I’m on the tour for SO Last Century: Stories 1900-2000 by Charles Nevin. Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources and Charles Nevin for the gifted book to write my honest review.
Sherlock Holmes, Butch Cassidy, Margaret Thatcher’s bloomers and a racehorse strongly resembling Shergar feature in SO LAST CENTURY, the new collection of whimsically witty stories from award-winning journalist and writer Charles Nevin.
SO LAST CENTURY begins with Edward VII on a tricky country house visit and ends with one of the first national lottery winners struggling with fame, fortune and romance. On the way you will also meet two music hall comedians in the First World War and two remarkable double agents in the Second, get raided in a 1920s London night club, take part in some lively Coronation celebrations and discover what really might have happened when the World Cup was stolen in 1966.
SO LAST CENTURY follows the format of Nevin’s last book, the widely praised SOMETIMES IN BATH, providing an afterword for each story which separates fiction from fact and provides fascinating background to those breakneck, tumultuous times. And be warned: after this, you will never view the Twentieth Century in quite the same way ever again.
A book packed with tales that I didn’t expect! The blurb had me intrigued, and I was really happy when it dropped through my door. I do have a penchant for the unusual, and So Last Century fulfilled that,and more.
It’s very different and I loved it. Found myself laughing from the start. There are ten stories, each set in a different decade from 1900. I revelled in each and every story. The fact that they all had some event that is still talked about today or the person involved made them all the more entertaining.
The stories include one about King Edward VII and Eliza Doolittle. A World Cup, anyone? And so many more. After every story, Charles Nevin tells the reader the real history and where he got the fictional characters from.
It’s a book that is so original. Each story can be dipped into for a quick read if you don’t have tons of time. I spent more time chuckling than I had for a while while reading. Charles Nevin had landed on my radar now, and I don’t know how it took me so long to find him!
Entertaining, historical and funny too! I am happy I read this book. Try it. It may just surprise you.
Purchase Link – https://bit.ly/3M5oXHr
Author Bio
CHARLES NEVIN has written for The Guardian, The Independent on Sunday, The Daily Telegraph, The Times, The Sunday Times,The New York Times and many others. So Last Century follows his acclaimed Sometimes In Bath, featuring stories happy and sad throughout the city’s history. He has also published three non-fiction books, including the highly popular tribute to the overlooked romance of his native county, Lancashire, Where Women Die of Love.
Social Media Links
sharonbeyondthebooks.uk 