Although I found Richard Madeley’s account of his family fascinating, talking to older family members reminiscing about the past, one thing rather irritated me. I realise the book is called Fathers & Sons, but why is that? Why is his family history so biased towards the male side of his family? Are there no anecdotes about the women? The only one of any note is when his great aunt persuaded her siblings to let Geoffrey keep the farm. His mother only gets a mention when he asks her opinion on why his father did certain things. Were the women really so unmemorable?

This is equally the case in the story of his own life. His wife Judy is equally famous and came to their marriage with twin sons from her previous marriage. Together they formed a new family, dealing with miscarriages, then the joy of two children of their own. Richard examines his relationship with his easy-going stepsons and rebellious son Jack, but his daughter Chloe is reduced to two anecdotes: her birth – when she apparently looked a kitten, un her dinosaur- brother – and as a horrified observer when her father nearly choked to death.

To be honest, it’s the stories of the men in the older generations which are the interesting part of the book. By the end I found Richard Madeley’s own self-centred narrative less compelling. At his wedding to Judy, he refers to “my stepsons and my son”, not ‘our’, which in casual speech would not grate, but in book form does. Unless Judy was planning on writing her own memoir about the female side of her own family, it feels a gaping hole in the narrative to never hear any speculation about how the women must have felt when their husbands and brothers made life changing decisions with little input from them. Men writing history again.

An incomplete summary

Richard Madeley starts by writing about his paternal grandfather, one of seven children, the only one left behind in England when the rest emigrated to Canada after a partner in their firm stepped back. In exchange for the cost of their one-way ticket, 10-year-old Geoffrey was left with his uncles and aunt to work on their farm. His plans to join his family at the age of 21 were thwarted by the First World War. In a serendipitous moment, he even managed to meet two of his brothers on the way to the trenches. Incredible! After the war, he demobbed to Canada to join his family, briefly.

Geoffrey was separated from his family twice, as a child and again, when he returned to the farm from Canada after WWI, on the understanding that he would inherit if he came back to England. Moreover, he left the love of his life behind in Canada because his Canadian fiancee had refused to leave her family behind and move abroad.

Geoffrey continued to work on the farm, surviving the Depression, growing the herd of cattle. He married and had three boys: James, John and Christopher, the author’s father. Tragically, John died at the age of four of pneumonia and his parents never recovered from the shock. Geoffrey withdrew into emotional coldness and even cruelty, and Kitty was also less than warm. Only when they had retired and the older generation had moved to a smaller cottage, were they able to spend time and affection on their grandchildren.

When his Uncle William died, Geoffrey had been promised the farm, but there was a terrible shock in store: he was left nothing at all and the farm was divided between his brothers and sisters in Canada. Fortunately his Aunt Sarah immediately hired a lawyer to dispute the patently unfair will and his youngest sister persuaded the others to allow his family to stay at the farm.

The next family betrayal came when Chris (Richard’s father) was sent away to boarding school because his father thought he was going off the rails, simply because his school report said he needed to focus, he had started dating girls and enjoying some freedom. The boarding school was strict, food was appalling due to rationing and he was an outsider not used to boarding school life. To make matters worse, many of the teachers had been called up to fight, so were replaced by retirees with outdated ideas. He hated it. Immediately after leaving school, he had to do national service in communications in the RAF, which he did love.

He later went into journalism, found a newspaper job in Canada, but that fell through, through no fault of his own. He then had a lucky break that got him started again working in PR for Ford and met his wife, Mary Claire, a red-headed actress. They later moved to England, where they had two children, Richard and his older sister Elizabeth. Due to the coldness of his father, Chris was prone to an authoritarian style of parenting that came to a head one fateful day when he lost his temper and overstepped the mark. Although this was never repeated, it made Richard vow never to treat his own children that way. Which was just as well, because his own son sounds he was somewhat of a rebel. A nice touch to finish the book with a epilogue by son Jack.2000-2009 bc_others family ...more3 s Marilyn Wood7

Never been fan of Richard Madeley,and not about to become one this book is sooo boring!2 s SWZIE120 2

I was a fan of Richard and his wife Judy when they hosted This Morning - and then ran a book club. I suppose I initially began reading Richard’s book, Fathers and Sons, out of idle curiosity. But what began as inquisitiveness quickly transformed into serious interest, because Richard had an extraordinary story to impart, about three generations of his family. It was indeed riveting. He is a superb writer, and so eloquently made the story, which began with his great grandfather, come alive, as if it only happened yesterday.

I was shocked to read about Richard’s great grandfather emigrating; taking all his family, except his one son, Geoffrey. He pawned him for the price of a one way ticket to Canada. I can’t imagine how a ten year old must have felt to have been abandoned. He woke up one morning to find they had all left. He had six siblings, and must have assumed he was the least loved.

The uncle, with whom he was left, showed no affection, and expected the young lad to work on his farm for a pittance. Subsequently, his life was devoid of a role model. A later betrayal by his callous uncle obviously had a catastrophic and everlasting effect on him. I could therefore understand how he was unable to be a loving father to his own son – and how this cycle was passed on to Chris, who began beating Richard.

If you don't receive love, then are you able to give it? A very thought provoking book.
1 Janet Bishop20

thoroughly enjoyed reading this book a very honest description of times gone past . I cannot imagine what it must have been to find your family had left you behind and what an effect it would have on your mind and indeed further generations ! thank goodness Richard Madeley had the foresight to change the unemotional streak running in his family ,he came a cross as a fab family man and I would recommend this book to all of the Richard Madeley cynics out there!1 Carole Mills25

I found this book boring and fragmented. Had a job to follow what was going on at times. Perhaps that's just because it didn't grab me! Even factually incorrect in places.

