The Last Englishman: the Life of J.L. Carr by Byron Rogers

"He was the Last Englishman"

I first became aware of J.L. Carr having read his novel "A Month In The Country". It is one of the best books I have ever read. It is rare that I have felt so powerfully affected by a story. In short, it's a masterpiece, and one that I look forward to re-reading. A few days after finishing "A Month In The Country", I read another J.L. Carr novel "The Harpole Report" - a very different book, both in terms of style and content, but a great read. So, by now, I was very intrigued by J.L. Carr. Who was he? How did he come to write two such contrasting books? Fortunately his friend, and journalist, Byron Rogers wrote this biography of J.L. Carr that was published in 2003.

I am very grateful to Byron Rogers for such a readable and thorough account of the unusual J.L. Carr. I tend to overuse the word maverick, however can confidently label J.L. Carr as a maverick. In short he was brought up in a staunchly Methodist, and deeply religious, family in the North East of England; he was a teacher, and head teacher; was a photographer in the RAF during the war; spent time in South Dakota teaching; played amateur football; campaigned for the preservation of a disused village church; and, upon retiring, became both a writer and a publisher. That, however, is but a fraction of what defined this fascinating character. It is his intellect, idiosyncrasies, values, determination, and originality, that make this book worth reading. Not only are all his novels biographical, and therefore this biography provides helpful and illuminating insights, his is also one of the most unusual lives I can imagine - despite hiding behind a facade of profound ordinariness. J.L. Carr died on 26 February 1994, and that was, to quote Byron Rogers, "the last day of his life and the only one in which he had not been fully conscious."

I will be reading the rest of J.L. Carr's novels, and my enjoyment and understanding will be greatly enhanced by this splendid biography. I heartily recommend it: interesting and inspiring.

Finally, I should mention that The Quince Tree Press, J.L. Carr's small publishing company, is still in business, and is run by J.L. Carr's son and daughter-in-law. All J.L. Carr's novels are available, in addition to to a range of pocket books, and J.L. Carr's maps of English counties. I intend to foist them on my friends and relatives at Christmas and/or on their birthdays. ( )

A brief (28 page) but well written summary of Carr's life and works.His many-faceted life included that of a school teacher in Kettering,a publisher of the wonderful series of 'little books' and of those eccentric maps,and of the novelist. Perhaps his best-known book being 'A Month in the Country' which was successfully filmed starring Peter Firth and Kenneth Branagh. ( )

Who exactly was J.L.Carr ? Well he was a Northamptonshire teacher and later headmaster of a local school.He was also interested in the conservation of country churches and cricket. He published a series of books,maps and postcards from a back bedroom in his own house. More importantly he was a first-class writer of fiction,some of which has been filmed to good effect. Among his work are 'A Month in the Country', 'The Harpole Report' and 'A Season in Sinji'. All very different in style and content.
This biography by Byron Rogers gives us a good idea of the life of this great chap who is not as well know by readers in general as he deserves to be.Rogers knew Carr well and as they were both natives of the county,the book is both accurate and affectionate. ( )

Byron Rogers, The Last Englishman: The Life of J. L. Carr. Aurum Press (2003), Hardcover. All J.L.Carr's novels are different and he wrote a number of children's schoolbooks. The bibliography to this biography lists all the small books he published and the maps too. This is a really good book about a man from Kettering.