‘Not My Father’s Son’: Actor’s memoir wonderfully written

In the spring of 2010, Scottish actor Alan Cumming (known for his roles on Broadway and television's The Good Wife, among others) was offered the opportunity to participate in the BBC TV version of Who Do You Think You Are?, a popular show in which celebrities have their family trees researched.

Alan was delighted at the chance to finally uncover the truth about his maternal grandfather's strange death in 1951. However, just as filming was about to begin, Alan's abusive father, with whom he had not spoken in over fifteen years, reached out to reveal a genealogy bombshell of his own - but was it true?

If this sounds like the opening to a novel, it very well could be. But for Cumming, this is real life, and he beautifully - and heartbreakingly - shares the story in his memoir, Not My Father's Son (Dey Street Books, $26.99).

Told in tight, clear-voiced chapters that alternate between Alan's abusive childhood and his adult adventure in family history, Not My Father's Son is a moving story about one man's attempt to put his past behind him by facing it head-on.

And what a past it is. Cumming's father was the head forester of Panmure Estate on the east coast of Scotland, and the family lived in what was called the 'Nursery House.”

'It was all very feudal and a bit Downton Abbey, minus the abbey and fifty years later …. Looking back on it, it was a beautiful place to grow up, but at the time all I wanted was to get as far away as possible.”

And he does, of course, but in order to move beyond his childhood, Cumming needs to address it. He confronts his father in a scene that speaks to the great benefits of therapy and strong bond Alan has with both his brother and his mother.

While most celebrity memoirs are nothing more than extended publicity, Not My Father's Son is a wonderful exception. A beautiful story about a man having the pluck to live life on his own terms, Not My Father's Son is a wonderful memoir both for those who want to know more about where they came from, and those who need the courage to leave it all behind.