Jane Gardam: Old Filth

Sir Edward Feathers, retired judge, is a legend in law circles known as Filth — Failed in London Try Hong Kong. Filth is very, very old, living alone in the Dorset country house he and his wife Betty withdrew to after their return to England.

Betty is dead, but Filth still talks to her as he rattles around in the big old place. He learns, to his horror, that a longtime rival from the Bar, Terry Veneering, has moved in next door. On a freezing Christmas Day, Filth locks himself out of his house, and is forced to pop next door for help, cursing himself for being a stupid old fool.

"The front door was opened slightly by a bent old man with a strand or two of blond hair."

"Filth? Come in."

"Thank you."

"No coat?"

And so, understatedly, a late new chapter of Filth's long life begins. But not before the admirable Gardam, shortlisted for this book in last year's Orange Prize, takes us back to a rather surprising beginning, because Filth began life as a "Raj orphan" in the jungles of Malaya, during the end days of Britain's colonial rule.

His mother died in childbirth and his father, a boozer, abandoned the baby's care to a Malay woman. Thus Filth — or Eddie as he was then — grew up as a wild little Malay boy, cared for by a Malay mum, and unable to speak English.

At age four, Eddie is abruptly uprooted and taken to live on a farm in Wales. The phenomenon of the "Raj orphan" was common for the times but rarely discussed; thus creating generations of traumatised children who grew up to become emotionally repressed adults.

Poor little Eddie. As if being snatched away from his Amman is not tragic enough, an event occurs in Wales at which Gardam only hints, and he is again propelled into an alien environment, this time the English public school. His best friend Pat's family, the Ingoldbys, become his surrogate family. For a while. The war intervenes, Ed sits exams for Oxford, then to his shock, his father makes contact. Ed must evacuate, and join him in Singapore.

Gardam employs remarkable skill in weaving the layers of Filth's earlier life with Filth today, as he struggles with loneliness, temper, memory and sentimentality. Despite the fact he can never remember the name of his housekeeper, "Mrs-er", Filth has the unwitting ability of attracting great affection, from Mrs-er, and the reader.

What insight Gardam shows into what it must be like to be as ancient as the hills, shouting one minute, in reverie in the past the next. Having a crying spell. Trying to make sense of it all. There is humour aplenty, almost verging on slapstick in an episode when Filth embarks on a long drive to track down family. He has rarely driven on motorways before.

"On again, and into the ruthless thunder of the traffic on the A1; but he was in charge again. Bloody good car, strong as a tank, fine as a good horse. Always liked driving. Aha! Help!"

Fabulously funny and warm, this is a book brimming with emotion and empathy which will bring a tear for the wonderful Filth. Gardam's astute skill brings him to brave, tottering life. Wonderful.

Abacus $27

* Linda Herrick is the Herald books editor.