cover image Compass Error

Compass Error

Sybille Bedford. Plume Books, $8.95 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-525-48187-4

Continuing the story begun in A Favourite of the Gods, this novel takes Flavia Herbert to the south of France one summer in the '30s, where she develops a crush on an older woman and tries to protect her mother, who is having an affair with a married man. Then another older, cruel woman enters the scene, draws Flavia to her, and betrayal follows. PW praised the work, stating that Bedford's tale is ""haunting and her awarenesss of the nuances of guilt and innocence beautifully conveyed.'' November