The story of my life

Augustus Hare's 750,000 word, six volume autobiography was published between 1896-1900. Hare (1834-1903) was adopted by his extremely pious paternal aunt Maria and lived and travelled with her until he was an adult and after. He wrote guide books to many of the most popular areas then visited by travellers to Europe, especially France and Italy, as well as biographies of members of his family. His real interest today is as an indiscreet, gossipy and detail-loving observer of the lives and social conditions of members of his class and circle which included members of the aristocracy. The extreme religiosity of his Aunt Maria is scarcely credible nowadays and though it had a lasting effect on his life, her (to us now) apparent cruelties were accepted by Hare and he was devoted to her. There are a range of editions, perhaps the most readable are the two volume abridgements edited by Malcolm Barnes. Somerset Maugham knew Hare and his essay on him is published in Maugham's In Vagrant Mood.