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For My Own Amusement
Book by R. f. delderfield
381 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1968
About the author
R.F. Delderfield
89 books202 followersRonald Frederick Delderfield was a popular English novelist and dramatist, many of whose works have been adapted for television and are still widely read.
Several of Delderfield's historical novels and series involve young men who return from war and lead lives in England that allow the author to portray the sweep of English history and delve deeply into social history from the Edwardian era to the early 1960s.
From Wikipedia
Several of Delderfield's historical novels and series involve young men who return from war and lead lives in England that allow the author to portray the sweep of English history and delve deeply into social history from the Edwardian era to the early 1960s.
From Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 14, 2019
Delderfield is un raconteur sans pareil, and I think likely he was confident enough to enjoy his talent.
This overflowing memoir is a real treat. Delderfield’s prose makes for pleasant reading, and I’m tempted to think that readers will spontaneously read parts of it out loud to whoever may be within range.
For My Own Amusement is a comfortably literate collection of Delderfield’s memories and experiences, spanning most of his life. He offers animated accounts of piano practice (“A Multiplicity of Mozarts”), handing over hoarded pennies for pasties from Mrs. Stanbury after a dreary session with his fellow schoolboys in church (“Church and Mrs. Stanbury”), and his fascinated exposure to American culture in 1970 (“Over There”), among three dozen droll and insightful tales about becoming a grown-up in England.
Each one of them is a short and delightful read. You can’t read just one.
Read more of my book reviews and poems here:
www.richardsubber.com
This overflowing memoir is a real treat. Delderfield’s prose makes for pleasant reading, and I’m tempted to think that readers will spontaneously read parts of it out loud to whoever may be within range.
For My Own Amusement is a comfortably literate collection of Delderfield’s memories and experiences, spanning most of his life. He offers animated accounts of piano practice (“A Multiplicity of Mozarts”), handing over hoarded pennies for pasties from Mrs. Stanbury after a dreary session with his fellow schoolboys in church (“Church and Mrs. Stanbury”), and his fascinated exposure to American culture in 1970 (“Over There”), among three dozen droll and insightful tales about becoming a grown-up in England.
Each one of them is a short and delightful read. You can’t read just one.
Read more of my book reviews and poems here:
www.richardsubber.com
January 17, 2025
The writer who solidified my love of historical fiction, this memoir is really a ramble of thoughts that occasionally is in chronicle order.
I ended up skimming large parts of the book [some which are just too dated for the modern reader; some too detailed for a general audience], with other sections keeping me engrossed and googling for historical background.
I enjoyed the book, but this is definitely not meant for a casual reader.
I ended up skimming large parts of the book [some which are just too dated for the modern reader; some too detailed for a general audience], with other sections keeping me engrossed and googling for historical background.
I enjoyed the book, but this is definitely not meant for a casual reader.
September 7, 2019
An interesting view on history. I DO like Delderfield's writing.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews