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A review by eclecticreadswithash
A Very Private School: A Memoir by Charles Spencer
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
"If you loved me, you wouldn't leave me here" - Diana Spencer, future Princess of Wales
While not from Charles directly, his sister's words certainly encompasses a lot of feelings around his boarding school experience at Maidwell Hall in the mid 1970s as a child.
Filled to the brim with stories of his own experience and that of his peers, Spencer weaves together a horrifying portrait of his Maidwell schooldays. From bullying, to humiliation and corporal punishment from teachers, and sexual abuse from adults the children should have been able to trust, Spencer takes aim at the institution and the tradition of wealthy families to send young children away to boarding schools.
Many times I had to put this book down and a take a breath. Many of the stories are grim and hard to read. They're quite graphic in description - as they should be to tell the whole truth.
Spencer is a brilliant writer. Though difficult to read, it was also easy to read. I devoured it. It is most certainly one of the most powerful memoirs I've read. I would highly recommend it if you enjoy memoirs, like modern English history or even want a glimpse into some related to Princess Diana.
While not from Charles directly, his sister's words certainly encompasses a lot of feelings around his boarding school experience at Maidwell Hall in the mid 1970s as a child.
Filled to the brim with stories of his own experience and that of his peers, Spencer weaves together a horrifying portrait of his Maidwell schooldays. From bullying, to humiliation and corporal punishment from teachers, and sexual abuse from adults the children should have been able to trust, Spencer takes aim at the institution and the tradition of wealthy families to send young children away to boarding schools.
Many times I had to put this book down and a take a breath. Many of the stories are grim and hard to read. They're quite graphic in description - as they should be to tell the whole truth.
Spencer is a brilliant writer. Though difficult to read, it was also easy to read. I devoured it. It is most certainly one of the most powerful memoirs I've read. I would highly recommend it if you enjoy memoirs, like modern English history or even want a glimpse into some related to Princess Diana.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Injury/Injury detail