Bbc world service world book club, jane gardam old filth. Many people thought old filthedward led a quiet, noneventful life would you agree. Jane gardam discusses her novel old filth with harriett gilbert and the world book club audience at broadcasting house in london. In jane gardams superb new novel, sir edward feathers. Visa, mastercard, american express paypal, diners club and discover. Feathers is known as old filth the filth standing for. These questions may be used for classroom discussions about this novel. Old filth is the first book of jane gardams trilogy about a retired, successful man who is dealing with his difficult past.
Detailing the life of sir edward feathers, a distinguished advocate and judge, jane gardam presents a detailed character study of a man who is, quite literally, a foreigner in his own life. In jane gardams superb new novel, sir edward feathers, an antediluvian retired judge, enters. 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. Old filth by jane gardam southfield public library. What did you learn about british culture from this book. He also hears from another woman who played a significant part in his past the cousin of his school friend peter.
I bought old filth way back in 2008, when i only had a few hundred books in my library, when that library only increased by a few books each month, and when i had only been on goodreads for a year or so and hadnt met most of you fine people and your shelves yet. Sonja audible has old filth as a downloadable audio book. Rather, it seemed like a good thing to read after john williams stoner. Twotimewinner of the whitbread award, gardam is a bestselling author of both childrens and adult novels. Old filth, a historical novel by jane mary gardam, obe, is the first in a trilogy. Note that there will be some spoilers, though i wouldnt say we give everything away. It was nominated for the 2005 orange prize for fiction.
Published in 2004 to much critical acclaim, the book centers on an elderly man looking back on his life and trying to make sense of the past. Instead, the focus is on the years that really made him into the man he was, if not yet the success. This penetrating study of the effects of childhood neglect focuses on one. The book actually begins with a retired old filth cast adrift by the sudden death of betty, his wife, in dorset. Impetuously, he decides to connect with those two girl cousins, who are both dotty in their way. Former president barack obama delivering a virtual commencement address to millions of. Jane gardams old filth is a beautiful and moving portrayal of the remnants of empire. Old filth reads these letters but does not evidently register what they say. Dive deep into jane mary pearsons old filth with extended analysis, commentary, and discussion. A thrilling debut novel about how far well go to protect. Thats what feathers did, but only at the end of the book is it revealed how he wound up there, and the hong kong years that made him are almost entirely ignored. When, in one of the novels many unexpected twists, veneering moves into a neighboring house, the two old enemies.
Old filth old filth trilogy kindle edition by gardam. Old filth is one of those critically approbated books that i feel i should like more than i actually did. This study guide consists of approximately 84 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of old filth. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that the. Students may be inspired to continue reading the other books from this trilogy after reading this novel and engaging in the following discussion questions.