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Ferdinand Mount
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Kiss Myself Goodbye: The Many Lives of Aunt Munca Kindle Edition

by Ferdinand Mount (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 1,427 ratings
'Grimly funny and superbly written, with a twist on every page' – Hilary Mantel

'Delightfully compulsive and unforgettably original' – Hadley Freeman

'Wonderful, funny and wise' – Kate Summerscale

SHORTLISTED FOR THE DUFF COOPER PRIZE 2021
A SUNDAY TIMES, TLS, SPECTATOR AND NEW STATESMAN BOOK OF THE YEAR

Aunt Munca never told the truth about anything. Calling herself after the mouse in a Beatrix Potter story, she was already a figure of mystery during the childhood of her nephew Ferdinand Mount. Half a century later, a series of startling revelations sets him off on a tortuous quest to find out who this extraordinary millionairess really was.

What he discovers is shocking and irretrievably sad, involving multiple deceptions, false identities and abandonments. The story leads us from the back streets of Sheffield at the end of the Victorian age to the highest echelons of English society between the wars.

An unconventional tale of British social history told backwards, now published with new material discovered by the author about his eccentric aunt, Kiss Myself Goodbye is both an enchanting personal memoirand a voyage into a vanished moral world
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  1. Print length
    273 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Bloomsbury Continuum
  4. Publication date
    29 Oct. 2020
  5. File size
    9.1 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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From the Publisher

Kiss Myself Goodbye, Cold Cream, Ferdinand Mount, memoir, family mystery, on chapel sands, ancestry
Kiss Myself Goodbye, Cold Cream, Ferdinand Mount, memoir, family mystery, on chapel sands, ancestry

Product description

Review

Aunt Munca flees the streets of Sheffield for a suite at Claridges, getting younger by the year and leaving behind her a trail of brazen lies and shattered pieties. In his family memoir, Ferdinand Mount pursues her with wit and skill through a career in which crime pays, marriage is for a week, and children are lost like old gloves. Kiss Myself Goodbye is grimly funny and superbly written, with a twist on every page. -- Hilary Mantel, author of the Wolf Hall Trilogy

[Mount ]. vividly captures bygone Britain. ― Daily Record

Delightfully compulsive and unforgettably original. Mount unpeels the layers of this mysterious life with the tenacity of an experienced detective and the excitement of a fresh-eyed enthusiast. -- Hadley Freeman, author of House of Glass: The Story and Secrets of a Twentieth-Century Jewish Family

Veering giddily from grand guignol to poignant melancholy, this is an exquisitely wrought portrait of a wickedly fascinating woman. -- Jane Shilling ― Daily Mail

An extraordinary book ― Tatler

It needs a writer of wit, imagination and empathy to carry me along from one layer of the tissue to the next. Mount is such a writer. ― The Oldie

Delicious . As well as an ear for the cadences of a sentence, Mount has a remarkable ability to convey the feeling of place . Beneath the surface of this sparklingly wry book you sense all kinds of unexplored feelings of abandonment and loss. ― The Oldie

Unique and immensely enjoyable. I only wish it were longer. ― Spectator

Witty, moving and beautifully crafted, Kiss Myself Goodbye is a "masterclass" in bringing long-buried secrets to light. ― The Week

A wonderful memoir of the author's aunt - deadpan, shrewd and very dryly funny. -- William Boyd, bestselling author

Mount is one of our finest prose stylists and Kiss Myself Goodbye is a witty, moving and beautifully crafted account of one woman's determination to live to the full. ― Daily Telegraph

...this book, which is partly a family history and partly a detective novel, with extraordinary revelations and an impressive cast of characters dotted through the narrative. -- Roland White ― The Sunday Times (Culture)

Wonderful, funny and wise -- Kate Summerscale, author of The Suspicions of Mr Whicher

Extraordinary . shed[s] a brilliant light on the strangeness of people's lives, the need for disguise and masquerade, the shame that drives people to act in the most peculiar ways, the ghosts that reside, unburied, within us. -- Craig Brown ― Mail on Sunday

...A superbly written and jaw-dropping memoir. ― Daily Telegraph

Kiss Myself Goodbye is a work of beauty. The simple truthfulness of Ferdinand Mount's storytelling is irresistible. ― Literary Review

