Always Unreliable: Unreliable Memoirs, Falling Towards England, and May Week Was in June
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1979
560
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
Sydney, Australia • 1940s-50s England • 1960s Cambridge, England • 1960s
1979
Adult
18+ years
Always Unreliable is a collection of Clive James's first three memoirs: Unreliable Memoirs, covering his 1940s childhood in Kogarah, Australia; Falling Towards England, detailing his first three years in England; and May Week Was in June, recounting his time as a graduate student at the University of Cambridge. Throughout, James emphasizes the unreliability and inaccuracy of his recollections while employing a humorously self-deprecating tone. The narrative includes references to trauma and experiences of war and loss.
Humorous
Nostalgic
Contemplative
Bittersweet
Emotional
Always Unreliable is a collection of Clive James' autobiographical works. Readers praise James' wit and vivid storytelling in Unreliable Memoirs and Falling Towards England, appreciating his humor and insightful observations. However, some found May Week Was in June less engaging. Overall, James' prose is celebrated for its charm and humor despite occasional repetition.
A reader who enjoys Always Unreliable: Unreliable Memoirs, Falling Towards England, and May Week Was in June by Clive James is likely someone who appreciates witty, reflective autobiographies filled with humor and keen cultural observations. Fans of David Sedaris’ Me Talk Pretty One Day or Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods would relish James' sharp, self-deprecating style and engaging narratives.
560
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
Sydney, Australia • 1940s-50s England • 1960s Cambridge, England • 1960s
1979
Adult
18+ years
We’re just getting started
Add this title to our list of requested Study Guides!