Not My Father’s Son: A Family Memoir

Not My Father’s Son is really a tale of two fathers: Alan Cumming’s own (forester Alex Cumming) and his maternal grandfather (WWII veteran Tommy Darling). In 2010, Alan is given an opportunity – through appearing in the BBC’s popular program Who Do You Think You Are? – to learn more about the latter’s mysterious death in Malaysia in 1951. On the eve of the commencement of filming, Cumming’s brother Tom delivers information that forces Alan to reconnect with his estranged father; a man who has left both sons with childhood memories of fear, violence and manipulation.

Alan Cumming grew up on the east coast of Scotland and has become a respected and popular actor on both the stage (Cabaret, Macbeth) and screen (Circle of Friends, The Good Wife). Although his career is interwoven into the story (there are a few humorous anecdotes concerning the spitting habit of Patti Smith and the author’s obsession with the Eurovision song contest) the book is ultimately, as indicated in the subtitle, a family memoir which is told with great honesty and insight. Cleverly structured, I would have to agree with the growing number of reviewers that liken this to a thriller – it is gripping, page-turning stuff.

One of the most notable things about this book is how you go through the experiences with the author. Cumming is able to recall physical and emotional circumstances with such clarity and detail that you really do feel you are sitting alongside him as each revelation occurs. He is a charming and engaging personality who thoughtfully weaves together the past and present, alongside a number of personal photos, all contributing to the sense that the author is sharing the story with you, rather than merely retelling it. At times funny, at other times very sad, this memoir is ultimately moving and inspiring.

Amanda Rayner