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Outrageous Fortune: Growing Up at Leeds Castle
In his stunning memoir, Outrageous Fortune , Anthony Russell takes us inside his childhood growing up at Leeds Castle, with luxury and opulence few can imagine, and how he found his way in a changing society.
"I was lucky with lineage. Money, and lots of it, appeared to grow on trees, especially those which adorned the Leeds Castle parkland. Ancestors with glowing titles and extraordinary accomplishments filled the history books, but there would be consequences for being handed everything of a material nature on a plate, with no clear indication of what one might be expected to do with such good fortune."
Leeds Castle has long been hailed as the loveliest castle in the world. Originally built in the twelfth century as a Norman stronghold, the castle once housed Kings and Queens, but fell into disrepair for nearly a century, until Anthony Russell's grandmother, Lady Baillie, purchased it in 1926 and restored the fortress to its former glory. It was in the castle's fairytale setting, surrounded by a moat and acres of sprawling grounds, that Anthony spent his childhood in the 1950s.
It was a life of spectacular beauty and privilege, but for a shy boy often lonely and fraught with the fear of breaking some unwritten rule of the Castle Way. As Anthony reveals in his extraordinarily vivid and frank memoir, such a childhood was perhaps not the best preparation for modern life beyond the castle's walls. By the end of the 1960s, the polite reserve of the Castle Way was starting to give way to unconventional music, manners, and social freedom-simultaneously alluring and alarming to a young man who had grown up in splendid isolation in a world that would soon be gone.
"I was lucky with lineage. Money, and lots of it, appeared to grow on trees, especially those which adorned the Leeds Castle parkland. Ancestors with glowing titles and extraordinary accomplishments filled the history books, but there would be consequences for being handed everything of a material nature on a plate, with no clear indication of what one might be expected to do with such good fortune."
Leeds Castle has long been hailed as the loveliest castle in the world. Originally built in the twelfth century as a Norman stronghold, the castle once housed Kings and Queens, but fell into disrepair for nearly a century, until Anthony Russell's grandmother, Lady Baillie, purchased it in 1926 and restored the fortress to its former glory. It was in the castle's fairytale setting, surrounded by a moat and acres of sprawling grounds, that Anthony spent his childhood in the 1950s.
It was a life of spectacular beauty and privilege, but for a shy boy often lonely and fraught with the fear of breaking some unwritten rule of the Castle Way. As Anthony reveals in his extraordinarily vivid and frank memoir, such a childhood was perhaps not the best preparation for modern life beyond the castle's walls. By the end of the 1960s, the polite reserve of the Castle Way was starting to give way to unconventional music, manners, and social freedom-simultaneously alluring and alarming to a young man who had grown up in splendid isolation in a world that would soon be gone.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published July 23, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
February 4, 2014
This book was a bit of a disappointment to me. It was interesting, but seemed to dwell for the longest time on the author's young life between the ages of 5 and maybe 10. Then it seemed to gloss over the remaining years. Additionally, it was hard keep the genealogy straight. It would have been nice to have a small family tree somewhere in the book. And once the author went away to school, there was even less of a description of castle life. There were some pretty photos of the castle and both of his grandmothers sounded like very interesting women. Too bad there wasn't more about them both in the book.
July 20, 2016
It was mildly interesting. I don't think the author is in any danger of getting a Pulitzer - or any other award. The only reason I continued reading it was that I was sure it was going to go somewhere, but it never did.
The time line of the story jumped about but always seemed to come back to about the time he was 8 or 10. Just when you'd think he was getting beyond his childhood, he would revert back to his childhood.
It reads as a self-published memoir. The author mentioned his failure at the two careers chosen by his father and then alluded to his failure to achieve status as a musician. I guess writing his memoirs is the latest effort. Perhaps it's cathartic for him - some sort of a psychological exercise. I can't help but wonder what he's done for the past 30 years.
