About ‘From Acorns’
Ed Wood is not a household name. He isn’t a war hero, an eminent politician or an aristocratic socialite with a sprawling estate. He has received no great honours and that’s exactly what he wants. Growing up in a family of characters that were all those things and more, Ed gained plenty of stories, some fascinating insights and a sense of maverick rebellion to be the first Edward Wood to be completely ordinary. He followed his curiosity where others before him had followed tradition, taking him all over the world and between a variety of careers.
The book takes us from the Victorian values of the English gentry – complete with Churchill, Eton, an eccentric governess and despotic matron – to the decisions and pressures of the real world including divorce, the credit crunch and Brexit. Wood reflects on the little things that have moved him forwards (and sometimes backwards) on his adventures and shares what he has learnt along the way.
We see the evolution of the male identity over three generations, from his grandfather Lord Halifax to his father, Richard Wood MP (later Lord Holderness) to Ed now, in a household of four daughters and two granddaughters. It explores how the worlds of business, politics and family have changed over half a century – and how we should change to keep up with them. A compelling account of an extraordinarily ordinary life.
Praise
‘A rivetingly well written account of an upbringing rooted in the English establishment, and surviving in the great meritocracy of post-war Britain, where who your grandfather was counts for FA.’
‘Adventures, love, family, friends, business and infectious humour shine through each crafted page. If you want PC, look elsewhere. This is meaty, close to the bone, red blooded views and blue blooded people. Great.’
‘Sketched with warmth and humanity with the most deft of touches, this autobiography leaves the reader thirsting for more. It is almost too understated. A perfect gem.’
‘Engaging, entertaining, quirky, un-put-down-able - a thoroughly enjoyable read - I loved it.’
‘A fascinating journey through a world that seems to have been lost forever. Sometimes for the better and others for the worse. Ed has experienced some amazing things and his life is a living history of the world as it changes.’
‘Ed has an infectious optimism even when the world sometimes throws up the worst it can. The book is engagingly written and you want to keep turning the pages. Definitely a good read!’
Excerpts
While I discovered that the ‘hare’ was actually a well peppered block of wood that looked a bit harelike, Beakey was taking a tremendous bollocking from the landowner. I returned to the angry scene to find that we had been identified.
On one occasion, a French party brought former President Valery Giscard d’Estaing to shoot. Fascinated by him and his reputation, I gave him my loader and stood in his butt. At the start of the first drive he turned to me and said, ‘Edouard, do these grouse come past in packets?’
My father had a habit of driving one of his dogs to church, and leaving it in the boot during the service. Afterwards, for the journey up the hill back to the house, the dog was often let out to race the car. On at least three occasions he managed to run the dogs over and kill them.
Torrential rain started gushing through the ceiling into the home cinema. I screamed for buckets and towels. Siblings and wife screamed at the culprit. I screamed at them for screaming at the culprit, and renewed my request for buckets and towels. Request ignored. Power cut. Darkness. More screaming.
I wrote the note, and smiling to myself, I put it under the windscreen wiper of the BMW, when, at that very moment, a vast man, with the build of a rugby player, came up, and said “Can I help you?”
He delivered a rather unusual sex lecture, illustrated by the use of his lit cigarette. Flicking it up into the air, causing the accumulated ash to drop off the end, was supposed to comprise a comprehensive brief on the subject