Class

by Jilly Cooper

CLASS IS DEAD!
Or so everyone claims. Who better to refute this than Jilly Cooper!

Describing herself as 'upper middle class', Jilly claims that snobbery is very much alive and thriving! Meet her hilarious characters! People like Harry Stow-Crat, Mr and Mrs Nouveau-Richards, Samantha and Gideon Upward, and Jen Teale and her husband Brian. Roar with laughter at her horribly unfair observations on their everyday pretensions - their sexual courtships, choice of furnishings, clothes, education, food, careers and ambitions...

For they will all remind you of people that you know!

Genres: Nonfiction, Chick Lit, Humor, Romance, British Literature, Class, Society

368 pages, Paperback

First published May 28, 1981

About the author

Jilly Cooper, OBE (born February 21, 1937) is an English author. She started her career as a journalist and wrote numerous works of non-fiction before writing several romance novels, the first of which appeared in 1975. She is most famous for writing the six blockbuster novels the Rutshire Chronicles.

Reviews

[Lorna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I giggled constantly through the whole thing... nodding my head the whole time, agreeing with Jilly's deliciously wicked insights. If you ever want to know about the English class system, this book is a must! OK... it might be a bit of a warped view and things may have changed a little since it was first written in 1979. But through hilarious characters like Harry Stow-Crat, Mr and Mrs Nouveau-Richards, Samantha and Gideon Upward, and Jen Teale and her husband Brian you get to see how British people never really lose that snobby persona for which they are so famous.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favourites and comfort re-reads.

[Shu cortesi · Rating 5 out of 5]

i have read and reread this book so many times, hilarious and educating.

[Nat Wolfenden woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book started my love of sociology... Pure heaven & funny too...

[Terrie Lobina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely to be read again. Great fun

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun! Each of the classes is equally made fun of, which made for a thoroughly enjoyable read.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very funny book, still as relevant today as when it was written in 1981.

[Elizabeth]

As an American, I loved this discussion of British class. I did think she betrays herself a bit, though -- her depiction of the lower middle and upper middle classes were much more vicious than anything else she wrote. Funny, though.

[Elisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps a bit dated but a funny look at the British class system, something that as a foreigner i always find fascinating

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bit dated (one would hope) but still absolutely hilarious.

[Ben Preston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and insightful. As much as a window into the 1970s as the British Class system

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not only was I amused, but I think it did shed some light on the British novels of the 50s and 60s I occasionally read, as well as upon the early 90s television shows such as Keeping Up Appearances (which is obsessed with class & class-markers, all the humour is in that) I sometimes watch. It is not a serious book, nor a scholarly one, but then, I did not expect it to be.

[cloudyskye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very amusing non-fiction (re)read indeed. Jilly Cooper obviously knows what she writes about, and I wish she had written an update, say, 10-15 years later. I'd love her take on Sloane Rangerdom, Lady Diana and all that ...

[Jamie Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

very funny look at the British class system, probably somewhat out dated now.

[Þóra Gylfadóttir]

Stéttaskiptingin í Bretlandi gerð gegnsæ og JC svoooo fyndin.

[Gill McKinlay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting!

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first started this I imagined a 3 or even 4 star rating.

Cooper certainly has her facts straight.

The modern world has of course brought with it some differences, although it is always wise to return to the roots of the situation to clear the ways and learn how the class system actually works from top to down.

Lots to love about this book, and the humor wasn't lost on me.

However, the last third was increasingly difficult to wade through, as the pace and the ridiculous names she gave to each class started to disturb and frustrate me.

A few pointers I've picked up and I definitely won't be wearing the black see through blouse I purchased second-hand last week, (which I also discovered is disgusting as I don't know who's worn it before) if I don't want to be labelled definitely disgusting! And I'd always had my suspicions regarding leather jackets. I've never made peace with how you can wear them and look sophisticated. Well Cooper says you can't. Leather is for the elbow patch on tweed coats if you want to look classy. Thanks Jilly!

I'm looking forward to reading some of her novels. She has a good writing style. I just hope they're not too frothy.

N.B I'm upping this to 3 stars because of what Cooper has done for me in terms of straightening out what my actual class bracket is. I guess what it comes down to is, "What is your father's occupation?" Yes, that old chestnut.

[Hailstones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was advised to read this in the 80s when I was considered a country bumpkin but also a snob (!). I couldn't understand how that could be as I was too young and unworldly to see what that meant. A lot of houses in the village were being bought by, my grandmother's phrase, 'The Nouveaus darling". As soon as I read this book realised I knew all about the Nouveau-Richards exactly as the book said and everything began to fit into place.
Even the fact that the 'poor' wore jumpers with holes in the elbows but so did the upper-class. Mending is poverty, holes are an accident.
It may be dated but it really did reveal the stages of class in the days of Sloanes etc. You can take the man from the bog, but you can't take the bog out of the man seems to be about it.
For those wanting to know what it was like in the days when money bought anything but good breeding, this is for you.

[Wil · Rating 5 out of 5]

First published in 1979, non-fictional Class is in many respects still as relevant in the 21st century as it was in the late seventies. The hilarious, but painfully perceptive perspective on the unique social stratification of the United Kingdom, dissects every aspect of daily life with laser-guided precision. Every layer of British society gets a thorough check-up, and no one is spared Jilly Cooper's opinion which she delivers with a lightning wit. Obligatory reading for Brits who aren't afraid of some self-deprecatory insights, as well as non-Brits who want to make some sense of a modern western society, shrouded in mystic social conventions that date back to the dark middle ages.

[Eva Hnizdo · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very interesting, and rather exotic. It was given to me by my English then pen friend who, when we emigrated, flew to Germany to check if we needed some help. Reading Class taught me a lot about English society, and yes, of course it is subjective, middle class urban view, but still.I often remembered this book when dealing with patients.
I re-read it recently,some aged, Britain has changed, But not THAT much.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, illuminating, patronising

Cooper can barely contain her contempt for the working class. Pretty meta if you ask me, “Jen Teale”!
A fascinating look into late 70s social politics

[Maddie Margioni · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok so this was pretty funny and an interesting style of writing to have the characters be archetypes for entire classes. but honestly she came off a bit haughty (probably the point but still i didn’t love it) and i think some of the sections were unnecessary sorry

[Eve Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another highly entertaining read and great insight into the British class system from the point of view of the late 70s. Some has changed, a lot has not. This book shows what a skilled and insightful writer Jilly Cooper is, knowledgeable, experienced in life and funny. I loved it

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book many years ago and it still stands out as one of the best on the topic. Cooper’s observations are witty and accurate.

[The Scarlet Pimpernel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great to dip into for a quick paragraph.....Twas witty.

[Chantal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit dated but quite funny.

[Rose · Rating 1 out of 5]

Jilly Cooper, I was promised, is incredibly funny, charming, and incisively clever. This is just. Ugh. Dated and vile.

[Franziska Self Fisken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining, light and witty. Was meant to be an update on Nancy Mitford's "U and Non-U" but is very 1970's and out of date now.

[Sarah Hearn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve read this a number of times and always a enjoyed it but this time, I found it dated and only slightly amusing.