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First published in 1985, in this book Malcolm Barnes, the editor of Augustus Hare's autobiography, tries to elucidate: a man who wrote much about others, but little of consequence about himself in spite of the longest 'story of my life' in the English language. When Augustus Hare published the first part of his autobiography in 1896, it was received with anger and abuse. He was attacked because he had told the truth about his treatment as a child by his adoptive family at the Rectory of Herstmonceux, where in the interest of his immortal soul he was subjected to all kinds of physical and mental torment.

He grew up through a hopeless youth, tied irrevocably to his 'mother', to become an enthusiastic traveller and writer of many guidebooks and accomplished water colourist, a writer of memorials of several 'noble' ladies, and an indefatigable party goer. He himself remained an enigma. This book is an interesting read for scholars and researchers of English literature.