Review: An important, challenging work from a powerful author
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 29, 2014
There is nothing wrong with a book designed purely for entertainment, but every so often you read one that really means something as well. This is one of those books. It's important.Set in a boys boarding school in 1930s England, this novel looks at the institutionalised bullying that the hierarchies of boarding schools promote. Almost from the start there is an atmosphere of tremendous oppression that affects teachers and pupils alike. But as the story develops, it becomes clear that bullying can take on many forms - involving class, status, age, gender and more.Jonathan Hill's writing, already at a high standard with his Maureen stories, evolves here in unexpected ways. He adopts a semi-poetical style, with a lot of rich metaphor and simile throughout. This is beautifully apt since much of the book dances around the whole issue of homosexuality, using the same balletic moves as the characters. This is clearly an author developing his powers by reaching deep within himself.Sometimes uncomfortable, sometimes tragic, but always spellbinding, here we have a book that deserves to be read by everyone. Not just by those looking for entertainment, but by those who also need to be challenged, and perhaps even changed. This is a novel that makes you think about your own prejudices and how they can hurt people far more than your fists ever could.