Gaita blames neither of his parents for his harsh upbringing but instead claims he learnt both compassion and self-sufficiency from his parents who lived life more intensely than their Australian neighbours. The bush around Frogmore is beautifully described and a solace to the boy.
“Does any child truly know his father?” was one of discussions the group followed as we tried to understand the complex family relationships Gaita explores. Some group members found their empathy for this type of child rearing sorely tested as the novel progressed, but no-one can doubt Gaita’s sincerity to this panegyric to his childhood.
Meg Dillon