The story in one page
In the academic shadows of Oxford, Jehane and Nan spend their youth watching undergraduates from afar, terrified that the 'land of marriage' is a destination they will never reach. Jehane eventually chooses a desperate escape from spinsterhood, only to find the reality of a financier's home life less romantic than her girlish dreams. The focus then shifts to the next generation, specifically young Peter, a child accused of having too much imagination. As Peter grows, he protects his sister Kay from perceived dangers while navigating a world populated by eccentric cabmen, faun-like mentors, and the quiet, persistent presence of Glory, the girl who has been waiting in his shadow since childhood.
Who's who
- Jehane
A don's daughter who marries to avoid becoming an old maid.
- Peter
An imaginative boy who grows up protecting those he loves.
- Nan Tudor
Jehane's best friend who shares the fear of spinsterhood.
- Mr. Grace
A kind-hearted cabman with pig-like eyes and a red complexion.
- Glory
A girl who patiently waits for Peter to notice her.
- Kay
Peter's sister, for whose safety he is constantly worried.
What it's really about
- Domesticity
- The shift from romantic longing to the reality of married life.
- Imagination
- The struggle of a sensitive child in a literal-minded world.
Why it's memorable
- A tandem tricycle being hidden in a meadow to protect it from potential tramps.
- The 'Winged Thrush' sign depicting a brown bird fluttering in a gilded cage.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
After rescuing Glory from a boat drifting toward a dangerous weir, Peter finally recognizes her devotion and the two find romantic resolution under the moonlight.
For your book club
- The contrast between the freedom of Oxford men and the passivity forced upon women.
- The way childhood fears of loss evolve into adult romantic realizations.