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Gabriel's Lament
Gabriel Harvey is happy until his father inherits a lot of money and becomes a snob and his beloved mother, 35 years younger than his father, vanishes. Gabriel feels that he'll see her again, but gradually comes to accept that they are separating.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
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285 people want to read
About the author
Paul Bailey
173 books28 followersPeter Harry "Paul" Bailey was a British novelist and critic, as well as a biographer of Cynthia Payne and Quentin Crisp.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 3, 2024
(Update November 3, 2024 - Peter Bailey died the other day and I can't let it pass unmarked. I want to mention that this review was one of three reviews that led Amazon to ban me from posting reviews and deleted all the other reviews I had posted?! Why? for offending community standards?! Did they specify what was offensive? No. Did they allow me to appeal? No. Just so you know I did not include the referrals to other sites in this review in the one I posted on Amazon. So to summarise Paul Bailey has died and Amazon is awful.)
"Gabriel Harvey is happy until his father inherits a lot of money and becomes a snob and his beloved mother, 35 years younger than his father, vanishes. Gabriel feels that he'll see her again, but gradually comes to accept that they are separating." This synopsis appears on Goodreads against some editions of this novel, though not the one I read, and although I considered quoting extensively from the flyleaf of the jacket on my 1986 Jonathan Cape hardback edition of this novel I decided not to because the above synopsis is, as a synopsis, both accurate and sufficient but the story of this novel tells you nothing about what this novel, which is a gloriously funny and moving novel about love, family and money and how all three can edify and destroy. It is a novel that deserves the title 'lost classic'. I don't suppose Paul Bailey will ever achieve the readership he deserves (I do recommend reading the following articles on Paul Bailey, from The Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/201... The New Statesman:
https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/... (there are other articles, particularly from The Guardian, about Paul Bailey which can be easily found and are not behind paywalls).
Oswald Harvey, the father of the eponymous Gabriel, is one of the great comic monsters of literature. He is a creation that makes explicable the hatred revolutionaries always had towards the 'petit bourgeoisie' as exemplified by the 'servant class'. Once he has money Oswald ceases to be the wag telling his son by gaslight in their terrace house in a poor part of east London absurdly embellished memories of his deprived childhood, but a 'philosopher' and instant snob who now regales his 'son-and-heir' with impromptu lectures on subjects as diverse as men who wear suede shoes and the tippling of chefs. Oswald becomes, over night, a caricature of all the most repulsive traits such as arrogance, snobbery, racism and selfishness, that man is heir to. (although at least one reviewer believes this novel would upset 'woke' readers, I do not see why it should. It is not like Paul Bailey is presenting Oswald's racism and other failings in a positive light).
I can't emphasize enough what a wonderful creation Oswald is. He is without a redeeming feature but is, like many self centered monsters a tragic figure. For someone of my generation Oswald is not fiction but the bore in the pub or on the train or bus who feels entitled to 'speak his mind' no matter how little it contains. Oswald is so true that he can only be realised within literature, the reality is too derivative and boring. But he is a creation that ranks with the best of Dickens.
The great thing about 'Gabriel's Lament' is that, in the end, the novel is not about Gabriel and his lost mother but about what she lost, her lost love story, and that story is not simply about Gabriel's loss of a mother but about what Oswald, chooses to lose. I am being deliberately opaque because the story Of Gabriel, Oswald and Amy, is too good and important to be thrown away as plot points.
I think Paul Bailey is a truly great, forgotten, writer. I have read too much of Bailey's work to view Gabriel's Lament in isolation. Gabriel works at 'The Jerusalem', a home for elderly ladies that was the subject of Bailey's first novel, 'At the Jerusalem', and Gabriel himself appears in Bailey's later novel 'Sugar Cane', while there are characters in Gabriel's Lament that you will find the genesis of in Bailey's delightful memories 'An immaculate Mistake'.
Let me finish by reiterating that this is a wonderful, powerful, moving and beautiful novel and if you have read nothing by Paul Bailey you should immediately rectify this absence by reading this, or any of his other novels.
