Jane Gardam: The Man in the Wooden Hat, Europa Editions 9781933372891

Jane Gardam I have just discovered for myself being tipped off by a friend from the publishing world. German publishing companies have discovered this wonderful author at the same time,   “Old Filth” has just come out in German as “Ein untadeliger Mann” although it was already published several years ago in the UK.

Having read “Old Filth” about a month ago, I had to read the second part of this trilogy which tells the story of mainly 3 people who are very connected with each other throughout their lives,  Sir Edward Feathers, his wife Betty and his old enemy Terry Veneering who plays an important part in Betty’s life.  The third part of this trilogy ,“Old Friends”, is on my reading list for sure.

“The Man in the Wooden Hat”  tells Betty’s version of life with “Old Filth” , Edward Feathers , beginning after WWII in London, Hong Kong and finally their retirement in Dorset.  I had missed more of Betty’s voice in “Old Filth”, her side of the story felt equally important and I was not disappointed– she is an immensely likeable, upbeat character as I imagined her to be.  I will not gallop ahead and reveal much more. Betty’s secrets come out in the open as you read on, be it why her life remained childless or about her relationship with Terry Veneering and his son Harry. Or why she married Edward Feathers to begin with. Other colorful characters appearing in “Old Filth” like aforementioned Terry Veneering, his son Harry, Isobel Ingoldby or Albert Ross - they all play an important part in  Betty's life.

Jane Gardam is a master storyteller, in her stories no one is really who they appear to be to outsiders. She paints the English stiff upper lip and the tragedies hiding behind it like no one else with her short, clipped sentences.   I was very surprised to discover that she is already 87 years old now and am really glad this wonderful writer has been discovered for German readers. I hope she achieves the same success here she had in the UK, she deserves to be high up in the German bestseller list.