The Finishing School - A Novel

Zusatztext "Stunning . . . Irresistible." —Time "GODWIN PROVES HERSELF ONE OF AMERICA'S FOREMOST WRITERS IN THE FINISHING SCHOOL. . . . A profound novel with characters close to the heart." —The Philadelphia Inquirer "COMPELLING! WELL CRAFTED . . . A psychological detective story with dramatic revelations of character and event." —Chicago Tribune "FINELY NUANCED! COMPASSIONATE . . . The Finishing School is a wise contribution to the literature of growing up." —The New York Times Book Review "ALLURING . . . GENTLE! IRONIC! INTENSE! AND EMOTIONAL FICTION." —People Informationen zum Autor Gail Godwin has received a Guggenheim Fellowship and the 1981 Award in Literature from the National Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters. Three of her critically acclaimed novels, The Odd Woman, Violet Clay, and A Mother and Two Daughters, were nominated for the National Book Award. Her other highly praised books include Evensong, The Good Husband, A Southern Family, The Perfectionists, and Father Melancholy's Daughter. Klappentext Justin Stokes would never forget the summer she turned fourteen, nor the woman who transformed her bleak adolescent life into a wondrous place of brilliant color. In the little pondside hut also known as the "finishing school,” eccentric, free-spirited Ursula DeVane opened up a world full of magical possibilities for Justin, teaching her valuable lessons of love and loyalty, and encouraging her to change, to learn, to grow. But the lessons of the finishing school have their dark side as well, as Justin learns how deep friendship can be shattered by shocking, unforgivable betrayal.I.   Last night I dreamed of Ursula DeVane. We were sitting on the crumbling threshold of The Finishing School, and she was telling me something in her rich and compelling voice. Then, suddenly, the sky turned an ominous color, the pond shivered like a live thing, the old pines hissed and swayed, and hard rain pelted down.   “Let’s make a run for it!” said Ursula, tensing her body for the dash.   “But why?” I asked. “We’ll get soaked. Why not sit here and wait it out?”   “Ah, Justin,” she said, putting her arm around my shoulders and giving me a shake. “Haven’t I taught you anything? Didn’t you learn anything from me?”   She leapt up and hurled herself boldly into the storm. Lightning cracked all around her. She was wet to the skin before she had even reached the far side of the pond. I huddled in the shelter of The Finishing School and watched with mounting despair as her figure grew smaller and dimmer in the downpour. I knew if I did not jump up and run after her now that I would lose her forever. But I was powerless to move.   When I woke, I could still feel the pressure of her touch on my shoulders. I could hear the pitch of her tender, teasing voice. All day I have gone around under the spell of that dream.   Is it the dream that has its hold on me, or is it Ursula herself, after all these years? In the dream we were the same age, both young girls; yet when I knew Ursula, that single summer, she was a woman of forty-four and I had just turned fourteen.   All day I have wondered whether I would want to see the real Ursula again, even if I knew where to find her. She would be seventy this year, if she is still alive. How would I feel about her now? Would she be very changed? Or would she, regardless of age and of the hardships she may have suffered since that summer’s end, still retain the power to bewitch my imagination? Would her voice still enchant with its melody and its challenge? How would she feel about me? Would she be glad to see me, or would what happened at the end of the summer have eclipsed our friendship and made her bitter and angry? If I were to see her again, what would I say?   (Ursula, which were the true parts and which parts did you make up? Do you know, I am st...

Product details

• Authors: Gail Godwin
• Publisher: Ballantine
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback
• Released: 20.04.1999
• EAN: 9780345431905
• ISBN: 978-0-345-43190-5
• No. of pages: 352
• Dimensions: 130 mm x 205 mm x 20 mm
• Series: Ballantine Reader's Circle; Ballantine Reader's Circle
• Subject: Fiction > Narrative literature