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The Legacy of Hartlepool Hall
Ed Hartlepool has been living in self-imposed exile, but with a settlement regarding his inheritance looming, he must return to Hartlepool Hall. On his return, he discovers that his father has left him, along with the house, a 7 million tax bill, two massive overdrafts, an 80-year-old butler, and a country estate that is creaking at the seams.
280 pages, Hardcover
First published November 10, 2011
12 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
About the author
Paul Torday
15 books176 followersPaul Torday burst on to the literary scene in 2007 with his first novel, SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN, an immediate international bestseller that has been translated into 28 languages and has been made into a film starring Ewan McGregor, Kristin Scott Thomas and Emily Blunt. His subsequent novels, THE IRRESISTIBLE INHERITANCE OF WILBERFORCE, THE GIRL ON THE LANDING, THE HOPELESS LIFE OF CHARLIE SUMMERS, MORE THAN YOU CAN SAY, THE LEGACY OF HARTLEPOOL HALL and LIGHT SHINING IN THE FOREST, were all published to great critical acclaim. He was married with two sons by a previous marriage, had two stepsons, and lived close to the River North Tyne. He died at home in December 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
July 19, 2016
“His father, Simon Aylmer Francis Simmonds, the fourth Marquess of Hartlepool … had given Ed only two pieces of advice. The first was that if the opening sentence of a letter wasn’t interesting, then the rest of it didn’t deserve attention; ...a letter from Horace, the butler at Hartlepool Hall … began with the intriguing sentence: ‘A Lady Alice Birtley has come to stay with us, and I do not recollect that your Lordship left any instructions in respect of her visit’”
The Legacy of Hartlepool Hall is the sixth novel by award-winning British author, Paul Torday. Ed Simmonds inherited Hartlepool Hall when his father died, but then had to spend five years “non-dom” in the south of France while the trustees came to terms with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. “Ed’s father has followed a long family tradition of leaving his affairs in a dreadful tangle. The wealth of the Simmonds family had been colossal; it had survived generations of mismanagement”
Now that agreement has been reached, Ed is coming home, but not to the life to which he is accustomed. Assets are to be liquidated, property sold off, and still an enormous debt hangs over his head. And as if this is not enough to deal with, the elderly Lady Alice, a complete stranger to Ed, seems to have taken up residence in Hartlepool Hall.
Annabel Gazebee has been friends with Ed for years; she had secretly hoped that he would see her as more than a that, and help her escape from her tyrannical father, Colonel Marcus Gazebee. But now she is going out with Geoff Tarset, a property developer of whom her father loudly and frequently voices his disapproval. Geoff is eager to meet Ed: he is certain that they can do a deal that will be to their mutual benefit.
Torday examines the fate of the stately home whose heir inherits debt and responsibility that far outstrip income, as well as exploring an option for saving these national treasures whose upkeep in their original state becomes an unwieldy burden. Torday has his (rather obnoxious) architect offer an opinion (that he plainly does not share): “…archaic planning laws make it far too difficult to get rid of our old building stock”.
Torday explores subjects both topical and eternal: class, duty to ageing parents, loneliness and depression, independence, self-sufficiency and the burden of inheritance: “Ed suddenly realised that he was terrified of his own future. He knew that his education and upbringing had given him a somewhat specialised range of skills…he hadn’t the least idea of how his affairs had become such a dreadful, tangled, unsolvable mess…a long time ago one or two of them had made a lot of money; since then there had been no conspicuous family talent apart from spending it”
Torday’s characters are eccentric and yet engaging, and don’t always behave as expected. His plot may seem predictable at first, but he throws in a few unexpected twists that keep it interesting. Torday said he trying to find the “ultimate novel” and wrote compulsively: each of his seven novels is a different genre: The Legacy of Hartlepool Hall can probably be described as comic tragedy, the comedy being very black. This edition also features Reading Group Notes which include an interesting Q&A with the author. Characters from previous novels play a role in this novel, as Torday’s characters tend to do. This is another brilliant novel by Paul Torday: thought-provoking, funny and entertaining. 5★s
The Legacy of Hartlepool Hall is the sixth novel by award-winning British author, Paul Torday. Ed Simmonds inherited Hartlepool Hall when his father died, but then had to spend five years “non-dom” in the south of France while the trustees came to terms with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. “Ed’s father has followed a long family tradition of leaving his affairs in a dreadful tangle. The wealth of the Simmonds family had been colossal; it had survived generations of mismanagement”
Now that agreement has been reached, Ed is coming home, but not to the life to which he is accustomed. Assets are to be liquidated, property sold off, and still an enormous debt hangs over his head. And as if this is not enough to deal with, the elderly Lady Alice, a complete stranger to Ed, seems to have taken up residence in Hartlepool Hall.
