Henry Howarth Bashford (1880–1961)

Augustus Carp, ESQ. was originally published anonymously, or as the title page suggested the book was written "by himself". The additional substitle "being the autobiography of a really good man" might raise some eye brows, and is a subtle hint at the character of the main protagonist. The book first appeared in 1924, and authorship remained obscure until 1961, when it became clear that the author was the late Sir Henry Bashford, M.D., F.R.C.P., Chief Medical Officer to the Post Office, Medical Adviser to the Treasury, Honorary Physician to King George VI, etc. This partly explains why some of the protagonists in the novel suffer from a variety rare ailments, of course all adding to the hilarity.

Very few books are really humorous throughout, but if you are interested then I would recommend this novel which pairs ridicule with verbal virtuosity. The book should perhaps be read as a parody of Hugh Walpole's Jeremy trilogy, of which the first two volumes were published in 1919 and 1923, describing a youth's development from childhood through adolescence to manhood. However, in spirit the book is closer to Geoffrey Willans's Whizz for atomms. A guide to survival in the 20th century for felow pupils, their doting maters, pompous paters and any others who are interested (1956).

Like the Jeremy trilogy, Augustus Carp, ESQ. describes the youth of young Augustus and his career into manhood, particularly his moral development. Much of the humour is tied in with religion and particularly with hypocracy. Like many such coming-of-age stories, the novel is dated, and this means that some of the humour doesn't work. It also depends on your sense of humour, and whether you think it is funny to read a whole page of chatter between father and son about a slip of the tongue: "A weed before the rind."… (mais)