The Mad Boy, Lord Berners, My Grandmother and Me: An Aristocratic Family, a High-society Scandal and an Extraordinary Legacy - Softcover

[A] delightful portrait of one of England s great eccentrics . Rich in glamorous scandal .Witty, empathetic, and stylish. --Miranda Seymour, New York Times Book Review"

Ms. Zinovieff handles her flamboyant material with considerable tact and finesse . It makes for ghoulishly irresistible reading. --Wall Street Journal"

[A] delicious family history. Zinovieff works her own kind of magic. --Boston Globe"

[A] well-researched, engaging memoir. --Washington Post"

Meet the hosts of 1930s England s most lavish soirees, complete with diamond-clad pets and no shortage of bed-hopping.... Riveting. --Town & Country"

Superbly illustrated.... The Mad Boy is an absorbing as well as original book, which replaces the monographic vectors of biography with something more curious and multifarious, nonetheless brought into a haunting and satisfying shape. --Alan Hollinghurst, New York Review of Books"

Ms Zinovieff s narrative tone is cool and clear enough to let its astonishing characters, and her relationship with them, come alive; that makes for a compelling read. --The Economist"

The intrigue surrounding these unusual and formidable individuals is an instant hook, which is only enhanced by their personal histories and struggles. While highlighting eccentricities, glamour, and downright debauchery, Zinovieff is also able to capture the humanity in what is a fascinating and eye-opening ancestral history. --Library Journal (starred review)"

A vibrant tapestry . [An] entertaining story of an unconventional family and their shared trait of flouting convention across generations. --Kirkus Reviews"

Zinovieff is an entertaining and amiable companion on this, at times, uncomfortable romp through her family saga. --The Times (London)"

"Originally published in Great Britain in 2014 by Jonathan Cape."