The People on Privilege Hill

I first discovered Jane Gardam a few years ago when I read her subtle, completely brilliant, account of the life of English barrister Eddie Feathers, aka [[ASIN:1933372133 Old Filth]] ('failed in London, try Hong Kong'). Ms Gardam upped the ante late last year by publishing a companion volume, [[ASIN:1933372893 The Man in the Wooden Hat]], which retold, and deepened, the story of the Feathers marriage from the point of view of his wife Betty.

Old Filth and his nemesis Veneering make a cameo appearance in the first story in this awesome collection by Gardam. The remaining stories are all over the map - from a woman who falls in love with a gorilla to the unexpectedly moving account of a college reunion - each has a wit and poignancy that few authors can match. I found these stories extraordinary.

It's impossible for me to pinpoint exactly where her brilliance lies. I'll just say that no collection of stories has moved me as much in the past five years and leave it at that. You have to read these stories - they will surprise and delight you. A truly spectacular accomplishment from an author you may not have come across.

The first story in the volume takes the story of Old Filth and Veneering from two early novels. The other stories are not as good as her novelse

I loved this book, as some of the characters from the Old Filth trilogy reappear. Jane Gardam is a wildly talented, original writer.