This was my 4th book with Spring in the title and it was spotting the cover of the book and buying it from the library For Sale shelf that gave me the idea for Reading The Seasons.
Una is 15 and her sister Hal is 12 when their diplomat father summons them away from their English boarding school to start a new life with him in India. When she discovers their beautiful governess Alix is actually his mistress, she is furious. Bored and lonely, Una starts to spend time with Ravi, the gardener’s young assistant. Ravi brings poetry and compassion into Una’s life but what began as friendship soon blossoms into something forbidden.
This is a novel of class and caste distinction, expats and the leftover customs of the British Raj but it has wonderful descriptions of the colours and sights of India. It was first published in 1975.
On the ‘Book Read 2024’ page is also a precis of another book read “All Around The Year” by Michael Morpurgo. I really enjoyed this diary of a year – 1976/7 – on a mixed farm in North Devon. He spent every day of a year working with the family who were going to be the main farmers for his charity ‘Farms for City Children’ which was due to start the following year. There is a Ted Hughes poem for each month and photos from James Ravilious – both neighbours at the time. This is a 2023 Little Toller reprint of a book first published in 1979 and never reprinted until now. More about it HERE
Back Tomorrow
Sue
