About this title: Old Filth was a 'child of the raj'. His earliest memories are of his amah, a teenage Malay girl - not of his mother who is dead, nor his father who can't cope. But very soon he is torn away from the only person who loves him, and sent to be educated at 'Home', where he is boarded out with strangers...What is the terrible secret that the children ...
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Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Europa Editions
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9781933372136ISBN:1933372133
Description: Good. Used item may show library stamps, stickers and marks. Buy with confidence-your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics! Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. Please note that Expedited shipping is not available at this time. read more
Description: Good. Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Very Good. Former Library book. Great condition for a used book! Minimal wear. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Good. Ships from the UK. Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Your purchase also supports literacy charities. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Europa Editions
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9781933372136ISBN:1933372133
Description: Good. Used Condition-GOOD can be a well cared for Book that is in great condition to a Book that may show some signs of wear. GOOD Books sometimes are permanently marked; have some spine or page creases; exibit signs of aging or an ExLibrary copy. ** Sometimes grease pencil or permanent marking on cover. May contain limited notes and or highlighting. 100% Satisfaction guaranteed on all purchases. ** SHIPS FROM USA-Domestic Delivery takes 5-14 days ** read more
Binding: Turtleback
Publisher: Europa Editions
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9781933372136ISBN:1933372133
Description: Very Good; Slight crease to spine, edges crisp, inner flaps to cover. 1933372133. 1 x 8.2 x 5.2 Inches; 289 pages; "Jane Gardam's beautiful, vivid and defiantly funny novel is a must. "The Times "Gardam's superb new novel is surely her masterpiece...one of the most moving fictions I have read in years...This is the rare novel that drives its readers forward while persistently waylaying and detaining by the sheer beauty and inventiveness of it style. "The Guardian "The Whitbread winner scores ... read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: EUROPA ED
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9781933372136ISBN:1933372133
Description: New. Filth is a lawyer with a practice in the Far East. A few remember that his nickname stands for Failed In London Try Hong Kong. But Old Filth is not as pompous as people imagine, and his past contains many secrets and dark hiding places. read more
"Old Filth is the nickname of a retired judge - it's an acronym for Failed in London, Try Hong Kong. Reason One for having interest in the book. Moreover, critics wrote that it was witty, mature, and Dickensian. Reason two... kind of. I have a short attention span so I thought this book would be a challenge to take on, one that would have me figure out what literary traits are considered "Dickensian."
I thought it was interesting, I didn't pick up on the humor. I felt it was dry with many characters that I didn't care to learn more about, maybe three that stayed with me - Dickens did a better job in that realm. The book is only 290 pages and it chronicled his whole life. It felt like his whole life. Not Old Man and the Sea long but perhaps a heftier 500 pages. Regardless, the reviews written on it's cover still puzzle me. But it's a wonderful read nonetheless, rather than simply describing it as a man towards the end of his life recalling the past, I think it's important to note that this fictional character's life started in the 1930's as a "Raj orphan" (maybe incorrect term - i don't have book in front of me) - growing up in southeast Asia, and then sent off to school in England, distanced from his own family. *lol* It also felt very English."
"For several generations, ending in the first half of the 20th Century, Britain maintained a significant civil service in its foreign holdings - Hong Kong, across India, and elsewhere. Raj orphans were these civil servants' children, sent to England to be raised by strangers.
Edward Feathers -- also known as "Old Filth" -- is now nearing 90, looking back on his life, and pondering his mortality. A one-time Raj orphan with a dark secret who became one of Britain's most respected lawyers and eventually a judge. "Filth" is an acronym for "failed in London, try Hong Kong," a term he coined when describing his own career decades ago.
Old Filth is both tragic and triumphant. His life is defined by the fall of the Empire, war, encounters with a queen, and his love for his wife, Betty. It's hard not to love this cold, serious man as novelist Jane Gardam slowly reveals his innermost self."
"It just so happens that I was reading about the great wars a few days ago in my trusty 'History of the Modern World' by Palmer and Colton. Every now and then I dip into these august pages to try to gain perspective on the current state of things in the world. I was reading about events leading up to both the first and second World War. Empire, colonies, power, and so on. I think that enriched my experience of this book, that and the fact that I lived and worked in London for a few years. As a friend said regarding this book, "It's very English". Indeed, and very well written I might add. A pleasure to read. History seen through the lens of one man's life. The book is dedicated to Raj Orphans and their parents. Filth by the way, stands for Failed In London Try Hong Kong.
There's a nice line towards the end of the book:
Pilot says, "Time marches on."
Filth says, "Not so sure it marches anywhere in particular though."
"What fun this book. I dated (heck loved) a brit, and while I'm nowhere near an anglophile, I did come to love some of the brit idiosyncrasies. And I like old people's stories. They lived enough to have something to tell, and this is that kind of book. Crazy stories that only someone who lived many a day can tell.
I remember telling my book club, "If I could write a book, this would be the book I would write." So what do I mean by that? I mean, if I could write *any book* I would be Steinbeck - East of Eden. But that book is written. This one is a fresh book. I know what I just said doesn't make any sense. However, I don't think I can fully encapsulate what I mean shy of 3 paragraphs. So, obviously I can't write and for anyone who reads this and gets what I mean, then, I meant it for you.
Old Filth is written from an old man's perspective, and the name is a delight, although a bit off putting. "Failed In London Tried Hong kong" is the meaning of the phrase. Pure character study work with not much in the way of plot, but what a rememberance tale is weaved here. Nicely wrought."
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