I am enjoying the Slightly Foxed Editions as there are a collection of memoirs, largely from the first part of the 20th century, and again focussed on the UK (at least from what I have seen/red to date).

There are an insight into that period, and obviously one I never personally encountered. It is also probably why I also enjoy Golden Age Crime novels.

I had not heard of the people populating this book, but apparently Roger Ackerley (of the title, and known for a while as the banana king of London, a successful grocer/importer) and J R Ackerley (a well known writer and editor, who joined the BBC in its early days).

The author (Diana) was independently famous, particularly for her charitable work during WW2.

Roger maintained 2 families, each of which had children. The secret orchard was from Diana's perspective, the other family. Diana's mother left them early on, but returned some 10 years later. That return was not successful.

The book is described in a helpful preface as an example of a 'misery memoir', and certainly a lot of sadness. The preface also mentions that, in 1968, JR wrote My father and Myself, as to which this book (1975) might be regarded as a complementary memoir.

I do not think I will go out of my way to find/read that earlier memoir, believing that I have sufficient as to this/these families, but I am glad I have read this memoir.

Big Ship

1 December 2022 ( )

Sad memoir by one of the daughters of Roger Ackerley's mistress, so J. R Ackerley's half sister. She and her sisters were hidden away while her mother, who seems to have been a narcissist, left the girls with carers. Later she came back into their lives but demanded attention and loyalty. I skimmed it - just not a very interesting story, unfortunately. ( )