Annabel Gazebee has been friends with Ed for years; she had secretly hoped that he would see her as more than a that, and help her escape from her tyrannical father, Colonel Marcus Gazebee. But now she is going out with Geoff Tarset, a property developer of whom her father loudly and frequently voices his disapproval. Geoff is eager to meet Ed: he is certain that they can do a deal that will be to their mutual benefit.
Torday examines the fate of the stately home whose heir inherits debt and responsibility that far outstrip income, as well as exploring an option for saving these national treasures whose upkeep in their original state becomes an unwieldy burden. Torday has his (rather obnoxious) architect offer an opinion (that he plainly does not share): “…archaic planning laws make it far too difficult to get rid of our old building stock”.
Torday explores subjects both topical and eternal: class, duty to ageing parents, loneliness and depression, independence, self-sufficiency and the burden of inheritance: “Ed suddenly realised that he was terrified of his own future. He knew that his education and upbringing had given him a somewhat specialised range of skills…he hadn’t the least idea of how his affairs had become such a dreadful, tangled, unsolvable mess…a long time ago one or two of them had made a lot of money; since then there had been no conspicuous family talent apart from spending it”
Torday’s characters are eccentric and yet engaging, and don’t always behave as expected. His plot may seem predictable at first, but he throws in a few unexpected twists that keep it interesting. Torday said he trying to find the “ultimate novel” and wrote compulsively: each of his seven novels is a different genre: The Legacy of Hartlepool Hall can probably be described as comic tragedy, the comedy being very black. This edition also features Reading Group Notes which include an interesting Q&A with the author. Characters from previous novels play a role in this novel, as Torday’s characters tend to do. This is another brilliant novel by Paul Torday: thought-provoking, funny and entertaining. 5★s
August 1, 2015
I loved this! There are parts of the story that are a bit unbelievable, but I wasn’t too worried about that, and that’s part of its charm anyway, I guess. There was a twist at the end that made it rather a sweet story.
I can’t really pinpoint what made this such an enjoyable read for me. Isn’t that typical - it’s generally easy to say what we don’t like about something, but harder to say why we do like something! But I know I’ll be continuing to read more of Paul Torday’s works.
I can’t really pinpoint what made this such an enjoyable read for me. Isn’t that typical - it’s generally easy to say what we don’t like about something, but harder to say why we do like something! But I know I’ll be continuing to read more of Paul Torday’s works.
February 13, 2024
'The Legacy Of Hartlepool Hall' gave me more to think about than I'd expected. It rose above simple satire, declined to take sides in the class war and delivered instead a very human picture of what a legacy from previous generations can do to those born into wealth that is steadily declining. It is hard for me to summon empathy for the struggles of a middle-aged man born into wealth, who has never done anything with his life, not even gained an understanding of the sources and limits of his wealth.
Ed Hartlepool is too bland a man to be dislikable and too lazy a man to garner much sympathy but Paul Torday succeeds in making him a man who is free of malice and greed and who may, eventually, build a life for himself over which he exerts some agency.
I enjoyed the quiet humour of the book exposes absurdities without poking fun at everyone I admired the way it calmly lays out the lives of the rich and those who feed on them, like a butterfly pinned to a board.
The book has some darker moments. One of the main characters goes through a trauma that I initially thought stole her sanity from her. Later, it seemed to me that the trauma revealed who she really was and what she wanted.
I had wondered if this was going to be a sort of comic thriller, with Ed discovering his business acumen and coming up with a plan to make everything better. Paul Torday had something else in mind.
Although it uses gentle humour throughout the book, 'The Legacy Of Hartlepool Hall' sets out to deliver a reflection on inherited wealth and the unsustainable expectations and duties that the current generation faces.
Ed's struggle to deal with the accumulated debts of the Hartlepool estate shows how, in the course of the last three generations, his family has actively declined to acquire the skills and work ethic that generated the fortune in the first place. The Hall that was built as a vanity project providing concrete evidence of what the family had achieved has become an atavistic burden that binds the family so tightly to the past that they are unable to build a future.
