The Man in the Wooden Hat

I am certain that reviewers urging people to read Old Filth first have a point, and I will read Old Filth as soon as I can get a copy purchased. But for those of you out there, like me, who find yourself holding in hand The Man in the Wooden Hat (with no immediate access to Old Filth), the book is still a treat. Go ahead and read it; I loved it even though I had not read Old Filth. The characterization of both Betty and Edward... Read Full Review

Establishing oneself a successful business person is easy, but romance is something else. "The Man in the Wooden Hat" is a follow up to the celebrated Old Filth novel, following Edward Feathers as he tries to get himself an English wife in Betty. A story that is wide in scope and has many memorable characters, "The Man in the Wooden Hat" is a fine piece of literary fiction that will resonate with readers.

This is true literature - moving, thought-provoking, oddly humorous, utterly riveting - and the strangest love story I've ever read. A technical tour de force as well, the novel is the backstory of Gardam's earlier book, OLD FILTH. That book describes a marriage from the point of view of the husband (Sir Edward Feathers). Here, we get the story from his wife Betty's perspective. Both have had shocking experiences early... Read Full Review

Esteemed novelist Jane Gardam follows up on the success of Old Filth, her highly successful 2005 novel about the life and marriage of Sir Edward Feathers, with the companion story of Sir Edward's wife, Betty. Each novel benefits from the other, the sum being significantly greater than the combination of the parts, and together they are a stunning study of a marriage--not ideal, but "workable." Feathers grew up unloved in... Read Full Review