A Very Private School

A Memoir

By: Charles Spencer

Narrated by: Charles Spencer

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

“A tour de force.” —The Washington Post

In this poignant memoir, Charles Spencer recounts the trauma of being sent away from home at age eight to attend boarding school.

A Very Private School offers a clear-eyed, first-hand account of a culture of cruelty at the school Charles Spencer attended in his youth and provides important insights into an antiquated boarding system. Drawing on the memories of many of his schoolboy contemporaries, as well as his own letters and diaries from the time, he reflects on the hopelessness and abandonment he felt at aged eight, viscerally describing the intense pain of homesickness and the appalling inescapability of it all. Exploring the long-lasting impact of his experiences, Spencer presents a candid reckoning with his past and a reclamation of his childhood.

©2024 Charles Spencer (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

Straight forward rational analysis of a systematic crime situation in an English boarding school

The nativity of these young boys were so easy to be taken advantage of. They emerged so different in ways the family could not imagine. The secretiveness of the school and the full reign parent gave to those unworthy guardians. At first I didn’t think I could bear the incidents but Lord Spencer has given an adult perspective back to his readers that helped me understand how they remained secretive and the ways to overcome. Although the content is hard to get through- it was a subject well addressed and the strength it took to overcome the feelings that remained.

Brave, compelling, compassionate

This has helped me broaden my perspective about British boarding schools and have more compassion for those who have suffered.

wonderful but sad

my ❤️ went out to charles....I wish he had told someone even Diana.... Those poor children

Excellent!

Author did such a great job describing his feelings, the physical setting of boarding school, and each one of the characters that were a part of that time in his life. These stories can never be told to often, people need to understand trauma and abuse. Thank you Sir for sharing your story.

Out of the past comes the future

Great narration! I want to say “great story” but that feels like a trivialization. This is a powerful recounting of a time and place hopefully arrested.
I fear events similar still continue all over this world. There is much to think about here.

Unbelievable cruelty!

The story is a sad one. These boys didn’t stand a chance. I wish Charles could’ve talked with one of the headmasters later in life to ask a simple question…why?

Sad and haunting

I was excited to see another book by Charles Spencer as I had read several of his other books and enjoyed his narrative and thorough research into a subject. I listened to this book over a two- day period while doing chores around my house and at times had to stop and catch myself due to the emotion I felt hearing his almost matter-of-fact telling of his and other boys' abuse. This story is shocking, but shouldn't be as we know this sort of thing has gone on for years. My best to Mr. Spencer for his bravery and for relaying it so honestly.

Beautifully written.

I loved his insight. I went to an English " public" school so
It was of particular interest to me.

Brave telling of one horrendous system

Not all authors are proficient at reading the text of their audiobooks. Charles Spencer is an author who provides an excellent audio telling of his autobiographical “A Very English School.” Having listened to several of his previous books, I have always enjoyed his tellings of his offerings on history. However, I have no idea how he managed to get through his reading of “A Very English School.” It must have taken many stops and starts in the process, but I believe no other narrator could do it justice.

How High Society view & handles children at the time.

Liked the sincerity of the
Writer while going through such painful memories. It also shows that titles & wealth not always give happiness.