's a pity Old Filth never read literature.[https://www.newschool.edu/pressroom/pressreleases/2013/CastanoKidd.htm]… (mer)

The third book in the loose “Old Filth” trilogy returns with more of the same beautiful writing, looking back at the life of Terence Veneering with recollections from peripheral characters in the previous books of Fiscal-Smith and Dulcie Williams, as well as Terry himself.
The three books, which are best read sequentially, cover Britain’s withdrawal from Imperial ambitions in the twentieth century by looking at the lives of a love triangle of sorts, Edward Feathers (Old Filth of the first book), his wife Elizabeth (Betty) Macintosh (central character of The Man in the Wooden Hat) and Terence Veneering (Old Filth’s professional and romantic adversary).
The books are often funny, nostalgic without being sentimental and beautifully written. This third book is perhaps least well structured, perhaps because some of the book revisits scenes from previous books, but from a different character’s perspective. But there are wonderful set pieces and the chapters step lightly in time and place from 1930’s working class England, to Malta, Hong Kong and back to retired professionals at the beginning of the twenty first century.
I didn’t recognise all of the Dickensian references, not having read Our Mutual Friend, but the Bleak House references were delightful.
And Gardam is still able to surprise in this final book, even if the coincidences are worthy of Dickens, and although it is all fiction, it is rather wonderful, warm and magical fun.… (mer)