Folio Archives 84: Augustus Carp Esq. by Himself by Sir Henry Howard Bashford 1988
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1wcarter
Augustus Carp Esq. by Himself by Sir Henry Howard Bashford 1988
Being the Autobiography of a Really Good Man
Published anonymously in 1924, and not acknowledged by its author in his lifetime, this fictitious autobiography of a self centered prig is a humorous look at the English middle class who had greater pretentions than their position.
It is a satirical masterpiece that cannot be read with a straight face, as it elevates bathos to a highly readable art form. It is a resume of a life so ordinary that the ponderous march through life’s events become humorous in the extreme. The self esteem, and self justification of Augustus Carp will remind us of some people we have known, but in a characterised form. The author’s purported memories of his infancy and baptism gradually merge into boyhood and prep school and his ongoing life as a pain in the derriere to all of those who encounter him.
It is a delightfully easy and amusing read and after re-reading it a decade after the initial time, I found it just as entertaining.
The small 199 page book is only 22.8x14cm. in its plain black slipcase. The binding is maroon cloth blocked with a design in black and gilt on cover and spine. The drawing of the topic of the book really gives the reader an immediate idea of what to expect. There is an introduction by John Letts and there are 13 integrated drawings by David Eccles.
Clipping from prospectus
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
Being the Autobiography of a Really Good Man
Published anonymously in 1924, and not acknowledged by its author in his lifetime, this fictitious autobiography of a self centered prig is a humorous look at the English middle class who had greater pretentions than their position.
It is a satirical masterpiece that cannot be read with a straight face, as it elevates bathos to a highly readable art form. It is a resume of a life so ordinary that the ponderous march through life’s events become humorous in the extreme. The self esteem, and self justification of Augustus Carp will remind us of some people we have known, but in a characterised form. The author’s purported memories of his infancy and baptism gradually merge into boyhood and prep school and his ongoing life as a pain in the derriere to all of those who encounter him.
It is a delightfully easy and amusing read and after re-reading it a decade after the initial time, I found it just as entertaining.
The small 199 page book is only 22.8x14cm. in its plain black slipcase. The binding is maroon cloth blocked with a design in black and gilt on cover and spine. The drawing of the topic of the book really gives the reader an immediate idea of what to expect. There is an introduction by John Letts and there are 13 integrated drawings by David Eccles.
Clipping from prospectus
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
3TabbyTom
One of my reasons for being grateful to the Folio Society is that they introduced me to this book. I don't suppose I would ever have heard of it if they hadn't decided to publish it, but I bought it when it was published and it's been one of my favourite works of humour ever since. Thank you for the pictures.
5IgnatiusR
Thanks for these wonderful posts wcarter! I have ordered some of them thanks to your reviews, but this one is the best of the lot, as beautiful as it can be, one of my favourite folios (while awaiting for The Scarlet Letter, Chartres, and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner based on your great photos)
6podaniel
I guess thanks for these posts--sometimes you make me order a book based on your reviews and then I discover I already had a copy of it. Doh!
7TabbyTom
I didn't know about this book either until Folio published it, but I bought it then and it's been one of my favourite books ever since (I've since discovered that it was one of Anthony Burgess's favourites too).
