Old filth is an empathetic novel about empire that could only come from a writer of gardam s generation. Edward feathers almost seems a stereotype but are there truths in such characters. Since then the old servant of empire has popped up three more times in gardam s work. Unlike gardam s most famous novel old filth, but not unlike the ending of the third book in her trilogy last friends, these stories explore what may not be real. Jane gardam is a novelist, writer of short stories and author of childrens books. Spanning almost a century and two continents, it shows us the end of empire from the. Old filth then moves forward to a time when betty is still alive. Told with jane gardam s customary wit, the old filth trilogy is a deeply humane and often comic portrait of aging and a reminder that the experiences we choose to take with us in our twilight years are as unforgettableand unpredictableas life itself.
Old filth is dead, but one thing you pick up quickly about gardam is that for her no story is ever really. We learn a bit right away, but gardam doles out the secrets with care, leading us to learn a little more about, and care a little more for, our hero. Old filth by jane gardam discussion questions used at spl august 2014 1. This, her 15th novel, was shortlisted in britain for. Free delivery on book orders dispatched by amazon over.
They married in 1954 and, apart from a period as an editor at the periodical time and tide, gardam spent much of the following 15 or so years before the publication of her first book, a fair. If old filth was eddie featherss book, and the man in the wooden hat was bettys, last friends belongs largely to terry veneering, detailing. Sir edward feathers has had a brilliant career, from his early days as a lawyer in southeast asia, where he earned the nickname old filth filth being an acronym for failed in london try hong kong to his final working days as a respected judge at the english bar. So much of the story of his life was told in an oblique manner and there were so many gaps in it you had to read between the lines to sort things out. Old filth aka eddie, the judge, fevvers, filth, master of the inner temple, teddy and sir edward feather, is a wonderful creation through which to encapsulate a lengthy period. Jane gardam has 59 books on goodreads with 73620 ratings. The title comes from featherss sobriquet, an acronym of failed in london try hong kong. The trilogy is an astonishing achievement for later life published when she was at least 75, and drawing on the depths of experience of lives lived. Old filth old filth trilogy by jane gardam and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. British novelist gardam has twice won the whitbread and was shortlisted for the man booker. Born in malaya, educated in england, the hero of jane gardams novel becomes a successful lawyer in hong kong.
June 15, 2006 the marvelously versatile gardam faith fox, 2003, etc. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that the. Sir edward feathers old filth failed in london try hong kong was a successful lawyer in hong kong, deeply integrated into the expat community but also connected to hong kong. In her new novel she brings to life an inner temple legend. Her novels include god on the rocks, shortlisted for the booker prize, the flight of the maidens and old filth, which was shortlisted for the orange prize and named a new york times notable book of the year. The man in the wooden hat old filth trilogy 2 by jane gardam paperback. Old filth old filth trilogy book 1 kindle edition by. Bbc world service world book club, jane gardam old filth. Jane gardam s first novel was published in 1971, and her introduction to the old filth trilogy in this reprint is from 20, when she was already 83. Jane gardam wrote an incredibly subtle book about the raj orphan edward feathers, a. From his days as a struggling lawyer to his time as a respected judge, edwards career has been nothing short of brilliant. Long ago, old filth was a raj orphan one of the many young children sent home from the east to be fostered and educated in england. On this months world book club british writer jane gardam discusses her awardwinning novel old filth with the studio audience at broadcasting house and listeners from around the world.
So like jane, youre probably wondering, what did the book club think. Its a cliche to compare novelists to jane austen, but in the case of jane gardam it happens to be true. Not all the old filth, it seems, can be cleaned away. Old filth, the man in the wooden hat and last friends. The following version of this book was used to create this study guide. Sir edward feathers, qc, began his existence late in life in jane gardam s novel old filth, first published in this country in 2006. It could also be called the great gatsby or citizen kane principle, among other possibilities. Jane gardams beloved old filth trilogy her masterpiece, old filth, the man in the wooden hat, and last friendsare here presented in a box set. Sir edward feathers, qc, began his existence late in life in jane gardams novel old filth, first published in this country in 2006. The mild stir he creates by appearing at the inner temple establishes sir edward feathers, a k a old filth, as a figure of some mystery, and gardam then gets down to the business of solving him.
Jane gardam s novel tells his story, from his birth in what was then malaya to the extremities of his old age. Sir edward feathers is a widower at the end of his life. Book one in jane gardam s old filth trilogy sir edward feathers has had a brilliant career, from his early days as a lawyer in southeast asia, where he earned the nickname old filth filth being an acronym for failed in london try hong kong to his final working days as a. Old filth remains a lovable allegory for the empire in decline. Sir edward feathers has had a brilliant career, from his early days as a lawyer in southeast asia, where he earned the. And now that novel has been joined by a companion that also bursts with humor and wisdom. Jane gardams highly entertaining old filth finds its own way of bringing old literary values into the present day, by setting a walking anachronism, a judge who made his fortune in stillcolonial hong kong, loose on the a1.
I think based on our reactions, we saw edward old filth feathers as the heart of the story, more than plot or. Sir edward feathers has had a brilliant career, from his early days as a lawyer in southeast asia, where he earned the nickname old filth filth being an acronym for failed in london try hong kong to his final working days as a. Old filth trilogy boxed set jane gardam europa editions. A lyrical novel that recalls his fully lived life, old filth has been acclaimed as jane gardams masterpiece. Jane gardam completes her finely distilled and addictive old filth trilogy with last friends, which unearths the surprising and sordid background of sir terence veneering, the third. Jane gardams old filth is a beautiful and moving portrayal of the remnants of empire, says stevie davies.
Last friends old filth trilogy 3 by jane gardam paperback. Last friends is the conclusion to a trilogy of novels which began with jane gardam s masterpiece, old filth. In jane gardams superb new novel, sir edward feathers, an antediluvian retired judge, enters extreme age carrying his secret wound coiled inside him like a baby. The man in the wooden hat old filth trilogy book 2. Jane gardam books list of books by author jane gardam. Old filth begins with a short scene, in which four benchers discuss an absent character by the name old filth we later learn his name is actually edward feathers. Filth is an acronym failed in london, try hong kong and the affectionate nickname for sir edward feathers, whose distinguished career, as an advocate and.
Jane gardam is a fellow of the royal society of literature. Almost 10 years ago, in 2004, jane gardam published her 15th work of fiction a novel with the faintly unpromising title of old filth. Martin levin is the former books editor of the globe and mail. The stories of jane gardam will delight gardam s fans, who may find something new here. This books strongest aspect is jane gardam s writing.