Clever Girl

by Brian Thompson

This book is suitable fans of Melvyn Bragg and Frank McCourt and buyers of Keeping Mum. Brian Thompson never had to look very hard for trouble. His unorthodox childhood and his eccentric parents guaranteed that. But when, aged eighteen, Brian left home he was determined to enjoy a life of unstinting ordinariness, taking advantage of a Britain that would 'never have it so good'. But Brian was thwarted by the possibilities available to him. National Service led to foreign travel to Kenya, skirmishes with the Mau Mau and a request to fix the results of his platoon sergeant's English exam, one Idi Amin. Even when Brian was safe on English soil he was still confounded in his ambition to lead a quiet life. His limp attempt at University entrance - a single letter on some stolen NAAFI headed paper - led to admittance to Trinity College Cambridge and the niceties of middle class student life. And then there was rock and roll. And girls. Suitably confused, Brian did what was considered to be the right thing. He married the Clever Girl.

Genres: Memoir

247 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

He read English at Cambridge. Since 1973 he has written for a living as a radio and television playwright and a documentary film maker. He is also the author of several acclaimed biographies: A Monkey Amongst Crocodiles, Imperial Vanities and The Nightmare of a Victorian Bestseller.

Reviews

[Bettie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bettie's Books

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny and wry second volume of Brian Thompson's memoirs, following 'Keeping Mum' into the 1950s. If these quotes don't work for you, I can't help you.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

From BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week:
Brian Thompson's memoirs of growing up in the 50s, abridged by Doreen Estall and read by David Troughton.

[Patricia H-f · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny and entertaining, but sometimes just too "clever."

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Still have no idea who Brian Thompson is, and have no memory of the book other than finding the whole thing vaguely irritating.

[Vivien · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author is quite a witty man with terrible parents. This is the second book of his life and takes him through his university years. I must admit I didn't end up liking him much and thought his wife could have done a lot better!