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A Very Private School cover art

A Very Private School

By: Charles Spencer
Narrated by: Charles Spencer
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Publisher's Summary

THE #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

'Shocking and moving' Guardian

'A tour-de-force' Washington Post

At eight years of age, Charles Spencer was sent away to one of England’s most exclusive boarding schools.

In this courageous and beautifully written memoir, Spencer offers a clear-eyed, first-hand account of the strange secrets of the school, and the culture of cruelty and abuse he witnessed and experienced in his five years there as a pupil.

Drawing on the memories of many of his schoolboy contemporaries, as well as his own letters and diaries from the time, the book is his attempt to come to terms with the deep emotional scars inflicted upon him. Spencer reflects on the misery, hopelessness and abandonment he felt aged eight, viscerally describing the intense pain of homesickness, the vicious brutality of a boys’ school in the 1970s and the appalling inescapability of it all.

The book cracks the code of the unpoliced regime that ran the place and provides important insights into an antiquated boarding school system. He gives vivid portraits of the teachers and other staff placed in loco parentis, their casual cruelties and toxic obsessions. All these years later, Spencer’s bafflement at their motivations to inflict such cruelty on young children is palpable. As is his fury that, even if somehow he had spoken up, he’d never have been believed.

©2024 Charles Spencer (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

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Extraordinary

Such a frank account of a dreadful boarding school life. It is hard to believe this went on in schools so comparatively recently. Brilliantly written and narrated but a harrowing listen to be honest. Could have cried several times for those poor boys. Well done Charles Spencer.

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Shocking

Almost brought me to tears. As a parent myself I’ve never understood sending children away to boarding school.

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Totally honest

A beautifully written honest account of the beastly experiences of boarding school students in the 70’s. Loved listening to it by the author himself Charles Spencer.

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Insightful and tragic

A sad insight into the boarding school culture and its effect on a generation of young boys. Highly recommended.

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Shocking.

What appalls me as much as the warped treatment these children were subjected to, is the collective upper class mind set that enabled it and which the author has exposed so well.

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  • Deb
  • 21-03-2024

Awful childhood abuse no support

Well, written showing in-depth knowledge and a balance for you of all the participants. This will help many who have suffered and others who did not understand. Hopefully will now.

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Shocking and brave , a story of survival

Charles Spencer narrates and has written an extraordinary story of his and others early schooldays. His thoughtfulness is commendable in regards to the experience of others but his own need to tell his story is hopefully going to inspire him to live a happier life. His family should be very proud of him.

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The delicate discussion about the horrors meted out.

I liked the honesty and the concern for his fellow pupils. Sensed and honest recounting working diligently to evade distortion.

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Courage and Honesty

A concisely written account of the authors and others’ experiences of a shockingly cruel institution. Admiration to Charles Spencer for exposing how children are often abused when they lack the ongoing protection of their family.

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Negative impact of young children attending boarding school

Not sure about narrator’s voice, I thought though that the narrator/author presented a thoughtful story about negative impact of boarding school. A view I share. I think it took immense courage to tell this story and thank the author for doing so.

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