Comments on: The Bolter by Frances Osborne http://knopf.knopfdoubleday.com/2009/06/04/the-bolter-by-frances-osborne/ Knopf Doubleday Wed, 16 May 2012 19:08:01 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5.2 hourly 1 By: Heather Harris http://knopf.knopfdoubleday.com/2009/06/04/the-bolter-by-frances-osborne/comment-page-1/#comment-34927 Heather Harris Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:49:08 +0000 http://knopfdoubleday.com/?p=1593#comment-34927 The author's intelligent Youtube promo parallels the span of this fascinating book: modern sensibilities stretching the boundries of old guard traditional values, encompassing all with as much reason as abandon. The book well answers our appalled collective gasp of- how could these real life characters act so? Those of us who were adolescents or young adults in the 1960's will have no recourse but to identify with the decadent counter-culture within the times profiled in this book. Also, I myself have been to Kenya and understand firsthand its incredible sway. For the rest, all material whether emotional or historical, no matter how exuberant or painful for subject or reader, is well explained within its context, in Osborne's eminently readable prose. Thus the book is best for two types of readers: completists of the Happy Valley, Kenya goings on via James Fox' "White Mischief" or Errol Trzebinski's parallel tome, and everyone else in the world with an interest in social history of the first half of the 20th century via well-heeled (and occasionally just heels) Brits and Brit expats. The author’s intelligent Youtube promo parallels the span of this fascinating book:
modern sensibilities stretching the boundries of old guard traditional values, encompassing all with as much reason as abandon.

The book well answers our appalled collective gasp of- how could these real life characters act so?

Those of us who were adolescents or young adults in the 1960’s will have no recourse but to identify with the decadent counter-culture within the times profiled in this book. Also, I myself have been to Kenya and understand firsthand its incredible sway.

For the rest, all material whether emotional or historical, no matter how exuberant or painful for subject or reader, is well explained within its context, in Osborne’s eminently readable prose.

Thus the book is best for two types of readers: completists of the Happy Valley, Kenya goings on via James Fox’ “White Mischief” or Errol Trzebinski’s parallel tome, and everyone else in the world with an interest in social history of the first half of the 20th century via well-heeled (and occasionally just heels) Brits and Brit expats.

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