Reviews for Still Life and a Classical Education: A Double Autobiography

The average rating for Still Life and a Classical Education: A Double Autobiography based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2021-06-14 00:00:00 James Kearns Gossipy fun mixed with a detailed mainly middle class social history of Tunbridge Wells in the 1920’s and 1930’s, when Richard Cobb was a child. He appears to have a wonderful memory, but this must have been assisted by his mother continuing to live there until the 1960’s and Richard’s visits to her. I know my mother talks about the old people who lived in houses when I take her out for drives, but I cannot recount the extraordinary and fascinating level of detail provided here. I suspect that some may find it lacking purpose, but I found this a delightful series of verbal portraits, recreated by Cobbs’ easy and descriptive prose. Although my childhood was much later, in the 1970’s, I found some of the characters and scenes described brought back similar, though previously forgotten memories for myself.

Review # 2 was written on 2012-06-22 00:00:00 Joe Henderson Loving portrait of the staid, private world of the south-east England city from the 1920s to 40s. Sharp portrayals of his mother, Kate the nanny, his eccentric cousins and Mr. Evans and his watercolours. Charming and funny writer.