It was a sad commentary on the life (or lack, thereof) of a child growing up in extreme opulence. Throughout the book I kept thinking he was an only child as he was so totally alone. But every now and then, he would bring his two older brothers into the story, reminding the reader of them. Once or twice he mentioned his younger sister. They all seemed to have a good relationship, but his story was one of painful loneliness and a complete incapacity to enjoy or achieve anything. I didn't see any love in the book. His nanny showed him love, but everyone else seemed to be in love with "the castle way" and had no room in their hearts for people or family. According to what he wrote, he had no friends, no playmates, not even a dog or cat!! He had no hobbies (until he discovered music which he was then denied) nor was he even taken anywhere like a museum or sports event or concert. I find it hard to believe that his life was so totally void of those things which make "life."
What a tragedy.
The time line of the story jumped about but always seemed to come back to about the time he was 8 or 10. Just when you'd think he was getting beyond his childhood, he would revert back to his childhood.
It reads as a self-published memoir. The author mentioned his failure at the two careers chosen by his father and then alluded to his failure to achieve status as a musician. I guess writing his memoirs is the latest effort. Perhaps it's cathartic for him - some sort of a psychological exercise. I can't help but wonder what he's done for the past 30 years.
It was a sad commentary on the life (or lack, thereof) of a child growing up in extreme opulence. Throughout the book I kept thinking he was an only child as he was so totally alone. But every now and then, he would bring his two older brothers into the story, reminding the reader of them. Once or twice he mentioned his younger sister. They all seemed to have a good relationship, but his story was one of painful loneliness and a complete incapacity to enjoy or achieve anything. I didn't see any love in the book. His nanny showed him love, but everyone else seemed to be in love with "the castle way" and had no room in their hearts for people or family. According to what he wrote, he had no friends, no playmates, not even a dog or cat!! He had no hobbies (until he discovered music which he was then denied) nor was he even taken anywhere like a museum or sports event or concert. I find it hard to believe that his life was so totally void of those things which make "life."
What a tragedy.
March 25, 2015
This is by far the most indulgent and narcissistic autobiography I've ever read. It is a collection of rather disjointed memories with a forced theme of "I was so spoiled and negatively affected by all this" without actually ever showing any of that, so really it seemed to just drift from one memory and then suddenly you're smack dab in the middle of another with little warning or context. I, like many others who pick this up (I assume), was interested in the actual caste life, less so about the author's first detailed experience with a prostitute or the background of the girls he played with as preschoolers.
There were certainly some interesting bits in there, but overall it seemed very much to be full off too many uninteresting details and no structural editing.
There were certainly some interesting bits in there, but overall it seemed very much to be full off too many uninteresting details and no structural editing.
August 17, 2014
I picked this up at the library because I enjoy the British aristocracy and always am interested in the lives of those who lived in great historical houses. But this guy should have paid more attention in school. It was a rambling tale with little continuity and few actual stories about the castle.
Read
November 6, 2013Good for fans of Downton Abbey.
January 4, 2014
Boring...
January 7, 2014
I feel bad giving a memoir only 2 stars. But it was pretty boring.
May 4, 2014
Ho hum. Name dropping of people I've never heard of and just ok stories. I felt bad for the author but didn't really connect with him.
April 15, 2024
This was an interesting read, if only for the author's unique position and perspective of having grown up in luxury and privilege at Leeds Castle. He does a very good job of describing living under "the castle way" and using that as his theme throughout. Though written in 2013 (I believe), I was left wondering a bit more about how his upbringing had affected his adult life, as he practically skips from completing his schooling to revisit the castle as an adult (in 2009, I believe it was). He does an excellent job at describing his thoughts, impressions, and observations while growing up, but then it all just wraps up rather quickly. Maybe that was a bit too personal or just not within the scope of this memoir, wanting only to focus on his growing up years. In any event, it was a quick read and held interest, as his chapters aren't too long or filled with too much description, though there is a lot of that, which made me wonder at how he remembered such details as a child and all these years into adulthood. Maybe revisiting the castle before writing this book helped him flesh out such things. All in all, I am glad my husband passed it along to me (after he'd read it, making his own highlights, as well as circling/correcting several writing errors that should have been caught in the editing/proofreading stage--unfortunately, that is par for the course these days, and we notice such things as that is what we do as a side business: proofreading and editing).