The book also looks at how the expectation of inherited wealth tests the character of the people receiving it. Ed finally comes to the realisation that he might enjoy the freedom that comes from letting go of Inost) of his wealth and living a (financially secure, work-free) middle-class life. One of his friends, who is also waiting to inherit wealth is effectively enslaved by the wait and eventually cracks under the stain.
This is a gentle, well-observed book populated with characters that I recognised and believed in, that, in a low key often humorous way, questions the benefits of transmitting substantial weakth across generations.
Ed Hartlepool is too bland a man to be dislikable and too lazy a man to garner much sympathy but Paul Torday succeeds in making him a man who is free of malice and greed and who may, eventually, build a life for himself over which he exerts some agency.
I enjoyed the quiet humour of the book exposes absurdities without poking fun at everyone I admired the way it calmly lays out the lives of the rich and those who feed on them, like a butterfly pinned to a board.
The book has some darker moments. One of the main characters goes through a trauma that I initially thought stole her sanity from her. Later, it seemed to me that the trauma revealed who she really was and what she wanted.
I had wondered if this was going to be a sort of comic thriller, with Ed discovering his business acumen and coming up with a plan to make everything better. Paul Torday had something else in mind.
Although it uses gentle humour throughout the book, 'The Legacy Of Hartlepool Hall' sets out to deliver a reflection on inherited wealth and the unsustainable expectations and duties that the current generation faces.
Ed's struggle to deal with the accumulated debts of the Hartlepool estate shows how, in the course of the last three generations, his family has actively declined to acquire the skills and work ethic that generated the fortune in the first place. The Hall that was built as a vanity project providing concrete evidence of what the family had achieved has become an atavistic burden that binds the family so tightly to the past that they are unable to build a future.
The book also looks at how the expectation of inherited wealth tests the character of the people receiving it. Ed finally comes to the realisation that he might enjoy the freedom that comes from letting go of Inost) of his wealth and living a (financially secure, work-free) middle-class life. One of his friends, who is also waiting to inherit wealth is effectively enslaved by the wait and eventually cracks under the stain.
This is a gentle, well-observed book populated with characters that I recognised and believed in, that, in a low key often humorous way, questions the benefits of transmitting substantial weakth across generations.
March 11, 2017
Dit boek kostte 2,50 op het Boekenfestijn.
December 3, 2011
I've read a couple of Torday's novels in the past and surprised myself by how much I enjoyed them as his books are not my usual sort of read.
The Legacy of Hartlepool Hall introduces us to a eclectic bunch of characters, headed up by Ed Hartlepool and ably assisted by Annabel Gazebee and Lady Alice Birtley. Ed has just returned to his ancestral home after a five year spell of living in exile in France. During those five years Ed has left his correspondence unread and ignored telephone calls so returning to find that the Hartlepool Hall estate is £7 million in the red comes as something as a shock to him. Another shock is Lady Alice, recently taken up residence at Hartlepool Hall, but something of a mysterious character. Annabel is one of the country 'set', an old friend who would like to be more than friends with him, who lives with her elderly, miserly father in the same village.
Paul Torday's writing and style is unique to him, he creates unusual characters and entertaining if sometimes almost farcical plots, but does it with great ease and the readability factor in his novel is very high.
At first the characters appear one-dimensional; poor little rich kids who've never worked and led a life of shooting, fishing, servants and gentry, and can appear foolish and mildly irritating. As the story progresses and Ed realises that he is about to lose the Hall, and his lifestyle and Annabel's life gets darker and darker, the more serious subject of mental illness is touched upon. The story becomes tragic and darker and poignant towards the end. Beautifully written, this story and the characters will remain with me for some time.
The Legacy of Hartlepool Hall introduces us to a eclectic bunch of characters, headed up by Ed Hartlepool and ably assisted by Annabel Gazebee and Lady Alice Birtley. Ed has just returned to his ancestral home after a five year spell of living in exile in France. During those five years Ed has left his correspondence unread and ignored telephone calls so returning to find that the Hartlepool Hall estate is £7 million in the red comes as something as a shock to him. Another shock is Lady Alice, recently taken up residence at Hartlepool Hall, but something of a mysterious character. Annabel is one of the country 'set', an old friend who would like to be more than friends with him, who lives with her elderly, miserly father in the same village.
Paul Torday's writing and style is unique to him, he creates unusual characters and entertaining if sometimes almost farcical plots, but does it with great ease and the readability factor in his novel is very high.
At first the characters appear one-dimensional; poor little rich kids who've never worked and led a life of shooting, fishing, servants and gentry, and can appear foolish and mildly irritating. As the story progresses and Ed realises that he is about to lose the Hall, and his lifestyle and Annabel's life gets darker and darker, the more serious subject of mental illness is touched upon. The story becomes tragic and darker and poignant towards the end. Beautifully written, this story and the characters will remain with me for some time.
February 14, 2013
Rather typical of Torday's recent novels, the fairly posh or landed gentry going through hard times and having something fairly sinister happening to them, while also being a bit of a commentary on the financial crisis. Which, to be fair, is a hell of a niche. Interesting that he states that this was the last of his novels with this crop of characters though, and that his next work will be something completely different, it seems that he's recognised that he's written himself into an early rut.
Anyway, it's quite well written, in the way that Torday always is. No flowery prose, no twisting textual flights of fantasy, it's all about the plot with Paul, and I quite like his crisp simplistic sentences which still manage to captivate the reader. The kind of thing which you can read in an airport, while talking to the people about you, and being in no danger of losing the narrative arc. Which, in this case, covers the burden of inheritance, from one man inheriting a country mansion and all its debts, and a lady who's inheritance is one of loneliness and depression via an over-bearing father. With much interlacing and interfacing between the two.
Slight, but pleasant. He does need a change of style though, because his "The Irresistible Inheritance of Wilberforce" said all this and much, much more, and remains the high-point of his writing career, so far the only novel of his which still retains a troubling resonance with me.
Anyway, it's quite well written, in the way that Torday always is. No flowery prose, no twisting textual flights of fantasy, it's all about the plot with Paul, and I quite like his crisp simplistic sentences which still manage to captivate the reader. The kind of thing which you can read in an airport, while talking to the people about you, and being in no danger of losing the narrative arc. Which, in this case, covers the burden of inheritance, from one man inheriting a country mansion and all its debts, and a lady who's inheritance is one of loneliness and depression via an over-bearing father. With much interlacing and interfacing between the two.
Slight, but pleasant. He does need a change of style though, because his "The Irresistible Inheritance of Wilberforce" said all this and much, much more, and remains the high-point of his writing career, so far the only novel of his which still retains a troubling resonance with me.
January 1, 2016
What a fabulous book! I haven't read anything by Paul Torday since Salmon Fishing in the Yeman and was reminded of it when I my dad read it recently. The following week I was exciting to find Torday's latest book on offer for review through Amazon Vine, and so selected it eagerly.
As I read The Legacy of Hartlepool Hall I remembered with fondness the slight excentricisty of Torday's characters but also of the plot. This story was a real page turner as the charaters wound me into the story and I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. With only 50 pages to go I could see somethings that were fitting into place, but couldn't say with any certainty how the loose ends were going to be tied up.
I'm going to go and get hold of Torday's other books now, as I've some catching up to do.
If you enjoyed Salmon Fishing, this is a very different story but still has the same easy going, slightly tongue in cheek style that you'll enjoy.
As I read The Legacy of Hartlepool Hall I remembered with fondness the slight excentricisty of Torday's characters but also of the plot. This story was a real page turner as the charaters wound me into the story and I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. With only 50 pages to go I could see somethings that were fitting into place, but couldn't say with any certainty how the loose ends were going to be tied up.
I'm going to go and get hold of Torday's other books now, as I've some catching up to do.
If you enjoyed Salmon Fishing, this is a very different story but still has the same easy going, slightly tongue in cheek style that you'll enjoy.
September 6, 2016
This book centres around the problem of huge estates and ancestral homes in England. They suck up the money as Ed finds out when he inherits from his Marquis father. The book moves quickly along but has quite a heavy emphasis on the financial side of things which didn't always interest me. By the same author as 'Salmon Fishing in the Yemen'. Worth reading.
May 8, 2020
I usually enjoy Paul Torday's book although I have read a couple that I couldn't finish. I'm glad to say I really liked this one.
The characters were sympathetic and also "neck-throttling frustrating" at the same time. It's hard to imagine lives of such wealth and privilege. Ed is the main character and has been living in France for 5 years. During that time he doesn't actively participate in his own life but rather ignores phone calls and doesn't open letters and there is an entourage of people who make his life run smoothly. He returns to England because his home, Hartlepool Hall is in debt.
