As the story unfolds, the past and present are brought together to reveal the macabre events that transformed four elderly sisters' idyllic Fenland childhood into a history of confinement, suicide, incest and murder. This novel won both the Somerset Maugham and Betty Trask Awards.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
"You live a simple life here away from corruption," an abusive father tells his four motherless daughters in this eerily tragic and mesmerizing first novel. "I cannot risk you becoming corrupted." Virtually imprisoned in their rural house even after their father's death, the four grow into a tormented old age. Milly, the narrator, recalls events from their youth and relates the decayed routines they follow after more than 60 years have elapsed, weaving an ever more nightmarish tale. Querulous older sister Aggie and younger twins Ellen and Esther (invariably called Ellenanesther because of their inseparability) have, like Milly, been scarred forever by the suicide of their warm and once-worldly mother, who, after years of being battered by her husband, drowned herself during the girls' childhood; by the cruelty of their father; and by their almost total isolation. A profusion of gothic elements--illegitimate conceptions; incest; concealed murder; a freak kept hidden in a cellar--is kept in place by Glaister's careful narrative structure and her empathy for Milly.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
YA-- A woman and her daughters are virtual prisoners in their isolated home; their abusive husband and father uses the excuse that he is protecting them from evil in the outside world. This is a story of lives spent in waiting: waiting with dread for the man's return, waiting for a chance to escape, waiting for their lives to be over and their ordeal to end. The gentle narrative format belies the book's brutal nature. The mother's suicide sets in motion a chain of events that destroys any chance for happiness for the rest of the family. The incestuous relationship that develops between father and daughter leads to the birth of a monstrously deformed child who ends up being held prisoner in the cellar. Included are some violent sexual overtones. In terms of literary style, this is a cut above Stephen King and V. C. Andrews. It's also a darker tale because it's so firmly based in reality. --Carolyn Koehler, Richard Byrd Library, Fairfax County, VA
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent,
By Alison "girlrunning" (Derbyshire, UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Honour Thy Father (Paperback)
This is quite a short book but it doesn't feel any the less because of it. I really enjoyed it and would put it amongst the best books I've read this year.
The story is about 4 elderly sisters who still live together in their family home. The time period covers a 24 hour period in the present day, but interspersed with flash-backs to memories of their childhoods. Right from the start there is a feeling of unease. Something is not right... I certainly don't want to spoil the story, but as the childhood memories progress and the events in the 24 hour present day progress, things are slowly unravelled and while I guessed some of things that were revealed there were plenty of surprises too. Glaister is highly skilled at giving this sense of unease and dread while slowing revealing why you are feeling that way. One tip: My copy is a slighly different cover than this version, but don't read any reviews or summaries on the back cover. One on my copy gives away part of the story. Luckily I didn't read it till afterwards. I've already ordered another book by the same author because I enjoyed reading this book so much.
1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's a classic!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Honour Thy Father (Mass Market Paperback)
Lesley Lesley Lesley! What can I say - Lesley Lesley Lesley.The ramifications of the underlining sub-text lay your soul bare. read read read everything this woman has to offer.
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