The Dragonfly Years
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Cover Story
The illustration on the cover of this issue is from the new Bodley Bookshelf edition of Penelope Farmer's The Summer Birds. We think Paul Geiger's artwork catches exactly the magic of that delightful book. We are grateful for the help of The Bodley Head in using this illustration. For details of the book and more about Penelope Farmer, turn to May We Recommend... on page 14.
The story takes place between 1937 and Dunkirk, dragonfly years for Bridie because her ideas and emotions gleam and dart as she struggles towards independence, maturity and her ambition to write. She works in an Edinburgh flower-shop, lives with strict evangelical grandparents, goes to evening classes, falls in love with a young man who joins the Navy. Bridie's relationship, political and social awareness and self-knowledge are at the centre. The book has plenty of characters, action and outside references. Consider it for the library or book-box.