Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The House in France, By Gully Wells

 

Christopher Hirst
Thursday 14 June 2012 15:56 BST
Comments

A Proustian moment in the Provençal house of her mother Dee Wells whizzes the author back to the haute bohème of the Sixties.

A motley cast of bit players rub shoulders: Eartha Kitt, Isaiah Berlin, Mary Quant, Raymond Carr ("he made me pee with laughter").

Star roles, not always flattering, are given to her celebrated boyfriend and stepfather: "Until I met Martin [Amis], I thought Freddie [Ayer] was the most intellectually – and sexually – competitive man on earth."

Wells's pin-sharp memories produce an entertaining slide-show.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in