About the Author

Ferdinand Mount was born in 1939, the son of a steeplechase jockey, and brought up on Salisbury Plain. After being educated at Eton and Oxford, he made various false starts as a children's nanny, a gossip columnist, bagman to Selwyn Lloyd, and leader-writer on the doomed Daily Sketch. He later surfaced, slightly to his surprise and everyone else's, as head of Margaret Thatcher's Policy Unit and later editor of The Times Literary Supplement. He is married with three children and three grandchildren and has lived in Islington for half his life. Apart from political columns and essays, he has written a six-volume series of novels, A Chronicle of Modern Twilight, which began with The Man Who Rode Ampersand, based on his father's racing life, and included Of Love And Asthma (he is a temporarily retired asthmatic), which won the Hawthornden Prize for 1992. He also writes what he calls Tales of History and Imagination, including Umbrella, which the historian Niall Ferguson called 'quite simply the best historical novel in years'. His most recent titles for Bloomsbury Continuum include Kiss Myself Goodbye: The Many Lives of Aunt Munca and the novel Making Nice.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B088R7YY9D
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloomsbury Continuum
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 29 Oct. 2020
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 9.1 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 273 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1472979438
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 1,427 ratings

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Ferdinand Mount

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
1,427 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a fascinating tale that reads like a detective story, with well-written prose and interesting references to social and political history. They appreciate its humor, with one review noting its mordant wit. The character development receives mixed reactions from customers.

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57 customers mention ‘Story quality’54 positive3 negative

Customers find the book's story engaging, describing it as a thrilling biographical novel with fascinating detail. One customer notes it's a real-life detective story about family lies.

"...It's always a human and personal story but along the way we find insights into many aspects of English history...." Read more

"...What an amazing story about his Aunt Munca and some bits were a bit involved and boring but as I read it to the end realised why as it was a way of..." Read more

"...child when she was actually the oldest of seven - but it is a marvellous story...." Read more

"I was reasonably absorbed in much of the book and it was quite an intriguing biography but I found the network of names, nicknames and relationships..." Read more

45 customers mention ‘Readability’45 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a page-turner and good interesting read, with one customer noting it reads like a detective story.

"...unexpected, and so carefully covered over by untruth, that his success is astonishing...." Read more

"I much enjoyed reading this book which had ne hooked from page 1 as the author described a house in Angmering on Sea which I wondered if I knew from..." Read more

"I found this book mesmerising.. The author, almost reluctantly at times, slowly unravels the history of his aunt, exposing an extraordinary web of..." Read more

"I was reasonably absorbed in much of the book and it was quite an intriguing biography but I found the network of names, nicknames and relationships..." Read more

28 customers mention ‘Writing quality’20 positive8 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, finding it wonderfully well written, with one customer noting it's not written in a gossipy way.

"...Or just wolf it down, as I did. By the way, Ferdinand Mount is a wonderful writer and this is beautifully written." Read more

"...It is important to know that this is not written in the gossipy way that befalls so many of this type of book ...." Read more

"An absolutely fascinating read - and wonderfully well written - but occasionally infuriating...." Read more

"...Beautifully written, but complex and at times very hard to follow - chapter by chapter the myriad layers of Munca's life are meticulously unpicked..." Read more

25 customers mention ‘Research quality’25 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book's research, particularly its interesting references to social and political history, and one customer notes how it unravels the truth as it progresses.

"...didn't belong to the Mount family at that time but it was fascinating to read about it...." Read more

"...in deprived northern cities at the turn of the 20th century very enlightening." Read more

"...My wife found it both informative and entertaining." Read more

"...It's an outstanding piece of dogged detective work and brilliantly written. If it were a novel it would be hard to believe...." Read more

9 customers mention ‘Humor’9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book amusing, with one mentioning it includes a hefty dose of mordant wit.

"...My wife found it both informative and entertaining." Read more

"...written as a gripping detective novel and with a hefty dose of mordant wit thrown in...." Read more

"...story of the lives of the main characters, told with sympathy and deadpan humor...." Read more

"...It rattles along. Quick read and very entertaining." Read more

7 customers mention ‘Character development’4 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book, with some finding it engaging while others express disinterest.

