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A review by rhifallows
Frost in May by Antonia White
3.0
I’ve read a couple of the Virago Classics in the past and really enjoyed them as a deviation from my usual. I was attracted to this one as it’s a) beautiful and b) set in a school and I love boarding school/coming of age type books.
This book, first published in 1933, is the first of Antonia White’s semi autobiographical novellas (one of four) and tells of her time in a strict convent school. Set pre war, our protagonist Nanda, a recent catholic convert is sent to the repressive convent school at the age of nine and attends until the age of fourteen. Her quest for ultimate piety and acceptance within the religion is palpable despite the fact that there are also glimpses that she wants to know more of the world and to explore herself beyond the constraints of the religion.
There’s a good deal of the book that deals with various catholic traditions and although mostly interesting, it did get a little dry in some areas. I found the latter stages of the novel, when Nanda has developed more friendships and is starting to have more of a sense of self, much more engaging. I would therefore be really interested to read the books that follow on from this one.
This book, first published in 1933, is the first of Antonia White’s semi autobiographical novellas (one of four) and tells of her time in a strict convent school. Set pre war, our protagonist Nanda, a recent catholic convert is sent to the repressive convent school at the age of nine and attends until the age of fourteen. Her quest for ultimate piety and acceptance within the religion is palpable despite the fact that there are also glimpses that she wants to know more of the world and to explore herself beyond the constraints of the religion.
There’s a good deal of the book that deals with various catholic traditions and although mostly interesting, it did get a little dry in some areas. I found the latter stages of the novel, when Nanda has developed more friendships and is starting to have more of a sense of self, much more engaging. I would therefore be really interested to read the books that follow on from this one.