The Quivering Tree: An East Anglian Childhood

The British author here picks up where her funny, affecting Opposite the Cross Keys ended, in linked memoirs no less spellbinding than her novels ( Death of a God ). At age 12 Haymon was allowed to stay and finish school in the hometown dear to her heart when her widowed mother moved to London. The student's bright expectations dimmed, however, as she obeyed the diktat of the draconian headmistress to board with two female teachers, Locke and Gosse. Naive, the girl was puzzled when Locke made advances to her and drove Gosse to tears. But Haymon was even more disturbed by the gin-soaked housekeeper Binyon, who alternately starved the young boarder and served her feasts. As further problems arose, Haymon endured, helped by new friends--such as loyal, raffish Mr. Betts--and learned long-lasting lessons. Betts, Binyon, the lesbian teachers and other people from Haymon's past live on in this remarkable book. (Dec.)