Comments on: Jane Gardam’s Old Filth

By: Carol Anita Ryan

Carol Anita Ryan — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:37:24 +0000

The title of this masterpiece is so off-putting I would never have selected it. Thank goodness a member of my book group urged us to read it. Almost every page surprised, enlightened, or mesmerized me with a brilliant passage. This is a masterpiece of a novel!

By: Elizabeth Krall

Elizabeth Krall — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 01:31:36 +0000

We are reading Old Filth for this month’s book club. We have both men and women in our group. I am not sure how everyone will like it but so far so good. I love Jane Gardham and found her by accident and ended up reading many of her books. I try to stay away from typical best sellers and make our group stretch a little. Somehow I have become the benevolent dictator in our group. I love this book. The characters are so well drawn. I hope anyone out there sees this thread and adds it to their must read list.

By: Alan Anderson

Alan Anderson — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 19:35:26 +0000

After turning through the pages of Edward Feathers life, the fascination of every page of the sequel “Man in the Wooden Hat” has made the “Old Filth” a reread. Perhaps one of the best of a long line of UK authors from around the world. These two titles should be published as a set and included on everyone’s top 100 list. One day J. Gardam will receive credit for being the truly quality author that she is.

By: Carole Calhoun

Carole Calhoun — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 16:57:26 +0000

Our book club will be discussing Old Filth tomorrow. I thoroughly enjoyed this satisfying book and look forward to reading more of Gardam’s work.

By: judy sherrard

judy sherrard — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:07:16 +0000

Just finished Man in the Wooden Hat (after reading Old Filth as well) and have the same impulse to grab people and made them read these books. They’re the best writing I’ve encountered in a long, long time. They’re very reminiscent of Mr. and Mrs. Bridge in that they examine a marriage from many facets.

By: Mary Ellen Quinn

Mary Ellen Quinn — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:57:56 +0000

Edward Feathers(aka Old Filth)appears in the title story in a collection called The People on Privilege Hill, published in 2008.

By: norman jensen

norman jensen — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:17:56 +0000

I understand that the character of old Filth appears in another of Gardam’s novels besides Old Filth and The Man in the Wooden Hat. Can someone tell me what it is?

By: Book Group Buzz - Discussion of Book Clubs, Reading Lists, and Literary News - Booklist Online » Blog Archive » The Man in the Wooden Hat

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:38:20 +0000

[...] have written a couple of times about Jane Gardam’s Old Filth. The last time I did this, Mary Ellen was good enough to add in the comments that a prequel/sequel of sorts was forthcoming. [...]

By: Mary Ellen

Mary Ellen — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:36:54 +0000

Cate–Other authors you could try in the witty, funny, and clever vein are David Lodge, Muriel Spark, Barbara Pym, Molly Keane, and Elizabeth Jolley. Also John Mortimer, who is best known for his Rumpole series of mysteries, but has written several other novels as well.

By: Cate Watson

Cate Watson — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:02:13 +0000

Just read Jane Gardam’s Old Filth and then God on the Rocks. Now that I have discovered her, are there any other writers (don’t have to be female writers) as witty, funny, clever and who tell such good stories? I am a life-long (over 60 now) mystery fan, but the inevitable has finally happened: I am tired of murder mysteries – and have probably read most of them. I would like to read more books like Ms. Gardam’s. Incidentally, my mother was an “Empire Orphan” – so Old Filth even more interesting to me. Will be buying The Man in the Wooden Hat as soon as I can find a copy. No chance of my starting a book club or joining one,unless there is one in Leslieville in Toronto, Canada, in which case, please get in touch, but internet advice always welcome. Regards to all Gardam lovers! CW