So down to business, this week's book is Past Imperfect by Julian Fellowes. We are told the story from the perspective of a 60ish marginally successful writer who, in his youth, ran with London's young high society set. At the beginning of the novel the writer is summoned by an old friend and current enemy, Damian Baxter, who needs to ask a favour. During their youth the writer introduced Damian, charming but largely penniless, into the upper class London society Season. Much to his chagrin Damian was soon cutting a swath through the ladies of the group, breaking hearts left and right, including the protagonist's own life-long love Lady Serena Gresham.
As the novel opens Damian is a dying billionaire, he has lived up to all the expectations of his future greatness, but he is alone and unhappy. Baxter has received an anonymous letter letting him know he is a father and he sends the narrator on a quest to find out which of his past paramours mothered this child. The quest sends our narrator on a walk down memory lane, which for him is both poignant and nostalgic.
Fellowes, the screenwriter of Gosford Park, does the class novel well, masterfully evoking the nameless protagonist's ideal 1960s British upper class world. Whether this world only exists in hindsight is not clear, but it is fun to be transported for awhile. Sometimes you have to suspend disbelief--like these matrons being so ready to expose details of their pasts to someone they haven't seen in 40 years--but Fellowes prose makes this one a good read.
I was also totally psyched to open my email and find I had won a giveaway from the lovely Franki's Life in a Venti Cup! How cool is this prize?! Now I just have to choose the colours I want. You can visit her great store here. Thanks again Franki!
