It is early 1956 and the British Empire is crumbling. But for nine-year-old Ella, living with her parents at the British High Commission in Peshawar, Pakistan, the walls of class, snobbery and racism are still intact. Growing up is a lonely, painful experience, and Ella withdraws, recording the hypocrisy of adult behaviour in her diary, A History of Insects, where she hides a secret that could shatter the lives of the people around her.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
For previous novels 'Provocative, entertaining ... delightfully funny novel' Daily Express 'A thoughtful and witty first novel' Daily Telegraph 'Both an entertaining satire on contemporary sexual mores ... and a touching portrait of a woman's search for self-respect' Vogue 'Yvonne Roberts is a natural. She's wonderful; the wittiest, most inventive novelette writer in ages' Image Magazine for HISTORY pb 'A HISTORY OF INSECTS is pure magic' Bookseller 'This novel is better than most because the author draws on her own colonial childhood in Pakistan, and the dialogue, food and manners seem absolutely authentic' Daily Mail 'Roberts picks her way through the cultural and psychological minefields of the plot with impressive grace' The Times 'A story of great charm... [Roberts] brilliantly evokes a country fractured not only by swelling anti-British sentiment but by religious conflict' Sunday Times 'Reminiscent of Behind the Scenes at the Museum. The writing is sensitive and intelligent, but the plot is so well constucted that it hooks the reader from the very first page. Engrossing' Yorkshire Post 'A memorable vision of the remnants of the British Raj caught on the cusp of change in Pakistan in 1956 as the backdrop...a masterful conclusion that marks this out as a must read' The Scotsman 'An engaging story' The Good Book guide 'An illuminating and evocative account of the loss of innocence' Western Mail Cardiff "Brilliently evokes a country fractured not only by swelling anti-British sentiment but by religious conflict' The Sunday Times 'Brilliently and poignantly evoked' Woman & Home 'Intelligent, involving novel' The Scotsman
About the Author
Winner of the Young Journalist of the Year Award in 1971, Yvonne Roberts has since worked in television and for a range of newspapers including The Sunday Times and the Observer. Her two previous novels were published to great acclaim.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
average read.......,
This review is from: History of Insects Pb (Paperback)
This was a good book but not great. In some places, it was a little slow and failed to deliver what seemed to be a high point in the plot. Lots of scandalous behaviour.....it's a great book to read on a lazy afternoon when there's nothing else to do.
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