Anglo-Saxon Attitudes
Anglo-Saxon Attitudes by Angus Wilson, published by Penguin in 1958, is a reprint edition that spans 346 pages. This novel chronicles the life of historian Gerald Middleton, a sixty-year-old man who perceives himself as a failure, grappling with personal and familial estrangement. As he becomes embroiled in a significant archaeological hoax, the narrative unfolds against the backdrop of English society, showcasing a diverse array of characters and their interactions.
Readers will encounter a rich tapestry of relationships, including Middleton’s complex dynamics with his gay son and his mistress, Dollie, who plays a pivotal role in the unfolding events. The book delves into themes of failure, conscience, and the absurdities of life, all while offering a humorous yet poignant critique of societal norms. With its focus on literary criticism, Anglo-Saxon Attitudes remains a notable work in Wilson’s oeuvre, reflecting the intricacies of human behavior and the societal context of the time.
Official synopsis Publisher
The publication and phenomenal success of Anglo-Saxon Attitudes in 1956 confirmed Angus Wilson’s status as a world-class writer, on a par with other such literary greats as Graham Greene, Kingsley Amis, and John Osborne. Still considered Wilson’s finest work, Anglo-Saxon Attitudes chronicles the middle age of historian Gerald Middleton, a sixty-year-old self-defined failure, and of the most hopeless kind, “a failure with a conscience”. Separated from his wife and mistrusted by his own children, Middleton soon finds himself mired in one of the cruelest archeological hoaxes of the century. Hosting a colorful cast of memorable characters from Middleton’s gay son, who is dominated by his overbearing mother, to Dollie, his unsatisfied mistress and accessory to the great hoax, Wilson depicts the hilarious foibles of English society with an unexpected, bittersweet compassion. It is no wonder Angus Wilson was considered the Charles Dickens of his day.
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