I was unable to finish it I'm afraid. unfinished1 Andrea Seddon10

A great interesting read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and was just amazed how Richard had been able to go through so much of his a family history. So well written and researched. A great read.1 Darla Ebert974 4

Such an emotional story. I confess I had to skip over some parts that were too fragile as I envisioned my own son or grandson if either was in the same situation as the author's grandfather. Then the experiences the author's father endured were too painful. Otherwise, the family dynamics pique one's interest. Madeley truly had a story to tell and he told it well. In addition to research of family letters, word of mouth, found-"artifacts" the author did his own semi-professional critique of the actions of his great-grandfather, grandfather, father and Uncle. His theories and summaries have the ring of truth to them. The whole book, though not lengthy, is one I would recommend.autobiography memoir Johnboy Somerville140 1 follower

I've never really taken to Madeley, if I'm honest and after reading this my opinion is still the same.
That said; the story of his father and grandfather is intriguing (if you can bear with the slow, dull writing).

Not the easiest read to be honest - not that it is particularly harrowing or upsetting, it is just that the writing is so mind numbing at times. David Rodwell4

Great story about what happened to one person. Dictated the way he treated his son and so on. This book had been my best read for a long time. Gail Marchant507 2

Richard Madeley tells a honest account of 4 generations of fathers & sons

Sadness heartache he delves into his history

Fabulous book well written Barbra917 16

Richard Madeley's memoir has been written well and a good story. It's a vivid and candid memoir of his relationship with his father and his own children.

Back Cover Blurb:
Seven years before the Great War, a little boy stays overnight with his family on an uncle's Shropshire farm. He awakes the next morning to an empty house - his mother, father and siblings have packed up and gone. He has been left behind, in what turns out to be a heartbreaking betrayal. This child was Geoffrey - Richard Madeley's grandfather.
The shock waves would ripple down through generations of Madeley boys, each one destined to become a father to a son Christopher, Geoffrey's son, was starved of paternal affection; his father, deprived of parenting role models, had emotionally withdrawn. Christopher swore to himself that if he had a son, things would be different. But were they? And when Richard was born, did the scars of the past make their mark on the present? What kind of a father did Richard himself become? Carla474 18

I am not a great fan of Richard Madeley's but I was very impressed by this book. He is helped by the fact that his father and grand-father had such interesting if tragic journeys through life, but nevertheless he has told their stories and his very well.

The book had me near to tears on many occasions and I still find it hard to believe just how forgiving the men were.

I listened to this as an audiobook which probably added to the experience as Richard read the book clearly but with feeling. There were also some musical interludes between chapters which gave just the right ambience.

All in all, I would highly recommend this book as an insight into the complex father/son relationships through the changing world over 100 years.audible biographies-memoirs celebrity-memoirs ...more Holly116 8 Read

To begin, this is not his autobiography. I kept having to reiterate that to people when they asked what I was reading Lol This was a great read - easy and fluid and not complicated in the slightest. I'm not the biggest Madeley fan, but I would recommend this book to anyone. It was very entertaining, and although it didn't change my opinion of him at all, it did help to explain why he is the way he is and even went someway to "explaining" the infamous shoplifting saga. A good read for those in search of an easy quickie. Carmen Chalmers12 1 follower

Loved this book! Really interesting to read about the different generations & yet some of the same issues through each. Richard really opens up about his family & it's refreshing to know that certain parenting issues are still the same across different classes. A easy read which had me hooked as read it in a day! Kim2,084 57

This seemed to be primarily an account of his father and grandfathers lives. His grandfather was left behind when his entire family emigrated and didn't inherit the farm from his uncle as promised. His early life meant that he hadn't a strong father figure to base a hapoy family life on.

2009 biography Carole Blake34 10

I'd seen him on television, chatted to him on Twitter, & found him very open and able. But I expected this to be just another celebrity/ghosted book so was very surprised to find it so readable. Very moving, very personal, and well written. Most enjoyable. Toddy24

very moving and interesting. I am not especially a fan of Richard Madeley, nor of biographies, but I found this a very well written and captivating. Nicely drawn together and linked up. I would recommend to anyone interested in the parent/child dynamic. Lector Inspector33 2

What a brilliant book! Compelling, engaging, fast-paced and reflective - this account of multiple generations of Madeley males is an ABSOLUTE must-read.

I hope Richard goes on to pen further non-fiction. His son Jack's "Epilogue" also showed immense promise.favourites Doug Gordon5

Great book

Not one for celebrity books but the title pricked my curiosity, was well impressed with the book a real honest insight into family life over the centuries, written with a real honesty. Overall a great reasd. Kaye Sivori305 1 follower

Interesting--Writing was NOT terrific, but if you are interested in reading about a fellows concept of how he got the way he is today, then I would recommend it. Lindsey378 10

This was pretty good, well written too Claire4

Brilliant! Emma Padden8

Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant... Fascinating account of his childhood and very witty!! Stacey19

Great book but it didn't feel a biogrphy, more a collection of stories. Very enjoyable. Ann ThomasAuthor 16 books17

TV presenter Richard Madeley tells the story of how three generations of men in his family influenced his family, for good or ill. Absolutely fascinating and very moving.biography Katrina Saunders66

Fascinating insight into four generations of Madeleys. Very easy to read and found it enjoyable. Andree65

A surprisingly good book - Richard Madeley can certainly write! I preferred the first 2/3rds of the book, as I found the parts describing the earlier parts of the 20th century fascinating. Lokerse Janny55 3

Prachtige familie-memoires die 4 generaties vaders/zonen omspant. memoires parents-children uk-summer-2013 Kath638 11

Very interesting and touching. Charlotte Vincent3

Autor del comentario:
=================================