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Society Rules: Two Novels: Snobs and Past Imperfect
In this beautiful 2-in-1 edition of Snobs and Past Imperfect, Julian Fellowes displays the wit and keen observation of British customs and manners that made Downton Abbey a runaway success.
SNOBS
"The English, of all classes as it happens, are addicted to exclusivity. Leave three Englishmen in a room and they will invent a rule that prevents a fourth joining them."
Edith Lavery, an English blonde with large eyes and nice manners, is the daughter of an accountant and his social-climbing wife. While visiting his parents' stately home as a paying guest, Edith meets Charles—Earl Broughton, heir to the Marquess of Uckfield and one of the most eligible young aristocrats around. When he proposes, Edith accepts. But is she really in love with Charles? Or with his title, his position, and all that goes with it?
PAST IMPERFECT
"Damian Baxter was a friend of mine at Cambridge. We met around the time when I was doing the Season at the end of the Sixties. I introduced him to some of the girls. They took him up, and we ran about together in London for a while…."
Nearly forty years later, the narrator hates Damian Baxter and would gladly forget their disastrous last encounter. But if it is pleasant to hear from an old friend, it is more interesting to hear from an old enemy, and so he accepts an invitation from the rich and dying Damian, who begs him to track down the past girlfriend whose anonymous letter claimed he had fathered a child during that ruinous debutante season.
The search takes the narrator back to the extraordinary world of swinging London, where aristocratic parents schemed to find suitable matches for their daughters while someone was putting hash in the brownies at a ball at Madame Tussaud's. It was a time when everything seemed to be changing—and it was, but not always quite as expected.
SNOBS
"The English, of all classes as it happens, are addicted to exclusivity. Leave three Englishmen in a room and they will invent a rule that prevents a fourth joining them."
Edith Lavery, an English blonde with large eyes and nice manners, is the daughter of an accountant and his social-climbing wife. While visiting his parents' stately home as a paying guest, Edith meets Charles—Earl Broughton, heir to the Marquess of Uckfield and one of the most eligible young aristocrats around. When he proposes, Edith accepts. But is she really in love with Charles? Or with his title, his position, and all that goes with it?
PAST IMPERFECT
"Damian Baxter was a friend of mine at Cambridge. We met around the time when I was doing the Season at the end of the Sixties. I introduced him to some of the girls. They took him up, and we ran about together in London for a while…."
Nearly forty years later, the narrator hates Damian Baxter and would gladly forget their disastrous last encounter. But if it is pleasant to hear from an old friend, it is more interesting to hear from an old enemy, and so he accepts an invitation from the rich and dying Damian, who begs him to track down the past girlfriend whose anonymous letter claimed he had fathered a child during that ruinous debutante season.
The search takes the narrator back to the extraordinary world of swinging London, where aristocratic parents schemed to find suitable matches for their daughters while someone was putting hash in the brownies at a ball at Madame Tussaud's. It was a time when everything seemed to be changing—and it was, but not always quite as expected.
704 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
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516 people want to read
About the author
Julian Fellowes
60 books1,510 followersJulian Alexander Kitchener-Fellowes (Baron Fellowes of West Stafford), DL. English actor, novelist, screenwriter, and director.
Fellowes is the youngest son of Peregrine Fellowes (a diplomat and Arabist who campaigned to have Haile Selassie restored to his throne during World War II). Julian inherited the title of Lord of the Manor of Tattershall from his father, making him the fourth Fellowes to hold it. He was educated at Ampleforth College, Magdalene College, Cambridge, and at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.
He played the part of Lord Kilwillie in the television series 'Monarch of the Glen.' Other notable acting roles included the part of Claud Seabrook in the acclaimed 1996 BBC drama serial 'Our Friends in the North.' He has twice notably portrayed George IV as the Prince Regent in the 1982 television version of 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' and the 1996 adaptation of Bernard Cornwell's novel 'Sharpe's Regiment.'
He wrote the screenplay for 'Gosford Park,' directed by Robert Altman, for which he won an Oscar for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen in 2002.
His novel 'Snobs' was published in 2004. It focused on the social nuances of the upper class. Fellowes has described himself as coming from the "rock bottom end of the top", and drew on his knowledge of Society to paint a detailed portrait of the behaviour and snobbery of the upper class. 'Snobs' was a Sunday Times Best Seller and has now been published in many countries.
In the 1970s he also wrote romantic novels, using the names Rebecca Greville and Alexander Morant.
He launched a new series on BBC One in 2004, 'Julian Fellowes Investigates: A Most Mysterious Murder,' which he wrote and also introduced on screen.
He also penned the script to the current West End musical 'Mary Poppins,' produced by Cameron Mackintosh and Disney, which opened on Broadway in December 2006.
In late 2005 Fellowes made his directorial debut with the film 'Separate Lies.'