"...and her family...they must have been incredibly resourceful and charismatic, and masters of flexibility! Do read this book!" Read more

"...I was not engaged with the character of Aunt Munca and felt that a lot of research had been done on peripheral matters which could have been edited..." Read more

"This new book by Ferdinand Mount confirms his reputation as an accomplished author...." Read more

"...hard work to read and having done so, found myself not that interested in the protagonists. I'd rename the book 'Put myself to sleep'" Read more

An engrossing story of a woman with more layers than an onion
4 out of 5 stars
An engrossing story of a woman with more layers than an onion
A few things drew me to this book. First of all it was the intrigue behind the author's Aunt Munca, not just the fact that she used the name of a Beatrix Potter mouse but also the fact she was quite a mysterious figure for him. He grew up spending quite a lot of time around her but never really felt that he knew her fully. The second thing was the mention of Sheffield and there is a fabulous lengthy chapter in the book about my home city in the late 19th and early 20th century. I'm sure any reader would agree that there is something extra special about reading about a place you know well. And then there's that gorgeous cover with the image of a glamorous looking man and woman lightly holding hands. I was desperate to know their story. Kiss Myself Goodbye is Ferdinand Mount's account of his aunt's life. A shadowy character, edging around questions she doesn't want to provide true answers to, he manages to discover endless amazing things about her life both up until the point she is a part of his life and beyond. And it truly is fascinating. The whole thing had my jaw dropping on many occasions, and sometimes nodding along sagely as previously unknown or seemingly unconnected pieces of information all slotted into place. I particularly enjoyed Mount's journey of discovery through genealogy research, the way he found out so much from birth, marriage and death certificates. He has a difficult job as Munca didn't seem to tell the truth about herself so every single detail is hard won. Kiss Myself Goodbye is the name of a song the author remembers from a trip to a nightclub with his Aunt Munca but it's also remarkably fitting as Munca spent her lifetime kissing her real self goodbye and reinventing herself. They often say the truth is stranger than fiction and that's definitely true of Munca's life. I found this to be an engrossing story of a woman with more layers than an onion and a social history read packed with informational gems. Whilst there was the odd section that didn't completely absorb me, the vast majority of it was utterly captivating. It's a fabulous book.
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Bardolf
    5.0 out of 5 stars Moving and intriguing family mystery
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 November 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Ferdinand Mount spent a lot of time with his Aunt Betty, also known as "Munca" after a Beatrix Potter character. She seems to have been very fond of him and he of her, but there were all sorts of odd things in her life which didn't quite "add up". Years later, purely out of curiosity, he began to investigate. The story he uncovered is so strange and unexpected, and so carefully covered over by untruth, that his success is astonishing. At one point the trail seemed to have gone cold, until a piece of totally unexpected good luck guided him to the right path. It's always a human and personal story but along the way we find insights into many aspects of English history.
    Every so often a book like this appears: I read about it in reviews and "Books of the Year" and I think "why would I want to buy a book like this?" and "how can this subject be as interesting as everyone says it is?" Take my word for it - it is as good as they say. Buy this book and save it for when you want something to take you out of everyday life. Or just wolf it down, as I did. By the way, Ferdinand Mount is a wonderful writer and this is beautifully written.
    45 people found this helpful
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  • Pen
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 January 2021
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    I much enjoyed reading this book which had ne hooked from page 1 as the author described a house in Angmering on Sea which I wondered if I knew from my childhood so I read on and very soon I found him describing the house next door (White Wings) where I had definitely stayed and loved it! It didn't belong to the Mount family at that time but it was fascinating to read about it. What an amazing story about his Aunt Munca and some bits were a bit involved and boring but as I read it to the end realised why as it was a way of cleverly putting the whole story together about an interesting person and her very full and quite often precarious existence.
    One person found this helpful
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  • VoiceofReason
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mesmerising, even thrilling exposé of the author's aunt
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 November 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I found this book mesmerising.. The author, almost reluctantly at times, slowly unravels the history of his aunt, exposing an extraordinary web of deception and lies as he does so. Almost every page reveals yet another fabricated relationship, often with distressing harm to others. With a plethora of forenames and surnames, Eileen, Ellen, Elizabeth, Peggy, Munca et al builds a supremely selfish life based not on a tissue of lies but a towering slag heap of falsehood.
    Ferdinand Mount writes with almost nervous bafflement as he picks the truth from the lies. His use of the historic present is slightly misleading at times, as is prefacing another 'reveal' with what initially seems a completely unrelated incident. I imagine he is trying to avoid lineal chronology in a story that weaves in so many directions.
    Perhaps I like this book so much because it mirrors my own mother's lies about her past - e.g. saying she was an only child when she was actually the oldest of seven - but it is a marvellous story. There is no doubt that the poverty, illegitimate births, hasty weddings (often bigamous, too), and strong desire to mask one's past was very prevalent in the early 20th century. My mother was born in 1910: when I found one of her sisters in the 1990s she still maintained she was an only child.
    78 people found this helpful
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  • Grannyviv
    3.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing biography but not easy to follow.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 March 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I was reasonably absorbed in much of the book and it was quite an intriguing biography but I found the network of names, nicknames and relationships very confusing. I frequently had to flick through past pages to find a connection between the myriad of different people that kept cropping up at different times and in different places.
    I am of a certain age whereby I am aware, mainly through my late parents reminiscences, of some of the social scene of the 1930s and 40s - nightclubs, swing bands, public figures etc but I don't think it would particularly appeal to a younger readership (under 50?) as there many dated anecdotes and lengthy descriptions of middle class life in those times. However, I found the detailed description of the hardships and complicated social network of people living in deprived northern cities at the turn of the 20th century very enlightening.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Aeschylus
    4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 December 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I purchased this for my wife and will repeat her comments. She found the book very well written, a good literary style. The actual story appeals to her and in its different way was a good companion to On Chapel Sands. Kiss Myself Goodbye concerns a person who was not what the author believed and after starting on the lower rungs of society moves for most of the book to the upper reaches. It is important to know that this is not written in the gossipy way that befalls so many of this type of book . My wife found it both informative and entertaining.
    14 people found this helpful
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  • PWD
    5.0 out of 5 stars True life family detective story - bring your brain!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 April 2025
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    Amazing book - I had to read it twice - once for the rollicking good story and the second time to actually understand all the complicated family connections as they are pieced together
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  • Allison Tipper
    5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing is what it seems
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 March 2021
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    Having read a couple of press reviews of this book late last year, I found myself drawn to it and so it landed on my door mat recently. What a read!

