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The Mad Boy, Lord Berners, My Grandmother and Me: An Aristocratic Family, a High-Society Scandal and an Extraordinary Legacy, by Sofka Zin
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This beguiling tale of a scandalous ménage à trois among England’s upper classes is a high society love story that combines memoir and biography into a fascinating, heady read in the vein of The Bolter and Portrait of a Marriage.
Among the glittering stars of British society, Sofka Zinovieff’s grandparents lived and loved with abandon. Robert Heber-Percy was a dashing young man who would rather have a drink than open a book, so his involvement with Jennifer Fry, a beautiful socialite famous for her style and charm, was not surprising. But by the time Robert met and married Jennifer, he had already been involved with a man—Gerald, Lord Berners—for more than a decade.
Stout, eccentric, and significantly older, Gerald was a well-known composer, and at home among scholars. He also owned one of Britain’s loveliest stately homes, Faringdon House in Oxfordshire. The two made an unlikely couple, especially because they lived together at Faringdon House when homosexuality was illegal. And then a pregnant Jennifer moved into Faringdon in 1942, creating a formidable ménage à trois.
In this gorgeous, entertaining narrative of bohemian aristocracy illustrated with dozens of photographs, Sofka Zinovieff probes the mysteries of her grandparents and the third man in their marriage. Who was Gerald, and what brought Robert and Jennifer together under his roof? Why did Jennifer marry Robert? Piecing together the complicated reality behind the scandals of revelry and sexuality, she finally allows old ghosts to rest.
- Sales Rank: #145256 in Books
- Published on: 2015-03-31
- Released on: 2015-03-31
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 9.00" h x 1.34" w x 7.00" l, .0 pounds
- Binding: Hardcover
- 448 pages
Review
“[A] delightful portrait of one of England’s great eccentrics…. Rich in glamorous scandal….Witty, empathetic, and stylish.” (Miranda Seymour, New York Times Book Review)
“Ms. Zinovieff handles her flamboyant material with considerable tact and finesse…. It makes for ghoulishly irresistible reading.” (Wall Street Journal)
“[A] delicious family history.… Zinovieff works her own kind of magic.” (Boston Globe)
“[A] well-researched, engaging memoir.” (Washington Post)
“Meet the hosts of 1930s England’s most lavish soirees, complete with diamond-clad pets and no shortage of bed-hopping.... Riveting.” (Town & Country)
“Superbly illustrated.... The Mad Boy is an absorbing as well as original book, which replaces the monographic vectors of biography with something more curious and multifarious, nonetheless brought into a haunting and satisfying shape.” (Alan Hollinghurst, New York Review of Books)
“Ms Zinovieff’s narrative tone is cool and clear enough to let its astonishing characters, and her relationship with them, come alive; that makes for a compelling read.” (The Economist)
“The intrigue surrounding these unusual and formidable individuals is an instant hook, which is only enhanced by their personal histories and struggles.… While highlighting eccentricities, glamour, and downright debauchery, Zinovieff is also able to capture the humanity in what is a fascinating and eye-opening ancestral history.” (Library Journal (starred review))
“A vibrant tapestry…. [An] entertaining story of an unconventional family and their shared trait of flouting convention across generations.” (Kirkus Reviews)
“Zinovieff is an entertaining and amiable companion on this, at times, uncomfortable romp through her family saga.” (The Times (London))
“A heady account of the scandal-filled lives of a group of 1930s aesthetes.... Sumptuous.” (Daisy Goodwin, Sunday Times, (London))
“A vivid sketch of …extraordinarily glamorous society…in its heyday.” (The Guardian (London))
“Written with a poet’s precision.... The delicacy of Zinovieff’s perceptions, the abiding redolence of her descriptions, and the captivating moods of her subjects make...[this] a rare pleasure. It stands at the top of its genre.” (Richard Davenport-Hines, Times Literary Supplement (London))
“Prepare to be seduced by outlandish delights and strange creatures.” (Tatler, U.K.)
“This absorbing, candid, critical and loving tale of a truly unusual setup looks beyond the clear description of its four title characters....Zinovieff brings the whole stage to life and there isn’t a character…whom one wouldn’t dearly wish to meet.” (Alexander Waugh, The Literary Review)
“Sofka Zinovieff has written the strange, and strangely moving, tale of her family’s unorthodox relationships. By turns comical, tragicomical, and melodramatic....[An] extraordinary family saga.” (Mirabel Cecil, The Spectator)
“Formidably researched and wonderfully enjoyable.” (The Oldie, U.K.)
“[A] fascinating, quirky, and oddly moving must-read hybrid biography-memoir. . .” (Advocate.com)
“A thorough…look into a long lost world.” (The Gay & Lesbian Review)
From the Back Cover
Like The Bolter and Portrait of a Marriage, this beguiling, heady tale of a scandalous ménage à trois among England's upper classes combines memoir and biography to re-create an unforgettably decadent world.
