B-Berry and I Look Back

B-Berry and I Look Backis the second volume of fictionalised memoirs of the English authorDornford Yates(Cecil William Mercer), published in 1958 and featuring his recurring 'Berry' characters - Berry, Daphne, Boy, Jill and Jonah. The first volume,As Berry and I Were Saying,had been published in 1952.B-Berry and I Look Backwas Yates's last book.

B-Berry and I Look Back

First edition cover
Author	Dornford Yates
Series	Berry books
Genre	Fictionalised memoirs
Publisher	Ward Lock & Co
Publication date	1958
Media type	Print
Pages	284
Preceded by	As Berry and I Were Saying

Contents

In an introductory note, the author states that the book contains recollections of true occasions and incidents within a fictional setting. He emphasises that "the memories themselves are strictly true and that I have exaggerated nothing."

The book begins with a story in the style of previous 'Berry' tales before reverting to the reminiscing style ofAs Berry and I Were Saying.It ends with an epilogue in the form of a letter from the loyal servant Bridget Ightham to her brother in Hampshire describing her life with Berry & Co in retirement in Portugal.

Critical reception

According to Yates's biographer, AJ Smithers, "The book Is a patch-work, including short visits to theBar,the stage and the amusements of a London now rapidly vanishing into history. "

The memoirs have been called "denunciations of the changing times", and despite the claim to veracity in the introductory note are "highly subjective opinions on the past", with unhistorical episodes that "valorise the past at the expense of the post-war present".

Bibliography

• Smithers, AJ (1982).Dornford Yates.London:Hodder and Stoughton.ISBN0 340 27547 2.

External links

• B-Berry and I Look Back (Berry #10)atFaded Page(Canada)
• Works by Cecil William MerceratFaded Page(Canada)