After A Funeral Paperback – 4 Oct. 2012

Being an Egyptian born in 1944 , I lived in the period when Didi was a young boy in Egypt . The glimpses of the kind of society he was brought up in is very authentic. Didi's problems may have arisen from a sense of entitlement from his family's status, and not having the means to realize this through an inability to live in the real world .. Adopting communist ideals, running away to Germany, not really brought, educated or trained to support himself financially .. Not having control over his impulsiveness. He was more than fortunate to have come in contact with Diana, about whom the book is really about . Didi , to my mind , being the vehicle by which she manifests her good nature and her upbringing . Throughout you are frustrated by his impossible behaviour and admiring of the way she tried to help .

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it's a touching memorial to a man who obviously meant a lot to Diana Athill. On the other hand, it's a knowing exploitation of that man's mental illness and suicide. Think about it: however altruistic/honourable the author's intentions might seem, she is ultimately the one who profits from this account of Didi's life (the troubled Egyptian author Waguih Ghali). She seems to have written this book a) to clear her own conscience and b) to indulge in the juicy, very "literary" topics of madness and suicide.I'll admit that I was hooked on Athill's writing until the very end... it's an intriguing story, made all the more interesting by the fact that it really did happen. But when I turned the last page, I began to feel as though I'd been "played". This was gossipy, sensationalist writing at its very best and I'd been kept in my seat by the promise of a gruesome climax: Didi's final breakdown and subsequent suicide. I was being entertained at his expense. Did I really need all of those intimate, first-hand excerpts from his diary? Or a description of how Athill made love to him, just weeks before he took his own life? I felt as though I'd intruded on this man's private misery... which Athill was now airing in public, seemingly as a badge of honour: "an exiled artist killed himself in my flat - haven't I led an exciting, passion-filled life?".This self-serving tone creeps in at other times, too - for example, when Athill uses foul language entirely without reason (even going so far as the "C" word at one point). I also don't trust anyone who uses the word "lover" too often. "My lover said this", "I talked it over with my lover"... these are self-conscious attempts to make herself seem liberated, open-minded and young at heart. I found it all quite pretentious, which - by the time you're almost seventy - really is a quality you should've grown out of.

I love Diana Athill and have read most of her work now. Whilst After The Funeral may not be my favourite Athill so far, it certainly has had me hooked for the last 2 days. Didi, a manic depressive, and writer, lived with Diana for some time in the '60's, his erratic, sometimes downright cruel behaviour towards his kindly host, is relentless and at times disurbing. Diana chose to ignore it for much of the time, inexplicable to modern day readers, perhaps, but typical of women of her class and time.This could have easily become a turgid tale, but Diana's absolute honestly regarding her role in the events was refreshing and gave the account balance. Her understated way of putting events across in a candid, sometimes witty way is a delight. Didi never rated her writing, I am one of Diana's many fans that would disagree with him!

This is such an extraordinary book that it's hard to know where to begin. Diana Athill recounts the story of her friendship with a young Egyptian writer who comes to live with her in England on a "temporary" basis. Three years later he commits suicide while she is away. Athill tries to unravel the complexity of his character and behaviour - charming and delightful one minute, vindictive and self-destructive the next. It is a fascinating but poignant account, especially for anyone who has loved and lived with that kind of person. His personal demons were drink, gambling, and womanising and an inability to hold down any sort of proper employment. Yet his wit and charm made everyone around him forgive him.The seeds of his erratic behaviour lay, of course, in his childhood and Athill has written the book partly as a lesson to new parents. This is hardly light reading, but Athill is also remarkably candid about her own feelings and behaviour in her analysis of an impossible situation. She writes in a style that is clear and compelling. Highly recommended.

Absolutely exasperating Didi but such good writing - I found myself thinking about it often after I'd finished the book

Diana Athill's writing provides clarity, insight and understanding of people and situations that for the rest of us could be unfathomably muddy waters.

Excellent; quality very high, well-packaged. Will use seller again.

The delivery was quick, neat, and with a card if I wanted to send it back.