Old Filth Trilogy 3 Books Collection Set by Jane Gardam - Adult Fiction - Paperback

Titles in This Set
Old Filth
The Man in the Wooden Hat
Last Friends

Details
Condition: Brand New
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Abacus

Overview
The Old Filth trilogy brings together Jane Gardam's celebrated character study of Sir Edward Feathers in one paperback set. Old Filth, The Man in the Wooden Hat, and Last Friends trace a single circle of lives across empire, law, and marriage, shifting perspective from Edward to his wife Betty and finally to his great rival. Told with dry wit and quiet precision, the trilogy examines memory, class, and the private cost of a distinguished public life. This collection suits readers who enjoy literary fiction built on slow-burn revelation and richly drawn interior lives.

About the Books
Jane Gardam's trilogy opens with Old Filth, first published in 2004 and later shortlisted for the Orange Prize. The novel introduces Sir Edward Feathers, a barrister and judge nicknamed "Old Filth" (Failed In London, Try Hong Kong), whose polished career conceals a fractured colonial childhood. The Man in the Wooden Hat retells much of the same span of decades from the point of view of his wife, Betty, revealing a marriage shaped by secrets, compromise, and enduring affection Edward never fully understood. Last Friends closes the trilogy by turning to Terry Veneering, Edward's lifelong rival, a man born to a Russian acrobat father whose flamboyant rise through the English Bar mirrors and contrasts with Edward's reserved ascent. Across the three novels, Gardam moves between wartime evacuation, colonial Malaya and Hong Kong, and the English legal establishment, using shifting timelines to show how the same events look different depending on who remembers them. The writing stays spare, funny, and unsentimental even when the subject is loss or regret, trusting readers to piece together a full picture from fragments. Together, the three books form one of contemporary British fiction's most admired portraits of a generation raised in empire and reckoning, late in life, with what that upbringing cost them. Presented here in matching paperback format, the set suits both first-time readers and fans wanting a complete shelf set.

Key Benefits

• Complete three-book trilogy in matching paperback format
• Follows Sir Edward Feathers, Betty, and Terry Veneering across three intertwined perspectives
• Old Filth was shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction
• Ideal for fans of character-driven literary fiction and slow-reveal storytelling
• Great gift for book clubs, literary fiction lovers, or a holiday or birthday present
• Compact paperback set that's easy to shelve, gift, or pack for travel

Book-by-Book Guide
Old Filth — introduces Sir Edward Feathers, a retired judge whose calm public reputation hides a childhood scarred by colonial displacement.
The Man in the Wooden Hat — retells Edward's story through the eyes of his wife Betty, exposing the secrets behind their long marriage.
Last Friends — closes the trilogy with the story of Terry Veneering, Edward's flamboyant rival, tracing his unlikely rise from a modest, itinerant childhood.

About the Author
Jane Gardam is a British novelist and short story writer known for precise, witty prose and sharp observation of English social life. She has written across genres for both adults and children, and the Old Filth trilogy is widely regarded as among her finest work, admired for its structural ambition and emotional restraint. Old Filth, the trilogy's opening novel, was shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction. Gardam's fiction frequently explores memory, empire, and the gap between how people appear and who they truly are, themes running throughout this acclaimed trilogy.

Why You'll Love This Collection
This set gathers a beloved, prize-shortlisted trilogy in one matching paperback package, perfect for gifting to the literary fiction reader in your life. Whether it's a birthday gift, a holiday season present, or an addition to your own shelf, these three interlocking novels reward slow reading and discussion.

Please Note: This is the UK edition with the ISBN as listed; the cover may vary slightly from the image shown.