Among the glittering stars of British society, Sofka Zinovieff's grandparents lived and loved with abandon. Robert Heber-Percy was a dashing young man who would rather have a drink than open a book, so his involvement with Jennifer Fry, a gorgeous socialite famous for her style and charm, was not surprising. But by the time Robert met and married Jennifer, he had already been involved with a man—Gerald, Lord Berners—for more than a decade.
Stout, eccentric and significantly older, Gerald was a composer, writer and aesthete—a creative aristocrat most at home in the company of the era's best and brightest minds. He also owned one of Britain's loveliest stately homes, Faringdon House, in Oxfordshire, which under his stewardship became a beacon of sybaritic beauty. Robert and Gerald made an unlikely couple, especially because they lived together at Faringdon House when homosexuality was illegal. And then a pregnant Jennifer moved into Faringdon in 1942, creating a formidable ménage à trois.
In this gorgeous, entertaining narrative of bohemian aristocracy, Sofka Zinovieff probes the mysteries of her grandparents and the third man in their marriage: Gerald, the complex and talented heir to a legendary house, its walls lined with priceless art and its gardens roamed by a bevy of doves, where he entertained everyone from Igor Stravinsky to Gertrude Stein. What brought Robert and Jennifer together under his roof, and why did Jennifer stay—and marry Robert?
Blending memoir and biography in her quest to lay old ghosts to rest, Zinovieff pieces together the complicated reality behind the scandals of revelry and sexuality. The resulting story, defined by keen insight, deep affection and marvelous wit, captures the glory and indulgence of the age, and explores the many ways in which we have the capacity to love.
About the Author
Sofka Zinovieff was born in London in 1961. She studied social anthropology at Cambridge and is the author of three previous books—Eurydice Street: A Place in Athens; Red Princess: A Revolutionary Life; and The House on Paradise Street. She lives with her husband and daughters at Faringdon.
Most helpful customer reviews
33 of 33 people found the following review helpful.
A Legacy Of Light And Darkness
By John D. Cofield
Gerald Tyrwhitt-Wilson, Lord Berners, was the quintessential English eccentric throughout his life, a reputation that has only increased since his death over sixty years ago. The model for Lord Merlin in Nancy Mitford's The Pursuit of Love, he loved art and music and displayed a considerable talent for both. His home, Faringdon House in Oxfordshire, was renowned for its comfort, fine cuisine, and hospitality that was enjoyed by Gertrude Stein, Igor Stravinsky, the Mitfords, the Lygons, Evelyn Waugh, and a galaxy of other social and literary stars. Lord Berners was known for his sense of humor and elaborate practical jokes, but he also had a sadder side: he was prone to depression and mercurial mood swings that could sometimes bedevil him for long periods.
Lord Berners' emotional life was somewhat mysterious. He never married, but carried on long friendships with younger men, the longest lasting of which was with Robert Heber-Percy, the youngest son of a noble family. Handsome but without direction and extremely reckless, Robert (The Mad Boy of the title) met Lord Berners in 1930. Despite a nearly 30 year age gap, they became close friends and companions. Robert moved into Faringdon House and remained there for the rest of his life acting as Berners' companion, estate manager, and probable lover (since homosexuality was illegal in England, both men were understandably reticent about that aspect of their relationship.) Even when Robert married the beautiful young socialite Jennifer Fry this curious arrangement continued, with Jennifer living and giving birth to a daughter at Faringdon House.
Sofka Zinovieff is the granddaughter of Robert and Jennifer, and this book is partly a biography of Lord Berners and her grandparents, partly a chronicle of the glamorous parade of writers, musicians, artists, and socialites who came to Faringdon House during its heyday, and partly the story of her own life as the literal heiress (Faringdon House is now hers) of these colorful people. It's an amazing story full of incident and dripping with one fascinating anecdote after another. It's also a sad story, because many of these talented, creative people struggled with depression, addictions, and tragedies, moving from one lover to another but rarely if ever finding true soul mates and contentment.
As befits a chronicle of people who lived in beautiful surroundings, this book is physically a work of art, with heavy glossy pages, fine binding and end papers, and even a pink ribbon for a bookmark. There are many illustrations, mostly photographs of Lord Berners, Robert, and their families and friends; along with some modern photos of some of Faringdon's treasures. Lord Berners himself would be pleased with it.
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful.
Mad as a Box of Frogs -- and Magnificently So!
By Robert J. Canning
A MAGNIFICENT multi-biographical book by someone who knows the subjects intimately. Sofka Zinovieff writes with authority, facts and humor, and illustrates it with family photos that enhance your reading pleasure. Lord Berners and his "longtime companion," Robert Hebert-Percy, were the original Odd Couple, and "mad as a box of frogs." It is also a beautifully put together volume -- the fabric bookmark adds quite a bit of Old World class. I'm only halfway through the book and had to share my joy and pleasure in reading it with you! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful.
A Brilliant Social History
By Chicago Gourmand
Fascinating social history of English country-house life with an amazing cast of historical figures
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