September 30, 2020
A peek into a bygone era
In the musical, “My Fair Lady,” the Professor demands to know, “Why can’t the English teach their children how to speak?”
Anthony Russell seems to ask the same, though his question goes well beyond diction and comportment. Great wealth brought luxuries of privacy to the extent that family members lived parallel lives, where communication was best served emotionally sterilized. “The Castle Way” is not so different from any other, well-to-do family where the parents are unhappily married, where there is a lot of drinking and one/or both is cheating on their spouse. The children are shunted aside, given little guidance, as they become hypersensitive to tensions while simultaneously being emotionally stifled. I hope the author learns to forgive himself of his past and to find comfort in the present.
In the musical, “My Fair Lady,” the Professor demands to know, “Why can’t the English teach their children how to speak?”
Anthony Russell seems to ask the same, though his question goes well beyond diction and comportment. Great wealth brought luxuries of privacy to the extent that family members lived parallel lives, where communication was best served emotionally sterilized. “The Castle Way” is not so different from any other, well-to-do family where the parents are unhappily married, where there is a lot of drinking and one/or both is cheating on their spouse. The children are shunted aside, given little guidance, as they become hypersensitive to tensions while simultaneously being emotionally stifled. I hope the author learns to forgive himself of his past and to find comfort in the present.
November 15, 2021
I enjoyed the author's writing and sensibilities as far as they were offered. In general I enjoy books like this one where you can get lost in the old world that only recently collapsed. I also like getting a peak into such a different lifestyle, that of the ultimately privileged which has such a unique influence on their psychological perspectives.
Like others have mentioned here I would have appreciated less detail on some stories and more reflections than there were from Anthony about how he now looks at his childhood and his current psychological development as he was shaped by the non-castle ways.
Like others have mentioned here I would have appreciated less detail on some stories and more reflections than there were from Anthony about how he now looks at his childhood and his current psychological development as he was shaped by the non-castle ways.
December 22, 2022
Excellent insight into a lost world
This book allowed me greater insight into the forming of the English upper class character during the early to mid 20th century. While personal in nature, the author never sank into over sentimentality or longing nostalgia. Anthony Russell's recollections of his early life are fascinating. I saw a recent interview with the author and was struck by his openness and generosity of spirit.
This book allowed me greater insight into the forming of the English upper class character during the early to mid 20th century. While personal in nature, the author never sank into over sentimentality or longing nostalgia. Anthony Russell's recollections of his early life are fascinating. I saw a recent interview with the author and was struck by his openness and generosity of spirit.
April 21, 2025
"Outrageous Fortune" is a warm account of the author's privileged upbringing in a wealthy family, splitting his time between London and his grandmother's Leeds Castle house. There are no great surprises here, as Russell seems to drift through life, rarely having much input on the direction it would take. It's a pleasant read, but don't expect comic adventures like the Mitford sisters.
Read
December 14, 20172017-I expected it to be better. The best parts were the sections focusing on the author's actual life at the castle, and his family history (including his two grandmothers' interesting lives). The rest was meandering and boring, and the author came off as a rather self-involved brat.
November 27, 2018
An interesting and well-written description of life for the British peerage after WWII.
Read
January 6, 20222.5
January 18, 2024
The author had a story, but not the skills to write it.
March 6, 2024
Fascinating to read how those with fortunes live in the circle of Dukes , Lords, etc. In England.
October 9, 2025
Interesting
It was interesting to read about life in a castle. The formality of his writing reminded me of days gone by when English people spoke eloquently.
It was interesting to read about life in a castle. The formality of his writing reminded me of days gone by when English people spoke eloquently.
