Composer of delicate humour

Press, 18 February 1984, Page 20

Composer of delicate humour

First Childhood, and, Far From the Madding War. By Lord Berners (First published, 1934 and 1941). Oxford, 1983. 200 pp. $9.95 (paperback). (Reviewed by Stephen Erber) Gerald Hugh Tyrwhitt-Wilson, 18831950, (Lord Berners) was a polymath. He was a distinguished composer, painter and author, and until he inherited- the barony of Berners, he was a diplomat. He wrote two volumes of autobiography of which “First Childhood” dealt with his early life until he went to Eton. The second volume “A Distant Prospect,” dealt with his life until he left Eton. For some undisclosed reason the two volumes are not published together but “First Childhood” is coupled with “Far From the Madding War” which is an autobiographical novel dealing with its subject’s Oxford wartime experiences. Both books are fresh and full of the delicate and cheerful humour for which

many of Berners’ musical compositions are also noted. Although music was his first love, these two books are good evidence of the pleasure and constant amusement which, says Harold Acton in his personal preface, Berners gave to all his acquaintance. His capacity for selfcriticism was considerable and many of his works were destroyed by him because he thought them to be inadequate. This capacity for self-awareness is nowhere better seen than in “Far From the Madding War” where, transparently disguised as Lord FitzCricket, Berners says of himself: “He composed music, he wrote books, he painted; he did a great many things with a certain facile talent. He was astute enough to realise that, in AngloSaxon countries, art is more highly appreciated if accompanied by a certain measure of eccentric publicity. This fitted in well with his natural inclinations.”