Class

Jilly Cooper is a popular English journalist/novelist who turned her attention to the subtleties of the English caste system back in the seventies. Coming from a privileged background and being blessed with an acerbic wit, in addition to being a self-described coprophile, she was ideally situated to take on the task; the lady clearly knows her subject.Although the accompanying illustrations are somewhat dated (bell bottoms, anyone?), the observations are timeless, and for the most part are as applicable to the American class system as the English. The one exception is the aristocracy, which one is born into in England, inheriting both property and title as a matter of right. As a result, English aristocrats have that wonderful "Up yours!" attitude that the American upper class can only aspire to. Readers interested in the antics of the Young Royals (they of the single-digit IQs and hands with six fingers) will find this book especially interestingThis book invites comparison to "Class: A Guide Through the American Status System" by Paul Fussell, which it closely resembles, both in sharpness of observation and uproarious humor. The Fussell book assumes more of a sociological perspective, however, while Ms. Cooper's style is that of the gossip columnist/confidante.

This very amusing and thorough look at the British class system (up to the late 70s when it was written) is so accurate it can make you laugh one minute and cringe the next. To a large extent, much of it still applies today but in some areas things have lightened up a little I think (hope!). Jilly Cooper has a wicked sense of humour and a very easy style which made this book a very enjoyable read. Bravo! Pip, pip.

I found this to be a screamingly funny view of the levels of society in England in the 60's and 70's.It's a bit dated now but I'll swear that all of us can accurately place people we know in one of these categories--the top layer-more concerned with their animals and blithely unaware of any other layer---the upper middles --not quite so unaware and all the others, some of whom are desperately trying to keep up appearances . The lowest social layer of all are, strangely enough, most like the topmost layer in that they are totally confident in their milieu and don't give a damn about anyone else!! I kept recognising people that I knew and slotted them into what I thought was their layer but quite probably, a lot of them would consider themselves to be at least one layer above that which they really belong.It's a real hoot!!

The English class system is so complex and involved that all of us have different perspectives. I agree with Jilly Cooper about 90%: which doesn't mean that either of us have "got it right", if indeed such a thing is possible.The author writes with humour and an observant eye. She goes much further than Nancy Mitford's U and non-U. The book is inevitably a bit dated, but the underlying pattern is still there: unfortunately.

20 years on, most of her findings still apply--and we thought the class system was going to disappear. What fools we were! Of course some details are out of date, and these days no one would get away with Cooper's distant view of the workers. (She claims they're inarticulate, while quoting taxi drivers.) Her dissection of her own class, though, is the funniest. The upper middles, the best educated and so the most prone to fall for an endless succession of risible intellectual fashions. She writes beautifully, too. What a pity bonkbusters make more money than comedies!