May 20, 2014
An autobiography about growing up in Leeds Castle in England and taking it all for granted.
My Take
The memories are from a child’s perspective, and a shy one at that. It reads like a sanitized version of a dysfunctional childhood, all very surface with little revealed. Sorry, read that as “understated”.
Oh, perhaps that’s not a fair comment, but I grew irritated with Russell harping on about how living at Leeds Castle and having everything done for him didn’t prepare him for the real world. No kidding. What bugged me was Russell never gave any examples of how this screwed things up. It was so generalized.
As for his outrageous fortune in living and growing up in such a fabulous setting, that’s all it was…a frame. There was nothing substantial inside it. His nanny was more of a parent to him than his own parents or his grandmothers. In spite of living with his maternal grandmother, he reckons he only actually spoke to her a handful of times. How sad is that?
As fabulous as the house was, I didn’t feel as if Russell appreciated the history of where he grew up. Instead, lol, it was a child’s concerns and fears, which were all too similar to children growing up at any social level, although I think most children at the lower levels had it better with parents and grandparents who spent time with their kids, compared to what Russell was given. Yes, he’s never had to worry about paying the rent or affording food, but he’s never had the love or interactions one would expect from a family.
I regret that his parents ignored so much of what could have benefited him as opposed to what’s always been done. It certainly sounded as if there was no interest in helping Anthony find purpose or find him playmates, and instead he spent his days with Nanny.
He does mention the people who were guests at the castle, frequent and occasional, the famous, the political, and merely noble. He refers to the perpetual bachelors, a euphemism for gay, who paid court to his grandmother. How his grandmother’s “court” spent their year, the poor treatment meted out to his mother, his own experiences at boarding school.
His father’s mother, Granny A, sounds like a single-minded rebel, a poor one compared to Granny B, but much more real. He mentions that she insisted there be no sex when Granny A married his grandfather, and I find that a truly odd insistence. Why would John Russell, Anthony’s grandfather, even marry a woman who didn’t want to produce children? I thought that was always the be-all, end-all for the aristocracy? Producing an heir?
The Cover
The cover is sweet with a faded family photograph of Anthony and his brothers in front of Leeds Castle: David on his bike and Anthony leaning on the toy car in which James is sitting. A nice blend of the normal with the grand.
The title is how Anthony sees his childhood, a bit of Outrageous Fortune.
My Take
The memories are from a child’s perspective, and a shy one at that. It reads like a sanitized version of a dysfunctional childhood, all very surface with little revealed. Sorry, read that as “understated”.
Oh, perhaps that’s not a fair comment, but I grew irritated with Russell harping on about how living at Leeds Castle and having everything done for him didn’t prepare him for the real world. No kidding. What bugged me was Russell never gave any examples of how this screwed things up. It was so generalized.
As for his outrageous fortune in living and growing up in such a fabulous setting, that’s all it was…a frame. There was nothing substantial inside it. His nanny was more of a parent to him than his own parents or his grandmothers. In spite of living with his maternal grandmother, he reckons he only actually spoke to her a handful of times. How sad is that?
As fabulous as the house was, I didn’t feel as if Russell appreciated the history of where he grew up. Instead, lol, it was a child’s concerns and fears, which were all too similar to children growing up at any social level, although I think most children at the lower levels had it better with parents and grandparents who spent time with their kids, compared to what Russell was given. Yes, he’s never had to worry about paying the rent or affording food, but he’s never had the love or interactions one would expect from a family.
I regret that his parents ignored so much of what could have benefited him as opposed to what’s always been done. It certainly sounded as if there was no interest in helping Anthony find purpose or find him playmates, and instead he spent his days with Nanny.
He does mention the people who were guests at the castle, frequent and occasional, the famous, the political, and merely noble. He refers to the perpetual bachelors, a euphemism for gay, who paid court to his grandmother. How his grandmother’s “court” spent their year, the poor treatment meted out to his mother, his own experiences at boarding school.
