Amazon Synopsis
A novel which recounts the passion of a retired bank manager and his love for a solicitor's 18 year-old secretary. They meet when she wins an essay competition of which he is the judge, and the novel is in the form of a letter to her. The author's previous books include "The Maid of Buttermere".

This is the '91 edition of a 1990 book set in 1989, and I must have had it almost that long, so I decided to read it before releasing it. I had mixed feelings about it. It is billed as a love story, but it seemed to me that it is really the chronicle of the obsession of a fairly old (54), married bank manager for a very young (18), nubile, attractive, working class girl. She in turn finds in him a source of safety and affection which is lacking in her background. Bragg paints a convincing picture of his developing jealousy and her doubts and low self-esteem, leading to the break-up with which the book starts. My own doubts centre on whether he is justifying a basically unheathy situation. He certainly has the reader almost tearfully hoping for the reconciliation by the end. I also agree with some critics that the writing at some points is quite turgid and I was skimming some of the long introspective passages to get back to the action, and that the letters from the two women were implausibly eloquent and literary as well as tolerant and convenient for his protagonist.

RELEASE NOTES:

In the lobby. I was there for a dance weekend (as a non-participant), so it seemed appropriate.

Picked it up at Willersley Castle, was there as a dance weekend participant, but had not realised it had come from another dance weekender! I live in Sheffield and so will probably release it somewhere soon, once i've read it!

CAUGHT IN MATLOCK DERBYSHIRE ENGLAND