FOX HILL

by Valerie Worth ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 1, 1986

A Gothic novel with a touch of fantasy. Left penniless and alone in the world, 17-year-old Lily dreads the prospect of living with misanthropic Aunt Ruth, her only relative. The one bright spot in Lily's new life is housekeeper Betty, who tells the girl about her aunt's sad past, which includes a lost love and the untimely death of Martin, a much beloved child raised in the household. Lily is fascinated by the stories about Martin, and she becomes obsessed with making contact with him. Her fancies lead her to imagine that he is trying to communicate with her--and she becomes lost in a world of mystery and melancholy. Lily is abruptly shocked out of her obsession when she almost falls from the window where Martin toppled to his death. In a classic happy ending, she develops a warm relationship with her aunt, and she is even provided with a potential love interest when the family of a handsome young gentleman who lives nearby invites her to tea. This intriguing book is not entirely successful--the plot is thin and insubstantial, even for a novel of this type. It is written in the elegant and formal style of a 19th-century novel which, though it may be difficult for some readers, perfectly suits the mood of the story. And the style and use of poetry as chapter headings give the book an interest beyond the usual escapist fare of this genre.

Pub Date: Jan. 1, 1986

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1986

Categories: FICTION