"Gabriel Harvey is happy until his father inherits a lot of money and becomes a snob and his beloved mother, 35 years younger than his father, vanishes. Gabriel feels that he'll see her again, but gradually comes to accept that they are separating." This synopsis appears on Goodreads against some editions of this novel, though not the one I read, and although I considered quoting extensively from the flyleaf of the jacket on my 1986 Jonathan Cape hardback edition of this novel I decided not to because the above synopsis is, as a synopsis, both accurate and sufficient but the story of this novel tells you nothing about what this novel, which is a gloriously funny and moving novel about love, family and money and how all three can edify and destroy. It is a novel that deserves the title 'lost classic'. I don't suppose Paul Bailey will ever achieve the readership he deserves (I do recommend reading the following articles on Paul Bailey, from The Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/201... The New Statesman:
https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/... (there are other articles, particularly from The Guardian, about Paul Bailey which can be easily found and are not behind paywalls).
Oswald Harvey, the father of the eponymous Gabriel, is one of the great comic monsters of literature. He is a creation that makes explicable the hatred revolutionaries always had towards the 'petit bourgeoisie' as exemplified by the 'servant class'. Once he has money Oswald ceases to be the wag telling his son by gaslight in their terrace house in a poor part of east London absurdly embellished memories of his deprived childhood, but a 'philosopher' and instant snob who now regales his 'son-and-heir' with impromptu lectures on subjects as diverse as men who wear suede shoes and the tippling of chefs. Oswald becomes, over night, a caricature of all the most repulsive traits such as arrogance, snobbery, racism and selfishness, that man is heir to. (although at least one reviewer believes this novel would upset 'woke' readers, I do not see why it should. It is not like Paul Bailey is presenting Oswald's racism and other failings in a positive light).
I can't emphasize enough what a wonderful creation Oswald is. He is without a redeeming feature but is, like many self centered monsters a tragic figure. For someone of my generation Oswald is not fiction but the bore in the pub or on the train or bus who feels entitled to 'speak his mind' no matter how little it contains. Oswald is so true that he can only be realised within literature, the reality is too derivative and boring. But he is a creation that ranks with the best of Dickens.
The great thing about 'Gabriel's Lament' is that, in the end, the novel is not about Gabriel and his lost mother but about what she lost, her lost love story, and that story is not simply about Gabriel's loss of a mother but about what Oswald, chooses to lose. I am being deliberately opaque because the story Of Gabriel, Oswald and Amy, is too good and important to be thrown away as plot points.
I think Paul Bailey is a truly great, forgotten, writer. I have read too much of Bailey's work to view Gabriel's Lament in isolation. Gabriel works at 'The Jerusalem', a home for elderly ladies that was the subject of Bailey's first novel, 'At the Jerusalem', and Gabriel himself appears in Bailey's later novel 'Sugar Cane', while there are characters in Gabriel's Lament that you will find the genesis of in Bailey's delightful memories 'An immaculate Mistake'.
Let me finish by reiterating that this is a wonderful, powerful, moving and beautiful novel and if you have read nothing by Paul Bailey you should immediately rectify this absence by reading this, or any of his other novels.
July 21, 2020
Definitely one to give the "woke" reader terminal insomnia; but for those who persevere and can cope with the depiction, humour and language of an earlier age can enjoy a complex tale. Oswald Harvey and his Blenheim lectures to his son Gabriel; the stories woven round the disappearance of his mother, the eccentricities of the characters and his relationship form a memorable experience.
May 7, 2025
3.5 stars. An entertaining and tragic novel about the life of Gabriel Harvey and his unlikeable old father. Gabriel is told little about his mother, who abandoned him shortly after his father received a substantial fortune from a previous employer of Gabriel’s father. Gabriel distances himself from his father, fleeing his father’s large property when Gabriel is sixteen. Gabriel does unskilled work for a number of years and stays in poor apartment type accommodation, living a life of independence. Whenever his father chances to find Gabriel and have a meeting, Gabriel must endure his father’s continual berating of Gabriel. The story is narrated by Gabriel.
There are many amusing scenarios and a number of interesting, quirky characters.
Shortlisted for the 1986 Booker Prize.
There are many amusing scenarios and a number of interesting, quirky characters.
Shortlisted for the 1986 Booker Prize.