His father’s mother, Granny A, sounds like a single-minded rebel, a poor one compared to Granny B, but much more real. He mentions that she insisted there be no sex when Granny A married his grandfather, and I find that a truly odd insistence. Why would John Russell, Anthony’s grandfather, even marry a woman who didn’t want to produce children? I thought that was always the be-all, end-all for the aristocracy? Producing an heir?
The Cover
The cover is sweet with a faded family photograph of Anthony and his brothers in front of Leeds Castle: David on his bike and Anthony leaning on the toy car in which James is sitting. A nice blend of the normal with the grand.
The title is how Anthony sees his childhood, a bit of Outrageous Fortune.
June 10, 2023
This was really interesting, though I didn't finish it. I liked learning about the castle, the two very different grandmothers, and the life of the rich in England. I found it hard to believe that this four- and five-year-old child could remember so many detailed accounts. After a while, I grew bored. There was one interesting statement early on that the author made that made me want to keep reading, something about his not realizing the responsibility of having such a fortune, something like that. I was halfway through, however, and he was still five years old!
I skipped to the third to last chapter to see what this "responsibility" might have been. That chapter told in detail of his losing his virginity to a prostitute. Quite eye-opening, though probably unnecessary. He finishes the book and he's still young, looking for a job. I don't know what I was expecting, maybe an old man telling us with what grave responsibilities come with wealth. I guess it's a young author! I hope he writes another book when he's sixty!
My favorite bit was his telling of his mother and a man sitting down to watch him sing his favorite song and how they made over him and the effect it had on him. Very touching and inspiring!
I skipped to the third to last chapter to see what this "responsibility" might have been. That chapter told in detail of his losing his virginity to a prostitute. Quite eye-opening, though probably unnecessary. He finishes the book and he's still young, looking for a job. I don't know what I was expecting, maybe an old man telling us with what grave responsibilities come with wealth. I guess it's a young author! I hope he writes another book when he's sixty!
My favorite bit was his telling of his mother and a man sitting down to watch him sing his favorite song and how they made over him and the effect it had on him. Very touching and inspiring!
January 15, 2015
Author Anthony Russell recalls his childhood in the 1950s, living at Leeds Castle, the home of his grandmother, Lady Baillie. The castle, once home to kings and queens, and a place of opulence and luxury, had a moat as well as several thousand acres of park and farmland. There were 50 people employed full-time to keep the estate running smoothly. Yet Russell’s childhood was sheltered and quite lonely. There were unwritten rules and traditions that had to be upheld – the Castle Way, or how things were done. This meant that Russell spent most of his days in the company of his nanny, his older brothers being away at school, and his parents not having a great deal to do with life in the nursery. On rare occasions, Russell was permitted to join the adults in some of the castle activities, such as the launching of the ducks, but his shyness would get the better of him and he hardly ever engaged in conversation. Russell does come across rather as the poor little rich kid, but Outrageous Fortune is a good read - and a fascinating look at how the other half live.
May 7, 2014
In this memoir Anthony Russell remembers growing up at Leeds Castle and 'the Castle Way," as orchestrated by its owner, the formidable (and American) Lady Baillie. Russell is, I'm afraid, a bit of a sad sack, and parts of the book are way too confessional and just not interesting or relevant. However, the castle itself and its cast of characters - particularly Lady Baillie, who was Russell's maternal grandmother - are rather fascinating. Clearly, growing up with such privilege and being raised in a complicated and remote family deeply affected - even scarred - the author. And, the book seems to be his effort to articulate and reconcile the confusion and ambivalence he experienced throughout his childhood- and thereafter. I suppose all of that was mildly poignant, but in the end, I wanted to skip the soul searching and get to the parts the focussed on "Granny B", her extraordinary persona, and the splendid life she created at Leeds.
