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The People on Privilege Hill and Other Stories
by
Jane Gardam
A new collection of stories from a writer at the height of her powers and celebrated stylist admired for her caustic humor, freewheeling imagination, love of humanity and wicked powers of observation. This is a delightful grouping of stories, witty and wise, that includes the return of Sir Edward Feathers, Old Filtha himself.
Paperback, 196 pages
Published
July 29th 2008
by Europa Editions
(first published 2007)
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The People on Privilege Hill contains stories, short and quick and with adult emotions. Gardam has a laser-eye, and can have a razor-tongue, but she knows what humans are and what makes a story.
In “The Fledgling," we are introduced to that self-conscious teen ready to leave the nest, and the mixed emotions of parent and child are recognizable and painful and funny at the same time. In “Dangers” we encounter a story reminiscent of the UK’s BBC radio show My Word, where segments o...more
In “The Fledgling," we are introduced to that self-conscious teen ready to leave the nest, and the mixed emotions of parent and child are recognizable and painful and funny at the same time. In “Dangers” we encounter a story reminiscent of the UK’s BBC radio show My Word, where segments o...more
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Simple, beautiful stories about middle class people of all ages and many eras in Britain.
Here's a passage from one of my favorites, "The Fledgeling," in which Lester is a self-centered teenager who has just repeatedly rejected his parents at an important moment. His mother narrates her response:
Here's a passage from one of my favorites, "The Fledgeling," in which Lester is a self-centered teenager who has just repeatedly rejected his parents at an important moment. His mother narrates her response:
And she hated Lester. This Lester. She longed for the Lester who used to come in cheerful from school shouting, “Mum? I’m home, Mum. Can I go out now?” Or, “You in Mum?...more
I first discovered Jane Gardam a few years ago when I read her subtle, completely brilliant, account of the life of English barrister Eddie Feathers, aka "Old Filth" ('failed in London, try Hong Kong'). Ms Gardam upped the ante late last year by publishing a companion volume, "The Man in the Wooden Hat", which retold, and deepened, the story of the Feathers marriage from the point of view of his wife Betty.
Old Filth and his nemesis Veneering make a cameo appearanc...more
Old Filth and his nemesis Veneering make a cameo appearanc...more
If I were to describe this short story collection in three words, they would be delightful, dark, and British. I love Gardam's writing style -- surreal and dark at times, yet overall very playful. My favorite stories in the collection were "The Latter Days of Mr. Jones" which broke my heart, "The Hair of the Dog" which kept me wondering, and "Snap" with its sense of irony. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes descriptive yet at times mysterious short sto...more
Not a bad collection - one story whose ending I didn't exactly "get", a couple that were just sort of "there", a couple that really stood out, and the rest pretty good. Nice, wide range of topics (plots) - from a ghost story to the effects of onsetting Alzheimer's.
I'm not a short story reader, but a fan of Gardam's writing. This collection makes a good introduction to her style for folks not willing to invest in starting a full novel by a new author.
I'm not a short story reader, but a fan of Gardam's writing. This collection makes a good introduction to her style for folks not willing to invest in starting a full novel by a new author.
This was one of the books Molly chose for me for Christmas. I should have her choose about half my books. She's really good at picking books that are not my usual type, but that I love anyway.
This one was a series of extremely well written character sketches. Several had a little twist of irony at the end that reminded me of a short story I read a long time ago. Maybe "Roman Fever" by Edith Wharton?
This one was a series of extremely well written character sketches. Several had a little twist of irony at the end that reminded me of a short story I read a long time ago. Maybe "Roman Fever" by Edith Wharton?
In this collection of short stories, many characters are interesting and eccentric. (For example, one story focuses on a woman who falls in love with a gorilla at the zoo.) And, although in several instances, stories end with characters getting what they seem to deserve (either positive or negative), the stories weren't predictable to me.
I read this while in an oral surgeon's waiting room. My youngest son was having his wisdom teeth removed. I don't usually read books of short stories but I thought that it might be a good distraction.
Well, this is a book of sad stories. Some left me feeling bewildered, others....well...just sad! I was relieved when the nurse came to tell me it was time to leave.
