I clicked through to the Virago edition and was pleased to see Reverend Robert Walker skating across the cover. I once assisted at a children's poetry class in the National Gallery of Scotland, where he resides, and one little girl adored him and wrote a poem that began, "Reverend, you are simply wonderful."

I realise I must read more Townsend Warners: I've only read Lolly Willowes and Summer Will Show and it seems like there are many more I should try!