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My Family and Other Strangers

Adventures in Family History

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About this listen

When Jeremy Hardy decided to explore his ancestry it was, in part, to get to the bottom of his grandmother Becky’s dubious claims that the family descended from a certain 17th-century architect and that, more recently, Jeremy’s great grandfather was personal bodyguard and confidant to the King. Other legends range from the uncle who died in police custody to the wronged Victorian aunt who bore an illegitimate son.

Wild stories aside, Jeremy sets out to investogate in such diverse locations as the public library and the hostile waters around Malta in order to find traces of recognisable family traits and a sense of how he came to be. With wry humour and a keen eye for the absurd and the frustrating, Jeremy takes us on a by turns funny and moving journey into the world of family ancestry.

My Family and Other Strangers will be enjoyed by anyone who has tried to decipher the 1901 census records, or simply wishes they too had asked their grandparents more about their lives.

©2010 Jeremy Hardy (P)2010 Random House Audio Funny

Critic reviews

"An entertaining meander through one family’s many lives and one man’s thoughts on many things." ( Daily Express March 26, 2010)
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This is a ramble through Jeremy 's process of ancestor-tracing. It's beautiful to listen to and made me both joyful and sad in places. Hearing it read by the author gave it more meaning. Loved every moment...going to listen again on my next long car journey.

Jeremy is truly interesting!

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under used but funny man, a caring comedian with a great turn of phrase and a well written book.

lovely to hear his voice again.

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Jeremy Hardy is a good storyteller and has a good voice but I found the story boring. It was also hard to keep track without having a family tree to look at.

Jeremy Hardy is good but story is slow

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