December 30, 2013
Readers interested in the British nobility will pore over this book with much fascination, as the author discusses his privileged life as the grandson of Lady Baillie, an extremely wealthy figure of British high society. The descriptions of life at Leeds Castle, the comings and goings of the social elite, and Russell's own upbringing (complete with nursery and Nanny) are wryly done, with Russell often poking holes in the seemingly perfect world of trust funds and entitlements "just because" of one's name and heritage. He mentions walking away from two perfectly good careers because he could, to pursue his love of music and songwriting; and even now he has no need of money. A riveting read from start to finish. Adult.
June 8, 2019
Solid 3.5 stars. Not an amazing book but an interesting look into what it was like for one man to grow up in a ridiculously wealthy and privileged family. How many people get to spend holidays and weekends living at a castle? Not many. So the rest of us get to have a peek. Russell's main theme: the "castle way" didn't do him a lot of favors when it came time for him to be an adult and make his own way in the world. Luckily, he still had a trust fund and inheritances to stay well afloat. Best and most outrageous story of the book was that of his father's "virgin birth," which made headlines in the 1920s.
Read my full review, including a rating for content, at RatedReads.com: https://ratedreads.com/outrageous-for...
Read my full review, including a rating for content, at RatedReads.com: https://ratedreads.com/outrageous-for...
October 11, 2014
I too was disappointed in the book as the author spent much of his time detailing his childhood growing up in the castle and continuously hinted that the "castle way" somehow proved to be detrimental to his later life but once he got to his later life and explained how his upbringing didn't help in "the real world" his reasons were anticlimactic. I felt that the publishing company limited the number of pages for the book and he decided to devote most of the pages to his childhood and had to skim over the rest of his life. Or maybe it was because he had more fond memories of his childhood in comparison to his later life. Don't we all? Overall, it was an enjoyable read especially since I am a fan of Downtown Abby and the book definitely had ties to that lifestyle.
May 6, 2014
Interesting and I did get a kick out of reading about some of the places I know about but the book leaves you with a lot of questions. What exactly is the deal with the tax rate that forced his grandmother to turn over the castle to the National Heritage? What did the author do after his three disastrous first attempts at jobs? How did he end up in the U.S.? I'd have liked a little bit of a wrap-up, at the end, because he does leave you hanging. While the book is about growing up privileged, spending his weekends and summers with a filthy rich but inattentive grandmother, it really does lack the sense of closure.
March 8, 2016
A fascinating insight into the other side of Leeds, which I knew through Cooper: "very small and a man of few words..." my paternal grandfather, who we all loved hugely as he was also very gentle and kind. I also attended the party at Christmas and remember the magician - in fact I think that year my sister was called onto the stage to help him. Mrs Russell, later Mrs Remington Hobbs, Mr Money and Borrett were also part of my childhood as I spent all my holidays staying with Grandpa while my mother worked, but for me they were names not actual personalities, although Mr Money spoke at my grandfather's funeral.
A privileged life, now no longer, this is a fascinating read for anybody.
A privileged life, now no longer, this is a fascinating read for anybody.
February 17, 2015
I like that Russell shows us a very insulated world that is not all sunshine and roses. He lets the reader see the hardships, which us plebs don't think about when we fantasize about growing up with fantastic wealth in a gorgeous setting.
I wish he had talked a bit more about the consequences of growing up without learning to function in the larger world; he alludes to his inabilities in a general way but it would have enriched the story to hear about his further struggles and how he managed to find his place in the world.
I wish he had talked a bit more about the consequences of growing up without learning to function in the larger world; he alludes to his inabilities in a general way but it would have enriched the story to hear about his further struggles and how he managed to find his place in the world.
August 21, 2015
This book is not what I expected. It is a terrific read. Anthony Russell, with humor and an acute sensitivity, tells his personal story of growing up rich in a castle among the English aristocracy. For Russell, growing up with a silver spoon in his mouth, didn't prepare him for life beyond the castle. His tale in many ways is quite sad, but along the way, he takes you inside the castle walls to reveal some unbelievable and unforgettable characters, including two Grannies, B and A, and two parents who paid little attention to Russell or their parental responsibilities.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews