Evelyn and her older sister, Moira in post-war, working class Bristol experiment with relationships. This subtle story looks at the culture clash of class – both girls are attracted but also repelled by upper-class men they meet. We follow the story from Evelyn’s point of view as she’s introduced to the adult world of alcohol and sex by her more worldly sister.
Tessa Hadley, whose writing I always love, has written a novella that captures the intense feelings of that liminal space where, as it seems to the sisters, they can experiment and try out new experiences, and nothing really matters but the joy of it all. Excellent.
Ali Thurm 