The honest, explicit and extraordinary memoir of Edward Charles Featherstone—Englishman, Businessman, Polo Player and Combat Pilot—My Rude Awakening reveals an astonishing account of life lived with passion and intensity.

From the lush green Berkshire’s polo fields, through the ardours of military helicopter training, to the white heat of flying combat missions in the Middle East, Charles’s journey is a riveting tale of privilege, peril and profound personal transformation.

Raised amidst the traditions of English upper-class society, Charles’s life takes an unexpected turn when he embarks on a forbidden, intoxicating affair. This passionate relationship not only challenges societal norms but also ignites a deeply personal awakening that defines his transition into manhood.

Then as a combat helicopter pilot in the Royal Air Force, Charles faces the brutal realities of war and harrowing experiences that still live with him to this day.

Prepare to be shocked, captivated and inspired by the raw, unvarnished truth of this shy boy’s unforgettable journey of love, loss, and survival into adulthood.

Mark Twain stated that truth is stranger than fiction and believe me when I say that Edward Charles Featherstone’s new memoir My Rude Awakening definitely fits this description.

Though, is this book really a memoir? Well, the opening page in my advanced copy has a note from the publisher which states ‘This is not your typical memoirist. It is best not to consider this a memoir at all’. Why, because it has had numerous things changed from reality because Edward Charles Featherstone is the pseudonym of someone who has rubbed shoulders with royalty, been a military helicopter pilot, and by all accounts noted within the book had many, many lovers. The book wasn’t meant for the public to see it. The author intended to keep the details for himself but alas it is now out in the world.

You can pick up the book in an ‘adults’ version or a ‘censored’ version the latter has 30,000 words removed which gives you some idea of how sexual this book gets as the author certainly liked to get it on with the ladies and goes into great detail about his performance.

The read was unusual and there were many parts that I rolled my eyes at or just thought, that’s enough bragging. Yet, there were many moments I enjoyed thoroughly, especially the military sections and when he spoke about his family.

My Rude Awakening is a book that will have you pondering if it is real and who the author is. It will also provide you with plenty of entertainment and give you insight into how the upper classes live. It took me a while to get through it as it is a large book but I was intrigued and rivetted enough to keep coming back to it every time I put it down. I also love that it contains QR codes for music to listen to whilst reading that sets the tone of each section.

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Edward Charles Featherstone is a pseudonym for a hugely successful international entrepreneur.

Having grown up amongst immense privilege in the bucolic English countryside, he went on to enjoy an unrivalled education, both academically and socially. The lessons he learnt from these teachers would guide him throughout the rest of his life as he triumphed on the polo field, as a combat helicopter pilot, and in business, with interesting romantic liaisons along the way.

He lives between London and Berkshire and still enjoys polo. Most of all he loves being in the English countryside shooting clay pigeons, but also game birds in the shooting season. There is a difference now though. He gets immense pleasure enjoying these traditional English pastime with his young son, who is already one of the leading young Colt clay pigeon marksmen in the United Kingdom.