{"product_id":"old-filth-trilogy-jane-gardam-3-books-collection-set-fiction-paperback","title":"Old Filth Trilogy 3 Books Collection Set by Jane Gardam - Adult Fiction - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTitles in This Set\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nOld Filth\u003cbr\u003e\nThe Man in the Wooden Hat\u003cbr\u003e\nLast Friends\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDetails\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nCondition: Brand New\u003cbr\u003e\nFormat: Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\n\nPublisher: Abacus\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Books\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nJane 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Benefits\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComplete three-book trilogy in matching paperback format\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFollows Sir Edward Feathers, Betty, and Terry Veneering across three intertwined perspectives\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOld Filth was shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIdeal for fans of character-driven literary fiction and slow-reveal storytelling\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGreat gift for book clubs, literary fiction lovers, or a holiday or birthday present\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompact paperback set that's easy to shelve, gift, or pack for travel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBook-by-Book Guide\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nOld Filth — introduces Sir Edward Feathers, a retired judge whose calm public reputation hides a childhood scarred by colonial displacement.\u003cbr\u003e\nThe Man in the Wooden Hat — retells Edward's story through the eyes of his wife Betty, exposing the secrets behind their long marriage.\u003cbr\u003e\nLast Friends — closes the trilogy with the story of Terry Veneering, Edward's flamboyant rival, tracing his unlikely rise from a modest, itinerant childhood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nJane 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy You'll Love This Collection\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePlease Note: This is the UK edition with the ISBN as listed; the cover may vary slightly from the image shown.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jane Gardam","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57127584072054,"sku":"MAN-OB-U0270-9789123858941","price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0575\/6587\/2211\/files\/old-filth-trilogy-jane-gardam-paperback.jpg?v=1786066096","url":"https:\/\/skymartbooks.com\/products\/old-filth-trilogy-jane-gardam-3-books-collection-set-fiction-paperback","provider":"Skymart Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}