Flora A Novel
Flora, a novel by Gail Godwin, published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA on May 7, 2013, spans 278 pages and is presented in English. The story centers on ten-year-old Helen and her summer guardian, Flora, as they navigate their isolation in Helen’s decaying family home during the final months of World War II. With her father engaged in secret work and the recent loss of her mother and grandmother, Helen’s vivid imagination drives her to preserve the memories and stories of her home, while Flora, her late mother’s cousin, strives to support her in this challenging time.
Readers will find a narrative that explores the complex relationship between Helen and Flora, set against a backdrop of a changing America. The novel delves into themes of love, regret, and the lasting impact of childhood experiences. As Helen grapples with her past and the emotional weight of her circumstances, the story evokes a haunting atmosphere reminiscent of classic literary works. Flora presents a poignant exploration of the bonds formed in isolation and the indelible marks they leave on our lives.
Official synopsis Publisher
Ten-year-old Helen and her summer guardian, Flora, are isolated together in Helen’s decaying family house while her father is doing secret war work in Oak Ridge during the final months of World War II. At three Helen lost her mother and the beloved grandmother who raised her has just died. A fiercely imaginative child, Helen is desperate to keep her house intact with all its ghosts and stories. Flora, her late mother’s twenty-two-year old first cousin, who cries at the drop of a hat, is ardently determined to do her best for Helen. Their relationship and its fallout, played against a backdrop of a lost America will haunt Helen for the rest of her life.
This darkly beautiful novel about a child and a caretaker in isolation evokes shades of The Turn of the Screw and also harks back to Godwin’s memorable novel of growing up, The Finishing School. With its house on top of a mountain and a child who may be a bomb that will one day go off, Flora tells a story of love, regret, and the things we can’t undo. It will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “Flora A Novel” about?
Who is the author of “Flora A Novel”?
When was “Flora A Novel” published?
What is the ISBN for “Flora A Novel”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