He is the presenter of 'Never Mind the Full Stops,' a panel-based gameshow transmitted on BBC Four from mid-2006.
On 28 April 1990, he married Emma Joy Kitchener (a Lady-in-Waiting to Princess Michael of Kent, and great-great-niece of the 1st Earl Kitchener) and assumed the name Kitchener-Fellowes by deed enrolled with the College of Arms in 1998.
{Wikipedia}
Fellowes is the youngest son of Peregrine Fellowes (a diplomat and Arabist who campaigned to have Haile Selassie restored to his throne during World War II). Julian inherited the title of Lord of the Manor of Tattershall from his father, making him the fourth Fellowes to hold it. He was educated at Ampleforth College, Magdalene College, Cambridge, and at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.
He played the part of Lord Kilwillie in the television series 'Monarch of the Glen.' Other notable acting roles included the part of Claud Seabrook in the acclaimed 1996 BBC drama serial 'Our Friends in the North.' He has twice notably portrayed George IV as the Prince Regent in the 1982 television version of 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' and the 1996 adaptation of Bernard Cornwell's novel 'Sharpe's Regiment.'
He wrote the screenplay for 'Gosford Park,' directed by Robert Altman, for which he won an Oscar for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen in 2002.
His novel 'Snobs' was published in 2004. It focused on the social nuances of the upper class. Fellowes has described himself as coming from the "rock bottom end of the top", and drew on his knowledge of Society to paint a detailed portrait of the behaviour and snobbery of the upper class. 'Snobs' was a Sunday Times Best Seller and has now been published in many countries.
In the 1970s he also wrote romantic novels, using the names Rebecca Greville and Alexander Morant.
He launched a new series on BBC One in 2004, 'Julian Fellowes Investigates: A Most Mysterious Murder,' which he wrote and also introduced on screen.
He also penned the script to the current West End musical 'Mary Poppins,' produced by Cameron Mackintosh and Disney, which opened on Broadway in December 2006.
In late 2005 Fellowes made his directorial debut with the film 'Separate Lies.'
He is the presenter of 'Never Mind the Full Stops,' a panel-based gameshow transmitted on BBC Four from mid-2006.
On 28 April 1990, he married Emma Joy Kitchener (a Lady-in-Waiting to Princess Michael of Kent, and great-great-niece of the 1st Earl Kitchener) and assumed the name Kitchener-Fellowes by deed enrolled with the College of Arms in 1998.
{Wikipedia}
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 29, 2012
What's clearest from these two books is that Julian Fellowes is above all a chronicler and analyst of social class. And yes, that drags the narrative down frequently, tried even my very indulgent and very fond patience. Yet his saving grace is the utter charm of his wry sweet and occasionally silly/dirty voice. Every time I could feel my exasperation reaching snapping point, there'd be a joke or an observation that would make me smile, laugh or just want to hug him.
Snobs was very much the dryer of the two novels, a consciously constructed social commentary. I was actually surprised to find I did care about the main couple by the time the story wrapped up.
Still it was with a lot of relief that I found Past Imperfect had a very clear and dramatic framing device. And oddly similar to the most recent Julian Barnes novel which I had just finished, The Sense Of An Ending. The cleverness of that mystery kept me reading even as the red herrings and dead ends frustrated me. What I really didn't like as it went on was realising just how unlikeable each character was, that I couldn't find myself loving any of them, not even fondness for our protagonist. They were all, to use a Heyer phrase, lacking bottom. A certain tarnish to the souls, a certain impurity to their characters that rubbed me raw.
I did guess the secret about a fraction earlier than I was meant to, I think, and I can't say the main relationship of the novel moved me in any particular way. I wonder if anyone was, if that was ever the point. If Snobs was the examination of a class, Past Imperfect was the documentation of that class particularly in the Sixties, something unexpected to me.
I'm not sure I would ever recommend Julian Fellowes as a novelist but I do still adore him to bits. The tenderness and acute observation of him shines through despite his limitations in the form and that reminds me why I love his work in other forms. There's no saying how fabulous that combination is, how grateful I am for it.
Snobs was very much the dryer of the two novels, a consciously constructed social commentary. I was actually surprised to find I did care about the main couple by the time the story wrapped up.
Still it was with a lot of relief that I found Past Imperfect had a very clear and dramatic framing device. And oddly similar to the most recent Julian Barnes novel which I had just finished, The Sense Of An Ending. The cleverness of that mystery kept me reading even as the red herrings and dead ends frustrated me. What I really didn't like as it went on was realising just how unlikeable each character was, that I couldn't find myself loving any of them, not even fondness for our protagonist. They were all, to use a Heyer phrase, lacking bottom. A certain tarnish to the souls, a certain impurity to their characters that rubbed me raw.
