Drawing in part on his own boyhood, Patrick Gale’s novel explores a collision between childish hero worship and extremely messy adult love lives.
1970s Weston-Super-Mare and ten-year-old oddball Eustace, an only child, has life transformed by his mother’s quixotic decision to sign him up for cello lessons. Music-making brings release for a boy who is discovering he is an emotional volcano. He laps up lessons from his young teacher, not noticing how her brand of glamour is casting a damaging spell over his frustrated and controlling mother.
When he is enrolled in holiday courses in the Scottish borders, lessons in love, rejection and humility are added to daily practice.
As recommended in the Slightly Foxed podcast, Episode 10: From Page to Stage
‘This warm and humane novel is not only about love but also the value of art.’ Subday Times
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