irene walker-quilliam

This is beautifully written, and a rites of passage story like many of Godden's novels. However in some respects the story has not aged well. From a modern perspective I found the 15 year old girl in the centre of sexual interest from older men rather unsettling. That is partly what was intended, but there also seems to be too much implied blame on the girl. I still admire Godden's work greatly.