Excerpt from The First Round
It is possible that she had heard an answer to her signal, for she descended the hillside quickly, her strong shoes crunching amongst the stones of the path, and occasionally sticking in the wet earth and emerging with an uncanny gurgle. She did not seem depressed by the difficulty of her way, but sang softly to herself as she went. Before she had gone far, however, a sudden deluge of rain began to drive heavily across the face of the hill, and the big drops pattered on her yellow garment like arrows on the armour of some hero of Old wars. The valley was blotted out in an instant 3 she glanced around her, and knew, though she could not see it, that she was near a hovel which was almost in ruins. She tucked her pigtail inside the mackintosh and ran like a Chamois towards shelter.
The hovel had been built, for purposes long since, forgotten, in a disused gravel pit, and leant against the scarped side of the hill with the weary languor Of extreme antiquity. The little girl reached the quarry in a very short time, and was making for the draughty entrance to the building when, rather to her astonishment, she discovered that She was not the sole intruder in that usually lonely place. A boy about her own age was walking solemnly to and fro amongst the plentiful pools of rain which lay on the muddy ground.
The little girl was in no way embarrassed by his presence, but stood well in the shelter of the doorway and shook her mackintosh. Then, without speaking, she watched the dim figure of the boy, who continued his absurd goose-step in the slime without taking the least notice of her. Perhaps this ungallant treatment roused her curiosity for at length when he was near her, she remarked briefly, You 'll get wet.
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Seller: Forgotten Books, London, United Kingdom
Paperback. Condition: New. Print on Demand. This book follows the journey of a young boy named Denis as he navigates the transition from the idyllic freedom of childhood to the structured world of boarding school in early 20th-century England. The story beautifully contrasts the boy's imaginative spirit, nurtured by his solitary explorations of the moors and his love for music, with the rigid expectations of conformity and "manliness" imposed by his father and the school environment. The author delves into themes of individuality versus conformity, the loss of innocence, and the clash between imagination and societal pressures. Denis's encounters with unconventional characters, such as a free-spirited girl with a pigtail and a wandering Italian musician, challenge his understanding of the world and highlight the limitations of conventional morality. His internal struggles reflect a yearning for authenticity and a resistance to the stifling expectations of the adult world. Through Denis's experiences, the book offers profound insights into the complexities of growing up and the importance of preserving one's unique spirit amidst societal pressures. It serves as a timeless reminder that true "manliness" lies not in conformity, but in the courage to embrace one's individuality and pursue a path of self-discovery. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book. print-on-demand item. Seller Inventory # 9780259509349_0
Quantity: Over 20 available
Seller: PBShop.store US, Wood Dale, IL, U.S.A.
PAP. Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. Established seller since 2000. Seller Inventory # LW-9780259509349
Seller: PBShop.store UK, Fairford, GLOS, United Kingdom
PAP. Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. Established seller since 2000. Seller Inventory # LW-9780259509349
Quantity: 15 available