The Greengage Summer

This coming-of-age tale explores love and betrayal among siblings during a summer in France, as seen through the eyes of young Cecil in The Greengage Summer.

Set against the backdrop of a long, sweltering summer in France, The Greengage Summer unfolds a poignant tale of five siblings who find themselves navigating the complexities of love and betrayal. When their mother falls ill during their holiday, the children are left to fend for themselves at the elegant yet faded hotel, Les Oeillets. The atmosphere is thick with tension as they interact with the glamorous patronne, Mademoiselle Zizi, whose jealousy casts a shadow over their innocence. Meanwhile, thirteen-year-old Cecil observes her older sister, Joss, as she becomes entangled in a dangerous affair with Zizi's enigmatic lover, Eliot.

As the siblings explore the lush surroundings of the old orchards, their experiences become a vivid tapestry of emotional growth and self-discovery. The narrative is rich with evocative imagery, capturing the beauty and melancholy of childhood memories intertwined with the harsh realities of adult emotions. Through Cecil's eyes, readers witness the delicate balance between childhood innocence and the harsh lessons of love and deceit that come with growing up.

The Greengage Summer is not just a coming-of-age story; it is a reflection on the complexities of familial bonds and the bittersweet nature of first love. Rumer Godden's masterful storytelling invites readers to immerse themselves in a world where every moment is filled with both charm and underlying tension, making it a timeless classic that resonates with the struggles of youth.