There are other characters who the story also focuses on and I did enjoy how these introduced plot twists in the novel very much. I like Paul Torday's writing style and his wit and humour which radiates to me through the pages.
My favourite scene was when Ed went to the bank to ask for a loan for 2 million pounds! Having never lived in the "real" world he didn't realise how ludicrous his question was!
The characters were sympathetic and also "neck-throttling frustrating" at the same time. It's hard to imagine lives of such wealth and privilege. Ed is the main character and has been living in France for 5 years. During that time he doesn't actively participate in his own life but rather ignores phone calls and doesn't open letters and there is an entourage of people who make his life run smoothly. He returns to England because his home, Hartlepool Hall is in debt.
There are other characters who the story also focuses on and I did enjoy how these introduced plot twists in the novel very much. I like Paul Torday's writing style and his wit and humour which radiates to me through the pages.
My favourite scene was when Ed went to the bank to ask for a loan for 2 million pounds! Having never lived in the "real" world he didn't realise how ludicrous his question was!
January 2, 2012
This is the first book by Paul Torday that I have read. I have 'Salmon Fishing in the Yemen' sitting in a boxed set in the cupboard. After enjoying 'The Legacy of Hartlepool Hall' so much, It will be getting read very soon.
Upon reading the back cover of the book you could be forgiven for thinking that this book would be full of characters that you could not empathise with or be interested in reading about. Wrong. Paul Torday’s easy writing style draws you in and you actually begin to feel for the characters or begin to loathe them in the property developer’s case.
Unlike a lot of books where you can often second guess some of the plot, you don’t expect the twists that Paul Torday incorporates. In fact I just expected it to be a smooth read from start to finish, so the plot changes were a pleasant surprise.
I would also have liked the book to have an epilogue follow up one year later, but it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the book.
Upon reading the back cover of the book you could be forgiven for thinking that this book would be full of characters that you could not empathise with or be interested in reading about. Wrong. Paul Torday’s easy writing style draws you in and you actually begin to feel for the characters or begin to loathe them in the property developer’s case.
Unlike a lot of books where you can often second guess some of the plot, you don’t expect the twists that Paul Torday incorporates. In fact I just expected it to be a smooth read from start to finish, so the plot changes were a pleasant surprise.
I would also have liked the book to have an epilogue follow up one year later, but it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the book.
June 3, 2012
I couldn't put this book down. It's quirky, well-written and a real page turner. I think it has something to say about privilege v. hard work, sexual morality over the years ie Is it OK to find romance where money is, and the nature of loss. Despite all this, it's funny! I would urge anyone to read it - it's not a long book, and has left me determined to read his other book "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen"
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July 10, 2012This read like an attempt to be PG Wodehouse, but for me it didn't work. It was a good premise, it sounded like it could be fun, but the humour was pretty bland, and more than anything the writing was very passive. It's a quick read, it's reasonably entertaining if you want something fairly predictable you don't have to think about, but the characters are quite cheesy and I found myself skipping bits towards the end.
October 14, 2012
Well I quite enjoyed this to start with.
Looked forward to the different plot strands coming together.
Would Ed's life become more normal? Would the hall be saved?
Who was Lady Alice really?
But somewhere along the line it all became a bit unpleasant and meaningless.
The story just seems to have petered out with everything done in a rush near the end.
I just felt it was a waste of so many story threads.
Looked forward to the different plot strands coming together.
Would Ed's life become more normal? Would the hall be saved?
Who was Lady Alice really?
But somewhere along the line it all became a bit unpleasant and meaningless.
The story just seems to have petered out with everything done in a rush near the end.
I just felt it was a waste of so many story threads.
April 23, 2012
Weird. Odd story without anything to recommend it.
July 3, 2017
The Legacy of Hartlepool Hall is quite an interesting read. It is laden with vivid descriptions of setting and rich characterization. In the midst of the somber mood that Ed is drawn into, an element of dark humour is deliberately interwoven in the plot to perhaps provide distraction and suspense to the reader. The mysterious guest in the form of Lady Anne who suddenly appears in Hartlepool Hall after the owner's death is reminiscent of Du Maurier's storyline in 'My Cousin Rachel'. Torday has successfully dealt with the theme of generation decay in the novel in which the previous generation of landed gentry has lived extravagantly, leaving its future heir to bear the brunt of their excessive habits. The novel also touches on the theme of the modern versus the archaic, rigid familial duties versus the life of independence and materialism versus family and kinship. I thought the ending could have been better written. It seems as if the writer has ended the story in a rush, in the way that he has summarized what has happened to the butler who has been dismissed from his duties, Annabelle Ed's friend) and Ed himself. Despite this, Torday has effectively surprised his readers about Ed's relationship with Lady Anna and the reason for her mysterious visit to the residence has been revealed towards the end, providing a neat closure for the story.
