This story is the record of a struggle between two temperaments, two consciences and almost two epochs. It ended, as was inevitable, in disruption. Of the two human beings here described, one was born to fly backward, the other could not help being carried forward. The affection of these two persons was assailed by forces in comparison with which the changes that health or fortune or place introduce are as nothing. It is not usual, perhaps, that the narrative of a spirited struggle should mingle merriment and humour with a discussion of the most solemn subjects. But.... there was an extraordinary mixture of comedy and tragedy in the situation and those who are affected by the pathos of it will not need to have it explained to them that the comedy was superficial and the tragedy essential Edmund Gosse.
Download and start listening now!
"Excellent! This coming of age story under the watchful eye of a strict religious upbringing still holds up today. The author's humor and sensitivity with which he retells his parent's overbearing religious fervor and what it did to a young child's psyche, engrosses the reader. Highly recommended. " — Sandra (5 out of 5 stars)
"Excellent! This coming of age story under the watchful eye of a strict religious upbringing still holds up today. The author's humor and sensitivity with which he retells his parent's overbearing religious fervor and what it did to a young child's psyche, engrosses the reader. Highly recommended. "
" Compelling and strange, a marvellously crafted autobiography and meditation on faith and modernity. "
" Memoir of a man's faith journey In the 1800's and the influence of his fundamentalist minister father on his worldview. Well-written and thought provoking. "
" Excellent look at that time and surviving a strict father, and surviving religious dogma. "
" This is probably my favorite book from the Victorian era. "
" Good but still a little bit of a snoozefest as it was in 1989 at A Level... "
" Well written in the Victorian manner, and a fascinating double portrait of Gosse and his Puritan scientist father. "
" For those of us who grew up in church and then left it. "
" Excellent! This coming of age story under the watchful eye of a strict religious upbringing still holds up today. The author's humor and sensitivity with which he retells his parent's overbearing religious fervor and what it did to a young child's psyche, engrosses the reader. Highly recommended. "
" If you've ever been interested in losing your religious faith, this is the book to read. The best argument against religious fanaticism that I've come across. "
" I had to read this for my Darwin class, I'm not sure if I liked it or if it I liked it because it wasn't Darwin. But I enjoyed it. "
" tragic, gentle, pleasingly patterned account of Gosse's relationship with his father, who becomes more and more spiritually myopic as the book goes on. In Victorian style, includes what you might call a moral bodycount. "
Audiobooks Were Restored to Your Cart
[ShoppingCartItemsAddedOnMerge] audiobook(s) were left in your cart from a previous visit, and saved to your account for your convenience. You may view or remove these audiobooks on the shopping cart page.