Well, this is a book of sad stories. Some left me feeling bewildered, others....well...just sad! I was relieved when the nurse came to tell me it was time to leave.
Jane Gardam is an excellent writer of people's lives - mostly, they are upper middle class English people - and she writes with such nuance and care that their narrow existences are poignant, expanisve and sometimes painful.
I rarely read short stories, but this was good. I enjoyed the quick pace of reading many different stories in one book. Some of these stories are surprising. The author has a way with detail and although some may start out slow, they end up grabbing you before the ending.
Wonderful quirky stories as usual from this outstanding writer. Those who enjoyed her novel Old Filth will be pleased to see a reappearance of its characters in one of these stories.
Even though only one short story dealt with Old Filth, Gardham more or less redeemed herself in my eyes here, after the disappointment that was The Man in the Wooden Hat. Hooray!
Such a disappointment. Jane Gardam is one of my favorite authors, but this book of short stories had none of her usual spark. Many of the stories felt half finished.
Really enjoyed this collection of short stories. Each story is well-crafted and touch a number of emotions without being over-wrought.
The first story is hilarious. I love Jane Gardam. She says so much with so few words, and writes so well with such wit.
Gardam has a fine eye for the most embarrassing or stupid of life's events, but she too subtle to be sour.
I bought this book because on my initial flip-through, the sentences were so short and curt to the point where it was noticeable. I wanted to see if the book worked, which I felt it did.
She's been writing for decades, but Jane Gardam is my new favorite author. NPR's Maureen Corrigan uses the apt phrase "wit and weirdness" to describe this collection of short stories. Gardam's economical style and dry humor reminded me of Penelope Fitzgerald, conveying so much with so few words. Her warmth and quotidian details reminded me of Penelope Lively. I'm very eager to read her other novels and stories.
For Corrigan's review and for my favorite story of the collection (Pan...more
For Corrigan's review and for my favorite story of the collection (Pan...more
Such a pleasure to read. Each story is a little gem.
Brilliant, quirky, and funny. I loved these stories, especially the title story and "Waiting for a Stranger".
Not as good as Old Filth and The Man in the Wooden Hat, but well done short stories.
Jane Gardam has become one of my favorite new authors. I loved Old Filth and The Man in the Wooden Hat, and this collection of short stories was just as wonderful. To bring to life such vivid characters and emotions within the confines of the short story parameters is truly a gift. Not a word is wasted but skillfully chosen to illuminate and clarify. Those who also love the Edward Feathers (Old Filth) character will be rewarded with a lovely continuation of his story in the first story, named af...more
intelligent and delightful
Wonderful bookend to Old Filth and Man in the Wooden Hat... wanted more of these, she's wickedly funny and also profoundly kind.
Mostly very enjoyable, a few clunkers.
Sweetman Sweetman
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
readers, Jane Gardam fans, short story writers
Recommended to Sweetman by:
library find
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great-find
Great stories, so well written. My favorite: The People on Privilege Hill (love E. Feathers, never want to say goodbye) and Snap--Snap! it was.
Gardam is probably the UK's best short story writer. This collection can't meet the brilliance of for example Going into a Dark House, but it comes very close.
I picked this up by mistake as I didn't realise it was short stories. I thought it was a sequel to old filth. The first story is. I rocked through it. Love her writing. The stories were all great. Would recommend it.
Enjoyed reading more Jane Gardam, and especially the story about Old
Filth. He has survived his wife's death which gives us more of this
interesting character to enjoy.
Filth. He has survived his wife's death which gives us more of this
interesting character to enjoy.
A dedication to craft that moves far beyond the mere dreaming up of clever plot points. Tighter than a duck's behind, and that's watertight.
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Jane Mary Gardam OBE is a British author of children's and adult fiction. She also reviews for the Spectator and the Telegraph, and writes for BBC radio. She lives in Kent, Wimbledon and Yorkshire. She has won numerous literary awards including the Whitbread Award, twice. She is mother of Tim Gardam, Principal of St Anne's College, Oxford. Jane has been awarded the Heywood Hill Literary Prize for ...more
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