Set in 1901, this novel is about a family from Manchester, England, going on their yearly holiday. The Cotteril family live in a vicarage in a parish outside Manchester, where father and husband Timothy preaches, and he will work as a locum minister in a parish in the countryside where they are holidaying. His wife is Miriam and they have five children: 13-year-old Thea who wants to be grown-up, shy and anxious 11-year-old Rachel, 6-year-old Susan who loves fairies and make believe, and 5-year-old Peter plays the superior brother to 4-year-old Jane who adores him but easily cries.
We get to know the family as the holiday progresses though not much happens except for a few revelations. I admit I found it slow and sometimes boring with all the details about the small children. However, I’m glad I persisted as Crompton is great at character studies and by this I mean she reveals her characters thoughts, worries, and inner life – essentially what makes them tick. It’s a deeper novel in this way and not my usual type. There’s a sense of depression and anxiety throughout most of the book. Timothy struggles with his faith with some extreme thinking and Miriam resents her husband’s devotion to his flock, and she tries to control her children by always having them together. Of the children it’s Rachel who has a terror of difficult things, and their Aunt Bridget who helps with the children is desperate to escape her spinster existence.
Neighbours slowly reveal their secrets as the family go visiting. They visit a Vicar’s family nearby, two curious middle-aged spinster sisters, and a couple and their disabled daughter. The countryside and nature is a strong theme, as is growing up which is mostly shown through Thea and eventually Rachel. The family dymamic really comes through especially with the children and their interactions. I also enjoyed the Edwardian fashions described including trailing skirts and sailor suits. Rachel was probably the character I followed the most though I found her fears quite hard to read.
Readable 