    Beautifully written, but complex and at times very hard to follow - chapter by chapter the myriad layers of Munca's life are meticulously unpicked by her nephew who also paints an evocative picture of 20th century British life after WW2. I am amazed that he largely succeeded in uncovering this tale - which is indeed far stranger than fiction. Once I reached the final page, things finally fell into place and for the first time in my life, I went straight back to chapter 1 to start reading it again. This time I will revel in its brilliance with a far better handle on who married who, who was related to who, how names were changed and how the incredibly deceptive journey of Munca's life unfolded. For obvious reasons he can't provide a glossary of people or a family tree as it would ruin the whole work, even though it would have been very helpful!

    Astounding, I've never read anything like it.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good read
    Reviewed in Australia on 16 May 2021
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    nothing to add
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  • Sascot
    4.0 out of 5 stars An eye opener
    Reviewed in the United States on 27 June 2022
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    The author, who had first hand experience of the bonkers Aunt Munca has captured her life with observation, wit and obviously a massive amount of research. It is an eye popping testament to how someone can live their time on earth in such a manner. There is never a dull moment as Aunt Munca defies every convention and norm to promote herself as she feels fit. Just very glad she wasn't a relative of mine.
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  • alphebel
    1.0 out of 5 stars It is a dull book.
    Reviewed in Canada on 4 February 2021
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    Do not understand why the author thought it worth writing.
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  • Ian E. Minter
    4.0 out of 5 stars A tale of a most accomplished liar
    Reviewed in Australia on 29 July 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Phew! It's hard to keep up with the many lives of Aunt Munca. In fact, such were her devious name changes, swift moves from one address to another, from one man to the next, and impressive ability to lie with impunity, I struggled to keep up. Quite how she remembered what was true and what wasn't, I really don't know!

    A woman who went from the poor back streets of a Northern England industrial town to having her own suite at the Savoy, and mixed with the rich and famous, she certainly didn't lack confidence. I'm not quite sure if I admire her, or not. You can't really say she earned her success.

    Overall, a well-written story about a life that would be hard to believe if it wasn't written by a relative who knew her well.
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  • Christine Stewart
    4.0 out of 5 stars Living a lie or how to re-invent your life
    Reviewed in Australia on 12 June 2021
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    Extraordinary true story of a consummate liar who fooled even her own family.
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