This book has plenty of evidence to back this up - notably Winston's letters from his peculiarly sadistic prep school imploring his parents to take him away, or at least come and see him; on the back of some of these are scribbled the names of those Jennie planned to ask to dinner. Sebba does not deny the neglect, but nevertheless has us believe that Jennie always loved her eldest son, and that she 'always knew that Winston would be her greatest achievement'.