Folio Archives 377: The Unlucky Family by Mrs Henry de la Pasture 1980
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1wcarter
The Unlucky Family by Mrs Henry de la Pasture 1980
By 21st. Century standards this book is ludicrous. It may have been appropriate by the standards of 1907 when it was first published, but by 1980 when the Folio Society issue was released it was dated. Even the detail of the author’s name (using her husband’s name preceded by Mrs.) was anachronistic everywhere except in the most pukka upper reached of British Society by the 1980s. Mrs. Henry de la Pasture was actually Elizabeth de la Pasture (neé Bonham).
The book consists of 14 relatively independent stories about a middle-class English family with eleven children, an inadequate father, a hypochondriacal mother, a demanding aunt and numerous servants who suddenly find themselves very wealthy after an unexpected bequest.
Each chapter details idiotic mistakes made by members of the family that over a century ago would probably have been humerous but today seem just silly. The book is aimed at young adults and there is a laudatory additional preface written by the twelve year old daughter (Daisy Waugh) of the introducer Auberon Waugh, but when offered to my avid reader twelve year old grandson he wanted to stop after half a chapter, and after being forced to read three chapters, he declared that it was very stupid.
The redeeming features of the book are the 15 delightful line drawings (frontispiece and chapter headers) by John Lawrence, who also did the cover picture. The xii+144 page book has page tops that are stained maroon and the end papers are also maroon. It is bound in yellow cloth blocked with a wrap-around pictorial design printed in red. The purple textured slipcase measures 23.5x14.8cm
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An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
By 21st. Century standards this book is ludicrous. It may have been appropriate by the standards of 1907 when it was first published, but by 1980 when the Folio Society issue was released it was dated. Even the detail of the author’s name (using her husband’s name preceded by Mrs.) was anachronistic everywhere except in the most pukka upper reached of British Society by the 1980s. Mrs. Henry de la Pasture was actually Elizabeth de la Pasture (neé Bonham).
The book consists of 14 relatively independent stories about a middle-class English family with eleven children, an inadequate father, a hypochondriacal mother, a demanding aunt and numerous servants who suddenly find themselves very wealthy after an unexpected bequest.
Each chapter details idiotic mistakes made by members of the family that over a century ago would probably have been humerous but today seem just silly. The book is aimed at young adults and there is a laudatory additional preface written by the twelve year old daughter (Daisy Waugh) of the introducer Auberon Waugh, but when offered to my avid reader twelve year old grandson he wanted to stop after half a chapter, and after being forced to read three chapters, he declared that it was very stupid.
The redeeming features of the book are the 15 delightful line drawings (frontispiece and chapter headers) by John Lawrence, who also did the cover picture. The xii+144 page book has page tops that are stained maroon and the end papers are also maroon. It is bound in yellow cloth blocked with a wrap-around pictorial design printed in red. The purple textured slipcase measures 23.5x14.8cm
. . . . 
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
2PeterFitzGerald
Very interesting - thank you very much. Is this the most negative review in the entire series so far? To be honest, it makes me want to read it just to experience its terribleness!
3wcarter
>2 PeterFitzGerald:
The Folio Society book I dislike most is The Folio Book of Carols, reviewed in this series at https://www.librarything.com/topic/292330
The Folio Society book I dislike most is The Folio Book of Carols, reviewed in this series at https://www.librarything.com/topic/292330
4Pendrainllwyn
>1 wcarter: my avid reader twelve year old grandson
He must love coming over and sneaking off to your library. At least you know where to find him.
He must love coming over and sneaking off to your library. At least you know where to find him.
5wcarter
>4 Pendrainllwyn:
When I pass on, he has already claimed first choice of books from the library. Hopefully he will have to wait quite a while!
When I pass on, he has already claimed first choice of books from the library. Hopefully he will have to wait quite a while!
6Andy_Dingley
Having just read this, I would have to echo everything about your review.
I lasted more than 3 chapters. But by the last couple, it was certainly a slog to finish.
I lasted more than 3 chapters. But by the last couple, it was certainly a slog to finish.