July 13, 2017
An entertaining read with some very interesting characters, vividly portrayed. The plot follows an oft-told story of the family estate falling on hard times, but far from being a predictable outcome, the plot twists and turns surprisingly during the course of the novel. Ed Hartlepool I expected to loathe but ended up having much empathy for, and as for the presence of Lady Alice, well who is she and where has she come from? You will have to read the book to find that out :)
The property developer intent on "saving" Hartlepool Hall, and ultimately of course increasing his own bank balance, is a loathesome character full of dark nastiness. Annabelle is so bogged down with her father's controlling will and meanness that she can't see a way out, other than to marry Ed, but it appears Ed has other ideas...
A well written book with a surprising, and most unexpected but almost anti-climatic ending.
The property developer intent on "saving" Hartlepool Hall, and ultimately of course increasing his own bank balance, is a loathesome character full of dark nastiness. Annabelle is so bogged down with her father's controlling will and meanness that she can't see a way out, other than to marry Ed, but it appears Ed has other ideas...
A well written book with a surprising, and most unexpected but almost anti-climatic ending.
September 12, 2021
Despite finding Torday's The Irresistible Inheritance Of Wilberforce not very enjoyable (because of the subject matter, not the writing which I think was brilliant) I LOVED the legacy of Hartlepool Hall. For me, Torday's real strength is his ability to create other worlds with compelling, fleshy characters that seem to be both caricatures and complex at the same time. I was completely immersed in the world of Hartlepool Hall and the ugly, endearing, hopeless characters that tried to navigate the pressures, obligations and emotions of their lives. It almost hits that fantasy escapist spot in its ability to transport you into a different place and time ..
April 24, 2024
艾德‧哈特爾浦的祖先花了幾百年從挖礦工人、投資發財然後受封成侯爵，富有了好幾代也揮霍了好幾代，從來不需要也沒必要搞清楚自己家族財務狀況的艾德，在繼承了位於英格蘭北部的哈特爾浦府邸後，發現同時也繼承了天文數字的債務，天天接到的雪片般來信，通通來自各方討債人馬。
接著身邊繞了一些狀似要幫忙解決財務危機，實則則是要趁機拆掉大莊園，重蓋豪華房舍的投機建商、銀行團、建築師。艾德最後還是失去了祖先留下的大豪宅，搬到農莊的小農舍，開始自立自強的獨居生活──生平第一次上街添購新家需要的電器、用具；開始要學做菜；上超市買東西……
「…他這才發現原來他這麼多年來都是活得渾渾噩噩，儘管養尊處優，卻也始終渾渾噩噩。他從來不曾做決策，也從沒有下結論。現在他活在不同的世界，一想到這個，他臉上浮現微笑，也許這場厄運就能帶來後福。…艾德的腦海閃過一件又一件能做的事情，新生活有了無限可能。他的思緒忙碌奔騰，覺得這輩子再也沒有時間無聊了，他終於掌握自己的人生了。」(pp.271，272)
故事中有個和艾德一起長大，活在古怪上校老爸淫威下安娜貝拉，已經31歲的她，期待能嫁一個帶她進入理想生活的丈夫，所以儘管對生活不滿，卻也只能忍耐並期待將來會更好。然而逆來順受就可以得到善果嗎？當然沒有，最終還是要對自己的人生負責—做決定、承擔後果。
作者對上流社會的觀察，絕對是多年來身歷其境的成果。充滿英式幽默的筆調，讓可以變成悲慘的畫面，總是帶著鑲邊光亮，知道再等那麼一下下，烏雲會散盡，就可以瞥見藍天，燦藍燦藍的天空。
接著身邊繞了一些狀似要幫忙解決財務危機，實則則是要趁機拆掉大莊園，重蓋豪華房舍的投機建商、銀行團、建築師。艾德最後還是失去了祖先留下的大豪宅，搬到農莊的小農舍，開始自立自強的獨居生活──生平第一次上街添購新家需要的電器、用具；開始要學做菜；上超市買東西……
「…他這才發現原來他這麼多年來都是活得渾渾噩噩，儘管養尊處優，卻也始終渾渾噩噩。他從來不曾做決策，也從沒有下結論。現在他活在不同的世界，一想到這個，他臉上浮現微笑，也許這場厄運就能帶來後福。…艾德的腦海閃過一件又一件能做的事情，新生活有了無限可能。他的思緒忙碌奔騰，覺得這輩子再也沒有時間無聊了，他終於掌握自己的人生了。」(pp.271，272)
故事中有個和艾德一起長大，活在古怪上校老爸淫威下安娜貝拉，已經31歲的她，期待能嫁一個帶她進入理想生活的丈夫，所以儘管對生活不滿，卻也只能忍耐並期待將來會更好。然而逆來順受就可以得到善果嗎？當然沒有，最終還是要對自己的人生負責—做決定、承擔後果。
作者對上流社會的觀察，絕對是多年來身歷其境的成果。充滿英式幽默的筆調，讓可以變成悲慘的畫面，總是帶著鑲邊光亮，知道再等那麼一下下，烏雲會散盡，就可以瞥見藍天，燦藍燦藍的天空。
July 23, 2020
