Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.
Loading... Augustus Carp, Esq., By Himself: Being the Autobiography of a Really Good Man (1924)by Henry Howarth Bashford
Loading...
Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. Carp has to be the most amusing unreliable narrator out there. Not LOL funny, but consistently amusing as Carp gets himself into ridiculous situations that are, of course, someone else's fault. ( ) Augustus Carp, ESQ. was originally published anonymously, or as the title page suggested the book was written "by himself". The additional substitle "being the autobiography of a really good man" might raise some eye brows, and is a subtle hint at the character of the main protagonist. The book first appeared in 1924, and authorship remained obscure until 1961, when it became clear that the author was the late Sir Henry Bashford, M.D., F.R.C.P., Chief Medical Officer to the Post Office, Medical Adviser to the Treasury, Honorary Physician to King George VI, etc. This partly explains why some of the protagonists in the novel suffer from a variety rare ailments, of course all adding to the hilarity. Very few books are really humorous throughout, but if you are interested then I would recommend this novel which pairs ridicule with verbal virtuosity. The book should perhaps be read as a parody of Hugh Walpole's Jeremy trilogy, of which the first two volumes were published in 1919 and 1923, describing a youth's development from childhood through adolescence to manhood. However, in spirit the book is closer to Geoffrey Willans's Whizz for atomms. A guide to survival in the 20th century for felow pupils, their doting maters, pompous paters and any others who are interested (1956). Like the Jeremy trilogy, Augustus Carp, ESQ. describes the youth of young Augustus and his career into manhood, particularly his moral development. Much of the humour is tied in with religion and particularly with hypocracy. Like many such coming-of-age stories, the novel is dated, and this means that some of the humour doesn't work. It also depends on your sense of humour, and whether you think it is funny to read a whole page of chatter between father and son about a slip of the tongue: "A weed before the rind." no reviews | add a review
"A sublime ferocious farce." -- The New Yorker."Incomparable ... a wonderful slapstick satire on hypocrisy." -- New Statesman."One of the great comic novels of the twentieth century." -- Anthony Burgess. Meet our memoirist, Augustus Carp, a self-proclaimed "good man" who relishes every opportunity to condemn the weaknesses of others while excusing his own failings. In this spoof autobiography, the pompous narrator enthusiastically recounts his mundane achievements with unwitting hilarity, making frequent asides to bemoan the sins of lesser mortals. Much of the story's ironic humor derives from his delivery; the more seriously Carp takes himself, the more ridiculous he appears. This riotous fable is supported by a cast of delightfully eccentric and grotesque characters: Abraham Stool, manufacturer of the famous Adult Gripe Water; schoolteacher Mr. Beerthorpe, inevitably known to his charges as "Beery"; the Rev. Eugene Cake, author of such improving fiction as Gnashers of Teeth; and other memorable personalities. A cult classic and comic gem, the book was originally published anonymously in 1924 and rediscovered decades later, when its author was revealed as a genteel (and discreet) London physician. This edition features the splendidly droll illustrations by Punch artist Marjorie Blood from the original publication. No library descriptions found. |
Current DiscussionsNonePopular covers
Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)823.912Literature English English fiction Modern Period 1901-1999 1901-1945LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
Is this you?Become a LibraryThing Author. |