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Past Imperfect Julian Fellowes 9780312570682 Books

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Past Imperfect Julian Fellowes 9780312570682 Books

On one hand, this book is beautifully written. On another, it beats its main concept to death. The constant repetition of how things have changed for the British aristocracy was repeated so many times, in so many ways, that it became annoying. The narrator is called to the deathbed of an old friend that he hasn’t seen in 40 years, for reasons that are alluded to but not explained for most of the book. Constant references are made to a terrible incident that caused the estrangement, and of course that incident is not explained until near the end. When it finally is explained, it's a bit of a disappointment. I understand why it was left until near the end, yet the tension was built up so thoroughly that almost nothing could have been satisfactory.

The dying friend wants him to find out which of five women may have given birth to his child 40 years ago, as he has had no other children due to contracting mumps shortly after the time period in question and is immensely wealthy. The narrator contacts each of the women, all of whom have had relatively unhappy lives (except a previously fat homely one, which is a rather trite device) and eventually finds the offspring.

Several times I became so bogged down in florid prose that i almost gave up, but did stick it out. I’m glad I did, as somehow the book is better in retrospect than it was while being read.


Tags : Past Imperfect [Julian Fellowes] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. <DIV><DIV><DIV>From the creator of the Emmy Award-winning <I>Downton Abbey</I>...</DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV><I>“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,Julian Fellowes,Past Imperfect,St. Martin's Press,0312570686,London (England);Social life and customs;20th century;Fiction.,Nineteen sixties;Fiction.,Upper class;England;London;Fiction.,ENGLISH CONTEMPORARY FICTION - INDIVIDUAL AUTHORS+,England,English Contemporary Fiction - Individual Authors,Fiction,Fiction - General,Fiction Literary,Fiction-Literary,GENERAL,General Adult,Literary,London,Nineteen sixties,United States,Upper class

Past Imperfect Julian Fellowes 9780312570682 Books Reviews

I mostly liked this book, though there are some tedious parts. The overall premise is very interesting and I was drawn in, wanting to know what happens. I also really liked the portrayal of all of the characters and was riveted by a few of their stories - especially Joanna's (have kleenex handy).

After reading through the other reviews, it seems apparent that several of the one-star reviews were written by Vine reviewers who didn't read this book, or only briefly skimmed it because they provide erroneous information. There are two-star and three-star reviews that complain that Fellowes gets side tracked too often with historical and societal details. I have to agree with this complaint and often wished he'd get back to the story as I wanted to know what was going to happen next. But I enjoy history and I'm interested in British aristocratic society, so these bunny trails didn't prevent my enjoyment, they just slowed it down a bit.

But I have to disagree with the reviews that complain about poor character development - I found most of the characters interesting and as three-dimensional as an acquaintance (narrator) would be able to know. Overall this is a good book, I enjoyed it and look forward to reading Fellowes other book, Snobs.
This novel is set in the 1990s and in the late 1960s, telling the story of the young gentry of England who came of age in the 1960s and 70s, the last generation that still had a season, and followed many of the unspoken rules of their class; in which young women had no expectations other than marrying well and having children. The narrator is our guide to this world and the bridge to the new one as he embarks on a mission to help the dying Damian, a "common" man who made a fortune, and a former friend turned enemy. The narrator journeys in memory into the fateful season of 1968, and in fact into finding his friends from that time, in order to discover the identity of Damian's now adult child, and heir to his enormous fortune. During the course of the novel, he reviews his own life in light of new information as well as memory, and in the changes in society, including the notion of class, expectations, youth and maturity.
The book is a good read, if not a page-turner. It's chock full of detail, snobbery, dinner parties, house parties, cogent observations, and Brits being Brits.
Julian Fellows writes novels as spell binding as his films. He has his own generation of aristocrats down to a tee. The narrarator is quite objective and a good man to his group of friends who gather for The Season in 1960's London. We learn about the individual characters of this group, and watch the evolution of the narrarator's unrequited love for one of the girls. The characters are about the sixth year of "the baby boom" and it's especially fun to follow them into middle age. The horrible evening that is referred to throughout the book is almost anti climatic to the remainder of the story, but it does give the reader an idea of the still youthful attitude of the crowd.

Fellow's other novel could be the same group in a different circumstances. Reading both is a good idea. One book compliments the other.

American readers will be fascinated by the tiny details of upper class British life which Fellow shares as one would an important but inside secret. I wanted to grab a pen and write them down as guidance of what Not to do in Britain. I found six - you might find more.

And, American's shouldn't be huffy about the aristocratic and social climbing parents in the book. I see young people now are marrying later in life when they have experienced how well they can live. Many are examining their potential spouses for more than romantic love and considering what compromises would be necessary to live the life they imagine for themselves. The book is filled with memories, songs of the period,a treasure hunt and is thought provoking. Very well titled!!
My only criticism of this book is that it was a bit too long. I enjoyed every page, as Mr. Fellowes has a sharp wit and a great sense of style but I am impatient to finish any book. I started reading romance novels set in the Regency period of British history while I was forced to live in a tiny country town after our house was destroyed by flooding in 2005, and I became addicted. Between that period of history and modern times, I have often wondered how the aristocracy has changed, like, "where are they now?", and Julian Fellowes helps fill in the gaps. He may not be on the same team as some of the famous British social satirist such as Waugh or Wilde, but he plays in the same league and I love his books!
On one hand, this book is beautifully written. On another, it beats its main concept to death. The constant repetition of how things have changed for the British aristocracy was repeated so many times, in so many ways, that it became annoying. The narrator is called to the deathbed of an old friend that he hasn’t seen in 40 years, for reasons that are alluded to but not explained for most of the book. Constant references are made to a terrible incident that caused the estrangement, and of course that incident is not explained until near the end. When it finally is explained, it's a bit of a disappointment. I understand why it was left until near the end, yet the tension was built up so thoroughly that almost nothing could have been satisfactory.

The dying friend wants him to find out which of five women may have given birth to his child 40 years ago, as he has had no other children due to contracting mumps shortly after the time period in question and is immensely wealthy. The narrator contacts each of the women, all of whom have had relatively unhappy lives (except a previously fat homely one, which is a rather trite device) and eventually finds the offspring.

Several times I became so bogged down in florid prose that i almost gave up, but did stick it out. I’m glad I did, as somehow the book is better in retrospect than it was while being read.