I did guess the secret about a fraction earlier than I was meant to, I think, and I can't say the main relationship of the novel moved me in any particular way. I wonder if anyone was, if that was ever the point. If Snobs was the examination of a class, Past Imperfect was the documentation of that class particularly in the Sixties, something unexpected to me.
I'm not sure I would ever recommend Julian Fellowes as a novelist but I do still adore him to bits. The tenderness and acute observation of him shines through despite his limitations in the form and that reminds me why I love his work in other forms. There's no saying how fabulous that combination is, how grateful I am for it.
January 7, 2015
Do NOT buy the omnibus version of Fellowes's novels.
The first one, "Snobs", is boring and trite.
The second, "Past Imperfect", is wonderful. It's a bit over-long but has an excellent character as narrator (as opposed to "Snobs"), an intriguing plot with lots of interesting characters (as opposed to "Snobs"), and is driven by a mystery at its heart and a truly tragic figure (as opposed to...you get it).
When I read "Snobs" I wondered if prose is not in Fellowes's wheelhouse. Turns out with the right story and narrator he can write a terrific novel, shallow fun and as compelling as "Gosford Park" and "Downton."
The first one, "Snobs", is boring and trite.
The second, "Past Imperfect", is wonderful. It's a bit over-long but has an excellent character as narrator (as opposed to "Snobs"), an intriguing plot with lots of interesting characters (as opposed to "Snobs"), and is driven by a mystery at its heart and a truly tragic figure (as opposed to...you get it).
When I read "Snobs" I wondered if prose is not in Fellowes's wheelhouse. Turns out with the right story and narrator he can write a terrific novel, shallow fun and as compelling as "Gosford Park" and "Downton."
September 12, 2021
Fellowes, is himself, such a snob! I liked it enough to finish but I couldn't recommend it. He's excellent at describing the world of the English gentry but is so old-fashioned. The narrator must be based on Fellowes because he has the same exact narrative voice as the one in Past Imperfect. The characters are well drawn but the novel isn't well plotted. His writing is very well suited for the television period drama but not the page.
September 14, 2017
I adored the series Downton Abbey and also his book Belgravia was quite alright but Snobs and Past Imperfect I thought very disappointing. Very longwinding, predictable and utterly tedious.
June 10, 2018
Snobs : 2 and 1/2 stars
Past Imperfect : 3 and 1/2
Past Imperfect : 3 and 1/2
June 30, 2019
For fans of Downton Abbey
July 17, 2013
This is somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars.
I love Fellowes's writing, and I felt privileged to read it. The social commentary was precise and interesting, and I did enjoy reading both of the books, though I think Snobs was the better one. I wanted to know the ending badly in both books, which is of course always a good thing.
However, don't think it did these books justice to put them together because it highlighted their faults, especially the repetitiveness - some details were told many times when one would have been enough. Put together, the books also had a tremendous number of annoying and unhappy characters - too much for my taste.
All in all, I feel like I learnt immensely about the British culture, and really enjoyed two good books in one package. I can definitely recommend both of these books for everyone, but especially to Downton fans!
I love Fellowes's writing, and I felt privileged to read it. The social commentary was precise and interesting, and I did enjoy reading both of the books, though I think Snobs was the better one. I wanted to know the ending badly in both books, which is of course always a good thing.
However, don't think it did these books justice to put them together because it highlighted their faults, especially the repetitiveness - some details were told many times when one would have been enough. Put together, the books also had a tremendous number of annoying and unhappy characters - too much for my taste.
All in all, I feel like I learnt immensely about the British culture, and really enjoyed two good books in one package. I can definitely recommend both of these books for everyone, but especially to Downton fans!
February 18, 2014
I read Past Imperfect over the past few days mainly because I had it and I wanted something light to get me through yet another snowy, cold winter weekend--it's the winter equivalent of a beach read. Yet despite all the narrator's attempt to distance himself from outright fawning over the upper class twits in this book, it's a fairly unpleasant story about snobbish, unpleasant people. On the other hand, it's a quick and easy read. It certainly hasn't left me wanting to read more of his stuff, though. And it explains an awful lot about Downton Abbey.
August 24, 2012
Couldn't really get into this. I liked the idea that it was about going back to a group of 'friends' from 40 years ago, and I was interested in the dying years of 'Society' but it was a bit repetitious. I only made it half way.
Read
January 9, 2013I loved both books for all their own merits, but also in counterpoint to the Downton Abbey television series on PBS. Mr. Fellowes brings a great deal of droll authority and touching wisdom to the subject of life among the English classes.
June 1, 2015
Very interesting, combining a commentary on England and the society of the late 1960s with a mystery. At times, I wanted the author to get back to the mystery from all the lavish descriptions. But overall, quite enjoyable.
Read
December 16, 2012Liked Snobs very well, but disliked Past and Imperfect.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews