Old Filth

De: Jane Gardam

Narrado por: Bill Wallace

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 as a respected judge at the English bar. Yet through it all he has carried with him the wounds of a difficult and emotionally hollow childhood. Now an 80-year-old widower living in comfortable seclusion in Dorset, Feathers is finally free from the regimen of work and the sentimental scaffolding that has sustained him throughout his life. He slips back into the past with ever-mounting frequency and intensity, and on the tide of these vivid, lyrical musings, Feathers approaches a reckoning with his own history. Not all the old filth, it seems, can be cleaned away.

Borrowing from biography and history, Jane Gardam has written a literary masterpiece reminiscent of Rudyard Kipling's Baa Baa, Black Sheep that retraces much of the 20th century's torrid and momentous history.

©2004 Jane Gardam (P)2020 Recorded Books

Old Filth… for the ages. Spectacular.

Jane Gardam’s masterpiece. A time, a place, with priceless characters. What is it to love? Eddie Feathers, comes full circle to appreciate his arch enemy, and recognize that love as well as hate can sometimes disguise much deeper feelings.

A great classic

A narrative with a slow burn. I listened to the Audible version narrated by Bill Wallace - very British, loved the delivery. He captured all the nuances of Old Filth’s memories.

There are two books that flow this in the series, I hope to get a chance to read them.

Great philosophies on war, terrorism, the raising of children, the choices we make, guilt, love, and friendship. In short, a fantastic book of human nature and some sprinkling of Magical Realism.

Surprisingly excellent read

The story was rather difficult to make sense of in the beginning. However, it hooked me and I found it especially historically interesting, especially since I had lived in the Far East in the last century.

Engaging

at first I thought it.would be tedious, but the story, the excellent narration, and the character of Filth himself became utterly engaging.

Superb In Every Way

It’s rare to read a novel that encompasses an entire life so engagingly. Henry “Old Filth” Feathers is a wonderful character, and Jane Gardem never lost my interest. As I was born In Hong Kong I wondered if she had lived there too; she hadn’t but does a credible job in capturing it. Bill Wallace is flawless in his performance.

Didn’t want it to end.

As soon as I finished it, I immediately started listening again. Such a wonderful book. I didn’t want to leave Edward’s world and all the various and sundry supporting players.

Masterful storytelling. Gardam is incredible!

I have read all of Gardam's books. Old Filth was my first, and lured me in for all the others. Wallace does an incredible job with the performance of all the characters. Simply excellent!

I adore this trilogy

The narration is a bit flat, but not unfair to the writing style. The web of the characters is flawlessly spun. Brilliant story.

Literature at its finest!

Beautifully written story reflecting the musings on life’s journey, how our experiences form who we are. Destiny, luck, charisma, loneliness and love enter-twine and Old Filth becomes an unforgettable protagonist. This book will be long remembered as excellent.

Excellent

A well-written book, beautifully performed I am looking forward to the next in the series.