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From Publishers Weekly A Booker Prize nominee, Bainbridge's latest novel is a compelling read, again demonstrating her acuity of observation and darkly comic view of life. In Stella Bradshaw, a teenage aspiring actress from the slums of Liverpool, Bainbridge limns a tough but beguiling character. She also deftly conveys the atmosphere of 1950s England, still grimly bomb-cratered, coping with food rationing and the visible casualties of maimed veterans. Her portrait of a seedy repertory troupe, whose members histrionically indulge in love affairs and unrequited passions, is classic. Into this company, directed by elegant Meredith Potter, comes Stella, inveigled into their midst by her uncle/guardian, who feels that the stage is Stella's only alternative to working in Woolworth's. Added to her knowledge of her illigitimacy and lower-class origins (the Bradshaws bathe once a fortnight, and share "the family towel"), Stella has the normal self-consciousness and naivete of adolescence overlaid by a strong will, guilelessness and lack of tact. Her innocent but dangerous impulses and her crush on Meredith, whose homosexuality eludes her, makes Stella a sort of Typhoid Mary of psychological injury; one after another, members of the troupe suffer from her impetuous behavior. Bainbridge's prose brims with pithy insights tinged with sardonic humor, and her plot moves swiftly to a chilling conclusion. Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. Review *'Vintage bittersweet Bainbridge' MAIL ON SUNDAY 'Imagine Priestley's THE GOOD COMPANIONS as written by Gogol and you will have some idea of the mixture of waggish humour and sordid pathos in Bainbridge's novel' SUNDAY TIMES 'A subtle schizophrenic insight into adult relationships . Bainbridge's understated prose and obsessive eye for the smallest and most telling of details have never been better employed' TIME OUT A darkly perceptive coming-of-age tale set in Liverpool in the 1950s from Beryl Bainbridge tied together at the end with her trademark skill."This is one of Bainbridge's best books. The close observation and hilarity are underlain by a sense of tragedy as deep as any in fiction." - The TimesIn 1950, the Liverpool repertory theatre company is rehearsing its Christmas production of Peter Pan, a story of childhood innocence and loss. Stella has been taken on as assistant stage manager and quickly becomes obsessed with Meredith, the dissolute director. But it is only when the celebrated O’Hara arrives to take the lead that a different drama unfolds. In it, he and Stella are bound together in a past that neither dares to interpret."A subtle schizophrenic insight into adult relationships ... Bainbridge's understated prose and obsessive eye for the smallest and most telling of details have never been better employed." - Time OutBeryl Bainbridge, who died in 2010, was a Booker Prize heroine. She was an actress (appearing in Coronation Street) before becoming a novelist and much-loved, cigarette-dangling public figure. Although Bainbridge was shortlisted for the Booker Prize five times, she never won. Some degree of correction occurred in 2011 when, after a public vote, her 1998-shortlisted novel Master Georgie won a one-off prize, The Man Booker Best of Beryl. The author of 20 novels, she found her greatest success with historical fiction. 'this Is One Of Bainbridge's Best Books. The Close Observation And Hilarity Are Underlain By A Sense Of Tragedy As Deep As Any In Fiction' The Times Shortlisted For The Booker Prize In 1990 It Is 1950 And The Liverpool Repertory Theatre Company Is Rehearsing Its Christmas Production Of Peter Pan, A Story Of Childhood Innocence And Loss. Stella Has Been Taken On As Assistant Stage Manager And Quickly Becomes Obsessed With Meredith, The Dissolute Director. But It Is Only When The Celebrated O'hara Arrives To Take The Lead, That A Different Drama Unfolds. In It, He And Stella Are Bound Together In A Past That Neither Dares To Interpret. It is 1950 and the Liverpool reporatory theatre company is rehearsing its Christmas production of Peter Pan, a story of childhood innocence and loss. Stella has been taken on as assistant stage manager and quickly becomes obsessed with Meredith, the dissolute director. But it is only when the celebrated O'Hara arrives to take the lead, that a different drama unfolds. In it, he and Stella are bound together in a past that neither dares to interpret It is 1950 and Stella has been taken on as assistant stage manager for a Liverpool rep company. She quickly becomes obsessed with their dissolute director, but when the celebrated O'Hara arrives to take the lead, a different drama unfolds. He and Stella are bound in a past neither dares interpret. WHEN THE FIRE CURTAIN HAD BEEN LOWERED and the doors were at last closed, Meredith thought he heard a child crying.