Enough: Scenes from Childhood
Stephen Hough
Faber & Faber, £18.99, 272 pages
In this cautiously loving book we are drawn deeply into Stephen Hough’s life, both inner and outer, in charming, sad, hilarious and, at one point, eye-watering detail. There is a sense of sharing which invites us into a world which some will remember, while readers younger than the author may sympathise or wonder at some of the memories stirred and offered.
We hear of friendships, enmities, loves, frustrations: all those things which help draw the star closer to us, and we can appreciate the nearer warmth and light. There is enough musical detail to whet our appetite but not to bore or overwhelm: if we want more of that side of Hough’s life we can visit his recording catalogue or attend a performance.
