"South Riding" sounds very good (I have added it, along with "The crowded street", to my infinite to-read list)
:D I must read more of Holtby's books at some point. Despite being public domain in the UK they're not easy to find online, but my local library does have several of them—when I can get back there...
I think the isolated feel and lack of context might come from it trying to be a "legend"
It definitely does have that sort of fairytale-ish feel, with the not hugely detailed omniscient language of the narrative, and the sense of an older place than the actual 30s/40s setting. And I suppose the 'outcast finding a place to belong' story is a sort of fairytale-like plot too, so in that respect it works well!
no subject
:D I must read more of Holtby's books at some point. Despite being public domain in the UK they're not easy to find online, but my local library does have several of them—when I can get back there...
I think the isolated feel and lack of context might come from it trying to be a "legend"
It definitely does have that sort of fairytale-ish feel, with the not hugely detailed omniscient language of the narrative, and the sense of an older place than the actual 30s/40s setting. And I suppose the 'outcast finding a place to belong' story is a sort of fairytale-like plot too, so in that respect it works well!