A Blindefellows Chronicle is a humorous novel with heart. In a series of vignettes set at irregular intervals over 40 years, it records the fortunes and misfortunes of an ambitious English boarding school. Lasting bonds are formed as the august institution deals with declining student numbers, unscrupulous masters, alliances and rivalries, internal politics, internationalisation, and technology.
Reading Auriel Roe's novel very soon felt like catching up with old friends, so engaging were the characters that she created and set off through her lively and frequently hilarious dialogue. The only admittedly minor check to my thorough enjoyment was the use of unnecessarily detailed descriptions, which at times curbed the flow of the narrative. Despite this, the highlights were many, among them the aptly named physics master William Japes and the school's 400th anniversary bash (I doubt those mental images will evaporate anytime soon). And oh! those last two chapters! I didn't expect to be so moved as well as entertained.
I was provided with a free electronic copy of this book through NetGalley by the publisher, Unbound, in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: ****
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