I rate this book highly. Not like some books that are well written, very descriptive but with very little activity there was loads going on. Where other stories follow a path that you can see a mile off, this was unpredictable, thought provoking, with great characters, not too heavy but not lightweight and very easy to read.
I’ve ready a few of Paul Torday’s books now and what I like about them is that stuff happens. It might not be what you want to happen, or what you’re expecting to happen ..... but stuff goes on.
I’ve ready a few of Paul Torday’s books now and what I like about them is that stuff happens. It might not be what you want to happen, or what you’re expecting to happen ..... but stuff goes on.
October 16, 2017
Questo romanzo è stata una sorpresa, anche se non avevo davvero delle aspettative. Decisamente il succo del libro non è la trama, di per sè non molto consistente, ma lo sviluppo (o la mancanza di sviluppo) dei personaggi.
Anche se le premesse possono sembrare poca cosa, questo romanzo mi ha tenuta incollata ad ogni pagina con il suo stile frizzante e disincantato. Paul Torday è davvero all'altezza della sua fama.
Anche se le premesse possono sembrare poca cosa, questo romanzo mi ha tenuta incollata ad ogni pagina con il suo stile frizzante e disincantato. Paul Torday è davvero all'altezza della sua fama.
April 8, 2019
God, Torday’s books are depressing. I bought them all after reading ‘Wilberforce’, again a thoroughly depressing affair. But they’re real (though perhaps a tad far-fetched eg Alice).
Not every story has a Hollywood Ending though. Sometimes life is shit. And sometimes people want to punish themselves. I guess that’s why I’ll finish the collection; they’re all good little reads and who knows, maybe one will will end in sunshine.
Not every story has a Hollywood Ending though. Sometimes life is shit. And sometimes people want to punish themselves. I guess that’s why I’ll finish the collection; they’re all good little reads and who knows, maybe one will will end in sunshine.
August 22, 2017
A thoroughly enjoyable read. Although most of the players were characatures, they we believable and likeable. The tale itself is a simple one, a little far fetched at times, but moving along at a canter and with a satisfactory ending. Well done Paul T. Such a shame that we shan't be seeing your name on a cover ever again.
November 5, 2017
I enjoyed immersing myself in the grand settings and discovering the characters’ many weaknesses on the way. It was sad in parts as we learned more about Ed’s family and why he was the way he was. In the end, the story was about transformation and letting go.
March 6, 2018
Odd book which I sort of enjoyed but there were no characters to like. All had flaws and I found it disturbing not to have even one person to latch on to...except maybe Lady Alice. Glad I read it though!
March 12, 2017
Excellent romp
September 9, 2017
Disappointing Easy read, a bit far fetched, doesn't compare with Salmon fishing in the Yemen.
July 15, 2018
Not my fave of his books but I can’t fault Paul Torday as an author. Such a shame he’s not about to write any more!!!
November 9, 2018
Nicely written, but not much happens.
January 12, 2019
Read this while I was sick in bed before Christmas. Cheered me up. Enjoyable read.
April 14, 2019
Engaging book, well written. Plot and ending a little dark and dismal!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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