I can't think of a single positive thing to say in response to this.
What an academic snob this man turned out to be, how ungrateful and lacking in humanity. And then (presumably) to make money out of writing a book about it.
Words fail me.

I was thinking the same, Alea, that is a rather unpleasant piece of writing. His grandmother was no different to many of ours - she hardly sounds ignorant or completely uneducated. And what's more, I still use my fingers when counting, sometimes!

Not sure whether the book continues the theme or not, it may just be yet another book about grammar, but I certainly won't be reading or buying it.

I read that as his taking the piss out of himself though ?

Expressing regret for his past behaviour, certainly, but in a self-serving way. IMO. And I did cringe at the 'My only son, God bless him, is gay.'

If his son's sperm was implanted into a willing female, which is a familiar scenario would he not then be the father ??

Unpleasant little git. We lived with my granny in a house, and at a time, similar to that. I could never write about my gran like that. I loved her too much. Nasty.

But he does say "I hate the cocky little swine I was". I think it's quite brave of him to admit what he was like. Mind you, if I'd ever sneered at my grandmother (and I wouldn't have done, because I adored her, and because she was much more intelligent than I was ), she'd have knocked me into next week.

Rest in Peace, Nan! There are kinder ways than 'scornfully' to correct pronounciation.

According to wiki he is 'a British academic, newspaper columnist and author. He is Emeritus Lord Northcliffe Professor of Modern English Literature at University College London.' Remember Lord Northcliffe? Daily Mail supporter of the Brownshirts? Fortunately, having had a good Scots education, I have no need of his grammar book. My grannies would have had a collective fit if I had attempted to correct either of them - a flea in the ear would have been the least of their retribution.

I thought he sounded very smug! Our generation benefited so much from our education. My parents were hard-working, intelligent and caring and encouraged us to do our best at all times. They did not stay at school beyond fourteen but spent the rest of their lives working hard and being successful in what they did. I was very proud of them once I grew up and was able to see what they had achieved. Each generation should build on what has come before and enable the next to strive for even higher goals - think of what out DGC could achieve in years to come! Just saying!!

I don't read it like that. I think he's saying he's ashamed of how he felt, and how he spoke to his nan. He's acknowledging that he was lucky to be born when he was - right place, right time. I think quite a few people of our generation might have felt the same. Grammar schools took many of us away from our working class roots and sometimes created a gulf between generations. His words struck a chord with me, and not one I am proud of. I certainly respect everything my parents did to provide me with a better life than they had, but I don't think I always treated them very well when I was young and full of my own self-importance.

I read it like that too nightowl that he was thoroughly ashamed of himself. I also smiled to myself when he said about cut up newspaper in his nan's outside toilet. I was born in 1949 and we had an outside lav with ripped up newspapers and also a tin bath in front of the fire until the early '60s. My parents weren't Victorians but my father was a drunk so we never had money.

My Nan was born about the same year. She was lovely but a little Victorian in her ways. I remember about 6/12 before my wedding, her telling me off for staying out late until 11pm! I was 22!

I liked this piece - I felt that he was poking fun at himself much more than at his Nan, of whom I thought he sounded genuinely fond. And he does say, repeatedly, that he's ashamed of the horrible little twerp he was then.

The article is pushing his book, of course; but if his Nan inspired it, why wouldn't he tell the story?

I can't believe how nasty some of you are about the author. He's saying he's sorry for the way he was as a child. He understands now that his gran was as smart as he is, but didn't have a good education. Think back, were you perfect as a child?

Inishowen, couldn't agree with you more.

On a more general note, I rarely post on this site but I do read a lot of the threads and I'm appalled at the amount of nastiness expressed by the same posters, time and time again. Differences of opinion - fine, but nastiness...not kind, and not necessary.

I took it to mean he was ashamed of his behaviour and recognised that he was a priggish little twerp. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing,Drink deeply or drink not - he was being obnoxious when he only had a little knowledge..

I'm just surprised he wanted to trot it all out again.

Who said, "Show me the child until he is seven, and I will show you the man"? Wonder if he has actually changed at all.

I agree totally with nightowl. The man was expressing his sense of shame and deep regret at the way he had acted.

John Sutherland has written some books under the general titles Puzzles in 19th-century fiction and Puzzles in classic fiction, such as 'Is Heathcliff a murderer?' and 'Who betrayed Elizabeth Bennet?' and 'Can Jane Eyre be happy?'

I find these fascinating, perceptive and engaging.

moxeyns, inishowen, Lellyb - well said. "The memory scorches" shows his repentence for how he treated his Nan.