Old Filth

I found 'Old Filth' whilst browsing for authors whose works were unfamiliar to me: the title was intriguing - 'Failed In London Try Hong Kong'. The book is well written and an easy read, in that the story moves seamlessly between the past and present covering the life of Sir Edward Feathers QC whose practice was mainly in Hong Kong. The reader experiences the influences, many cruel and unnerving, that shaped the character and personality of the main character taking them from Teddy Feather's birthplace in Malaya, his education and later retirement in England The juxtaposition of his extreme emotional sensitivity/inhibition and the (seeming) lack of understanding that his behaviour has on others, especially his wife is brilliantly handled. Interwoven are many strong characters and many enigmatical questions which leave the reader wondering even as the book ends. Thus I want to read more about this character. It is particularly enjoyable for anyone who has lived or visited any of the places where Teddy lived, but not having been in Malaysia, HK or London does not prevent this book being thoroughly enjoyed. I have added this to my small collection of very favourite books and am enjoying 'The Man with the Wooden Hat' which is also about Edward & Betty Feathers and goes part way to solving some of the mystery about this fascinating couple. Jane Gardam writes with a delicate touch - a quill fashioned from the finest feather!

The book opens with the reader eavesdropping on a couple of young barristers commenting on the distant, handsome, elderly figure of "Old Filth," the rich lawyer cum judge who presided in Hong Kong before it returned to the Chinese. The barristers say that Old Filth had a quiet life, excepting that he made a pile of money, and is although distinguished, otherwise unremarkable. I have rarely loved a book so much and so quickly as this one. Eddie Feathers ("Old Filth") is reserved, well bred, well spoken, well dressed and one of the more remarkable survivors in literature. His youth would be a horror story in other hands. He is British from the day (post WWII, just as the Empire is failing) when to be a gentleman was to appear to be without passion, and to appear not to care about such ephemera as happiness. To be understated means that there is a statement to be made. Uunderstatement is in every sentence of his remarkable work, evidenced by the control Jane Gardam has of every sentence. Her craftsmanship builds character, story, plausibility and setting into a gently told, incredibly moving whole. Characters appear that deserve their own books, especially Mr. Ross and Sir,and perhaps Isobel. Every character breathes on his or her own and still tells us more of Eddie. How many authors can manage their populations with such skill, ease and fascination? But to see Eddie Feathers you must also meet his wife. Her story is in The Man in The Wooden Hat. "Old Filth" is a complete work and stands alone very well. But Gardam goes back and, through Betty's eyes, expands on what you know. Together,the books are the best exploration and most accurate insights I know of on how real relationships--especially long marriages--truly work. Their lives are entirely together, and separate. When I finished The Man in the Wooden Hat, I had to sit down and marvel. "Old Filth" was not originally intended to be "Part I of II" which makes the accomplishment of finishing a story that seemed perfectly complete even more astounding and incredibly satisfying. There is no point in telling you the plot because the plot is the vehicle for much more. Like Eddie and Betty Feathers, there is a lot more than meets the eye. If you love good,no, superb writing, read these books. If you enjoy the realization that there was more there than the immediate story made you consider, read these books. If you think that the 'marriage of true minds' leads to happiness ever after, you probably need this book to find a new definition of 'happiness'. This is an amazing writer who deserves a wide and appreciative audience.

Matériellement, livre d'occasion comme neuf. Roman d'un grand écrivain, étonnamment bien construit, distillant des indices qui nous amènent à la "révélation" finale. J'ai déjà commandé "The man in the wooden hat", où nous découvrons cette fois le point de vue de la femme de Old Filth.

Ein ehemaliger Kolonialbeamter (Jurist, Richter) kehrt aus Fernost zurück nach Great Brittan, um sich dort zur Ruhe zu setzten. Seine Frau stirbt, und weil er mit ihrem Verlust nicht so recht fertig wird, ergeht er sich in Erinnerungen an seine Jugendzeit. Das führt zu gelegentlich recht unverhofften Zeit Sprüngen in der Erzählung. Ich glaube allerdings, dass dieser Roman nur einem älteren Menschen wirklich verständlich wird. Mich persönlich, ich bin immerhin 77 Jahre alt, hat dieser Roman sehr berührt und in mir längst vergessene Jugenderinnerungen wieder belebt.

Great read, our book club went on to read two other with this character in it and we are not into series reads. Well written lots of plots that play out well. Characters stayed with you long after.