Publication
Hodder, c1956
Collection
Status
Available
Description
In the raw aftermath of World War II, this is the story of the Wentworth family. It is the story of John Wentworth-vicar of a church in Devon, England-and his wife Daphne, who feels trapped in the vicarage. While John's great aunt lives in the dilapidated family manor house, their three daughters attend a dysfunctional school, captive among embattled staff and their headmistress. It is only Harriet, John's aging former nanny, who holds the family together through her love and empathy. But when Michael Stone returns to town, recently released from prison and now searching for his former love, Daphne, he is a disruption to the lives of all-including his own-helping to free them from their prisons, both physical and metaphorical.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Figgles
A meditative book on fresh beginnings. I suspect that Elizabeth Goodge was writing "magic realism" long before the term was coined. Here there is perhaps a little too much of the magic/spiritual element, which does make the story somewhat slow, however if you perservere there's a quiet story of
Show More
broken people finding healing - in part thanks to the catalyst of two people whose arrival sets off a chain reaction of self awareness and healing in a quiet English village. Not perhaps her best - I'd recommend starting with one of her other books (The Elliots series, or The Little White Horse), but still plenty of food for thought. I realised I hadn't read this one when I discovered that this book had be plagiarised (almost word for word) as the Indian novel "Crane's Morning", ending in the tragic suicide of the plagiariser - which makes me wonder if they understood any of the message of this book... Show Less
LibraryThing member SueinCyprus
A gentle, relaxing book revolving around a delightfully vague vicar and his wife. Excellent word pictures of each individual are drawn, with a clear understanding of temperament differences and high sensitivity. A bit long-winded and over-descriptive in places, but overall enjoyable.
Language
Original language
English
ISBN
0340028750 / 9780340028759
Original publication date
1956