Book Summary
"Father and Son: A Study of Two Temperaments" by Edmund Gosse is a classic autobiographical work that explores the emotional and intellectual clash between a devoutly religious father and his more skeptical, free-thinking son. Set in Victorian England, the memoir recounts Gosse's upbringing under the strict, evangelical influence of his father, Philip Henry Gosse—a respected scientist and member of the Plymouth Brethren. As Edmund grows, he begins to question the rigid religious doctrines imposed on him, ultimately breaking away from his father's faith to pursue a life in literature and art. The book poignantly captures the struggle between faith and reason, tradition and individuality, and the deep emotional costs of this generational and ideological divide. Both tender and critical, it is a profound study of familial love strained by conflicting worldviews.
About the author:
Edmund Gosse (1849–1928) was a British poet, critic, and biographer, best known for his literary essays and his memoir Father and Son. Educated within a strict religious framework, he later became a key figure in the literary and intellectual circles of late 19th- and early 20th-century Britain. Gosse worked at the British Museum and later served as a librarian to the House of Lords. He played a significant role in introducing European writers to English audiences and was influential in shaping modern literary criticism. Father and Son remains his most enduring work, celebrated for its psychological insight and elegant prose.
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