Dear Lupin: Letters To A Wayward Son (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
I would hardly describe this collection of letters from Roger Mortimer to his steadfastly wayward son Charlie as 'hilarious', but it does paint a somewhat touching portrait of a relationship between males of vastly differing generations. Both men are products of their eras (pre- and post-war, to be vague), and the gradual mellowing that comes across in Mortimer Sr's generous raft of letters is the most rewarding aspect of the collection. These letters might certainly amuse older readers who remember the good old days through a fog of gin and roaring anecdotes about old schoolmasters, but its selling point as a time capsule stretches beyond fond reminiscence, into a then-incomprehensible future owned by a generation of offspring who wanted nothing more than to break free from their parents' cradle of entitlement. The rave reviews and 'funniest book of the year' accolades this book has had in the British press led me to believe it would be side-splittingly funny, and it was, on occasion, but ultimately I found it a rather melancholy read. The author of the letters is witty, waspish and gossipy, but also, on occasion, racist and misogynistic. His letters are mostly about his family, friends, neighbours and acquaintances, an endless list of Lord this and Lady that and plenty of old military types and women described as 'old trouts'. There are plenty of passages about bodily functions, both human and canine, and moans and gripes about growing old. In addition, almost everyone described sounds like an alcoholic, including the wife of the author, who seems to spend her entire life ill, drunk, drink-driving or fox-hunting, so I can't say I warmed to her.The receiver of these epistles is Charles, or Lupin, only son of the author, and he's not a likeable character. The words feckless, irresponsible, spoilt and selfish come to mind. But his father's letters betray his love for his son, despite the son's many short-comings.Admittedly, I did find the letter about the train journey with Lord Wigg extremely funny - but funniest book of the year? I can't help thinking that the reviewers in The Sunday Times need to read more funny books.
What do You think about Dear Lupin: Letters To A Wayward Son (2011)?
Mildly amusing for the first half ....grindingly tedious thereafter
—denden
This is a delightfully amusing book, which I thoroughly enjoyed !
—_amazinglysaraa
