The Nile on eBay Confessions by A.N. Wilson
The much-anticipated memoirs of one of Britain's leading contemporary critics, both literary and cultural, and a figure celebrated for his waspish and subversive writing.
FORMATPaperback LANGUAGEEnglish CONDITIONBrand New Publisher Description
When you combine the deepest learning and the highest readability with the most plumptious story-telling, the result is A. N. Wilson … Stephen FryKnown for his journalism, biographies and novels, A. N. Wilson turns a merciless searchlight on his own early life, his experience of sexual abuse, his catastrophic mistakes in love and his life in Grub Street as a prolific writer.Before he came to London, as one of the "Best of Young British" novelists, and Literary Editor of the Spectator, we meet another A. N. Wilson. We meet his father, the Managing Director of Wedgwood, the grotesque teachers at his first boarding school, and the dons of Oxford – one of whom, at the age of just 20, he married, the renowned Shakespearean scholar, the late Katherine Duncan-Jones.At every turn of this reminiscence, Wilson is baffled by his earlier self – whether flirting with unsuitable lovers or with the idea of the priesthood. His chapter on the High Camp seminary which he attended in Oxford is among the funniest in the book.We follow his unsuccessful attempts to become an academic, his aspirations to be a Man of Letters, and his eventual encounters with the famous, including some memorable meetings with royalty.The princesses, dons, paedophiles and journos who cross the pages are as sharply drawn as figures in his early comic fiction. But there is also a tenderness here, in his evocation of those whom he has loved, and hurt, the most.
Author Biography
A. N. Wilson is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and holds a prominent position in the world of literature and journalism. He is a prolific and award-winning biographer and celebrated novelist. His novel, Winnie and Wolf, was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. His last book The Mystery of Charles Dickens was published in 2020 to great critical acclaim and is at present being dramatized by Andrew Davies for British television.
Table of Contents
Introduction1. Ungentle A. N.2. Remind Me3. Sorrowful Lay4. Living up to the Blue China5. Best of Young British6. Masks7. Norman Wilson's Son8. Leaving Germany9. The Works10. Frail Travelling11. Andrew Woods12. Contrasts13. Warfare Accomplished14. Miscarriages15. What is my Name?16. Convent Thoughts17. Newcastle Road18. When I Get There, I'll Be Glad19. Put Your Cap On, I Should20. Notes for Boys21. Little Bryan22. Acqua Non Fizzimento23. Journalistic Debut24. A Bit of a Ruin25. Mme de Liencourt, Mr Lowry and Others26. Galsworthy Scholar27. Kibbutznik28. Lost Causes29. Angel Fluffs30. "Are they twa sweethearts?"31. St Trinian's32. Superficial Journey33. St Andrew's by the Northern Sea34. Prosaic and Drivelling35. Clare36. The Green StickIndex
Review
When you combine the deepest learning and the highest readability with the most plumptious story-telling, the result is A. N. Wilson … * Stephen Fry *A. N. Wilson is the most enjoyably readable writer I know. * Antonia Fraser *A. N. Wilson is the supreme man of letters. He has conquered every field: journalism, novels, biography, history – and now memoir. He is planet-brained and very funny – a vanishingly rare combination. * Harry Mount *I am stunned, as I always am, by Wilson's humanity and brilliance and hard honesty. * Deirdre McCloskey *Distinguished literary figure A. N. Wilson's exquisite memoir tells the story of the wife he fell for as a student then betrayed - and the lifetime of lust and longing that led to a deeply poignant ending. * Daily Mail *A. N. Wilson has written many brilliant biographies and novels but never a memoir - until now. It was worth the wait. So exhilarating. And definitely not a failed promise. * Daily Telegraph *Wilson is a torrentially readable autobiographer, capable of howlingly funny paragraphs, desperately sad scenes, gay slapstick, literary analysis and gossipy name-dropping in the same chapter. * John Walsh, Sunday Times *…an arresting, honest, memorable book, never naïve or sloppy, tender and forgiving towards those who have hurt Wilson, contemptuous and merciless about his own cowardice, vanity and failings. * Literary Review *Descriptions of life as a theological student have the mischievous, observant wit of an accomplished humourist. * The Spectator *…in this fascinating, searingly honest memoir [Wilson] tells more of his own life story. * Jacqueline Wilson, bestselling children's author *Deliciously delicate barbs are scattered throughout the pages. * The Tablet *A. N. Wilson is the greatest living man of letters…He is proficient equally as a biographer, novelist, historian, essayist, editor and literary journalist. His every utterance is well worth pondering… * The Oldie *Scholarly, prolific and compulsively readable … it is impossible to resist Wilson's storytelling… From its very first pages, "Confessions" promises to be terrifically entertaining, and it doesn't fail in the slightest. * The Washington Post *A. N. Wilson is nothing short of a genius, a searing journalist, a prolific biographer, a historian and a novelist. There will be no finer book this year. * Rory Knight Bruce, The Field *All these accounts are fascinating, rendered with both melancholy and self-deprecating humor… * Booklist *Confessions reveals a dexterous storyteller… Mr. Wilson himself turned to writing, writing, writing—as if his earnest output might one day assuage "the wistful sense with which I began to write this book, that I have never been completely sure who A.N. Wilson was." We aren't sure, either, but it has been an interesting ride. * Wall Street Journal *Wilson's yarn has much to recommend… A readable, often entertaining summation of a life of hard work and second thoughts. * Kirkus Reviews *...a poignant saga …laugh out loud, hilarious... a compelling read.. replete with acerbic humor. * City Book Review *Wilson knows how to tell a good story … Wilson captures a world that is smaller than today but also full of possibilities too soon passed. This may not be a confession, but it is a lament, and rightly so. * The Washington Examiner *A. N. Wilson is one of the very best novelists and biographers of his generation. He is also the most intriguing of them all. * Church Times *In this uproariously funny at times, and searingly – almost masochistically – honest pages, it is clear that one promise [Wilson] has been unswervingly faithful to is his promise as a writer. * Andrew Roberts, The Spectator *…a tight, funny yarn – and the year's best memoir, filled with eye-popping scenes and wise asides. * Daily Telegraph *…Andrew Norman Wilson can write — fluidly, gracefully, and with immense literary flourish. * Washington Independent Review of Books *A must-read for devotees of Wilson's prolific literary output, Confessions is a rambling, poetry-infused remembrance of promises made, broken and reshaped along the way. * Shelf Awareness *Irresistible. * The Tablet's Books of the Year *…gripping confessional memoir, by turns hilarious and poignant… There's profound affection in this beautifully written book. * Daily Mail *I've read Confessions twice with much enjoyment each time. * The Hudson Review *His memoir is, of course, highly readable; full of gossip and catty stories about the people he mixed with in the worlds of journalism, academia and publishing…A diverting read from an author who never minds giving the dirty details of people's lives. * Fun with Books Blog *
Promotional
The much-anticipated memoirs of one of Britain's leading contemporary critics, both literary and cultural, and a figure celebrated for his waspish and subversive writing.
Review Quote
When you combine the deepest learning and the highest readability with the most plumptious story-telling, the result is A. N. Wilson ...
Promotional "Headline"
The much-anticipated memoirs of A. N. Wilson, one of Britain's leading contemporary critics, both literary and cultural, and a figure celebrated for his waspish and subversive writing.
Feature
A. N. Wilson is a well-known and eccentric figure in the British literary scene: an acclaimed novelist, biographer and critic, he was also a judge for the Booker Prize for fiction.
Details ISBN1472994825 Author A.N. Wilson Short Title Confessions Pages 320 Language English Year 2023 ISBN-10 1472994825 ISBN-13 9781472994820 Format Paperback Publication Date 2023-06-22 Imprint Bloomsbury Continuum Subtitle A Life of Failed Promises DEWEY 828.9208 UK Release Date 2023-06-22 Place of Publication London Country of Publication United Kingdom NZ Release Date 2023-06-22 Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Illustrations 20 black and white photographs throughout book Audience General AU Release Date 2023-10-30 We've got this
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