May 18, 2014
One of the best books I've ever read. A heart-wrenching, beautifully sensitive portrayal of loss and betrayal.
June 1, 2018
What a writer Paul Bailey is! The rich character studies alone make this book worthwhile, particularly Gabriel and his grotesque father, but I love the story too, despite its sometimes harrowing subject matter.
I think Paul Bailey is one of the UK's most underrated authors. If you liked 'Gabriel's Lament', you should also read 'Old Soldiers' and 'At the Jerusalem'.
I think Paul Bailey is one of the UK's most underrated authors. If you liked 'Gabriel's Lament', you should also read 'Old Soldiers' and 'At the Jerusalem'.
March 18, 2009
Great Book, read many years ago and still keep it. Quite the character study and examination of family interaction.
July 9, 2016
Beautifully written but painful to read. Family and friendship at both it's worst and it's best.
October 29, 2018
One of the best books I've read in recent years. Funny And sad. Great story telling. Intelligent writing
May 27, 2023
Another in the project of drably covered '80s Booker shortlisted novels. And happily there was a lot to like in this sensitively and humorously told story of a father and son's complicated relationship.
In beautiful language Bailey artfully depicts the amusing push and pull between father and son; I was instantly drawn into the story and the cast of eccentric characters that people Gabriel's world. But the second half lost the pacing of the first, getting side-tracked by cameo appearances from characters that added nothing to the development of the story and disrupted the momentum. Long monologues and tangential diversions took away from the thrust of the elegant narrative developed in the first half.
Otherwise this was a very enjoyable comfort read that would have been a four star read for me had it been less indulgent on the superfluous characters and had the Lords of Light fictitious novel penned by Gabriel been better integrated into the denouement, which I felt was disconnected from the rest of the story.
In beautiful language Bailey artfully depicts the amusing push and pull between father and son; I was instantly drawn into the story and the cast of eccentric characters that people Gabriel's world. But the second half lost the pacing of the first, getting side-tracked by cameo appearances from characters that added nothing to the development of the story and disrupted the momentum. Long monologues and tangential diversions took away from the thrust of the elegant narrative developed in the first half.
Otherwise this was a very enjoyable comfort read that would have been a four star read for me had it been less indulgent on the superfluous characters and had the Lords of Light fictitious novel penned by Gabriel been better integrated into the denouement, which I felt was disconnected from the rest of the story.
August 20, 2017
Amusing, smart, well developed characters in Oswald and Gabriel. Look forward to reading some of his other stuff.
January 9, 2024
Lament is a good word for this sorrowful tale of poor little Gabriel, whose beloved mother walks out of the family home and is placed, for the rest of his life, on a pedestal of his own making. That said, it is a book full of the most brilliant humour with much dialogue (rather than description) which draws each character so clearly for the reader.
The outstanding, and most vile, being Gabriel's father Oswald. I found him as fascinating and appalling (in a similar way actually) as Daniel Quilp (The Old Curiosity Shop) and Oswald's horrific clutches were equally impossible for poor Gabriel to escape from.
This is one excellent book and I would've given it five stars but for the short interlude set in Sorg, Minnesota. But a great read with real quality writing.
The outstanding, and most vile, being Gabriel's father Oswald. I found him as fascinating and appalling (in a similar way actually) as Daniel Quilp (The Old Curiosity Shop) and Oswald's horrific clutches were equally impossible for poor Gabriel to escape from.
This is one excellent book and I would've given it five stars but for the short interlude set in Sorg, Minnesota. But a great read with real quality writing.
July 23, 2022
Fabulous characters make this touching book really special. We read from Gabriel's point of view and experience with him the problems of bed wetting after his mother's leaving and also his desire to cross dress in a time that was certainly less tolerant.
It's a shame that this book and author aren't better known and appreciated.
It's a shame that this book and author aren't better known and appreciated.
May 23, 2019
I read this back in 1995...and according to my journal at the time, really enjoyed it, in spite of its over the top characters and rather odd plot.
June 13, 2023
Would have given it 5 but last part of book in America was dull. Amazing characters but beware of pages and pages of politically incorrect "lectures".
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews