SPOILERS!!!
Selina tells Agnes, her nanny, about the photo in the book, and the woman says that the author of the book resembles her father very much, but she can't assure it is the same man. What she tells her is that her father's name was Gerry Dawson and she and her mother met at a party, and they were married shortly afterwards even though her grandmother disapproved. Then they had a telegram, saying that the man was missing, presumed dead. Selina thinks that as his death was not confirmed, her father may still be alive.
The next day she goes to see the publisher of the book, and Mr Rutland tells her that George Dyer lives in San Antonio, in a house called Casa Barco, but he never comes to London. Selina is determined to find her father and she tells Rodney, and he tells her that he can't go with her and she should just write.
Selina, though, ignores his advice, and she decides to travel to Spain. Yet, her journey is full of incident.s When she gets to the airport in San Antonio, her luggage is gone, and when she is about to take a taxi, she realizes that her bag has been stolen. The taxi driver agrees to drive her because she tells him that her father will pay him. When they reach the house, George is not there, but Selina decides to stay and the driver says that he will wait at the hotel.
George is in the town with his lover, Frances. When he gets home, he discovers Selina. When Selina tells him that she thinks he is her father, he says that it is not possible. He is only 37 and was never in the war. Her father is dead, and he thinks that Gerry Dawson was a distant cousin. When Selina tells him that she owes the taxi driver 600 pesetas, George says that he has no money. He goes to the hotel, and the owner Rodolfo is angry because he had to pay the driver.
The next day when George opens the door to Juanita, his cleaner, he is dismayed to learn that everybody thinks that Selina is his daughter, and he feels unable to clarify things because Selina has slept under his roof and this could be reproachable.
The novel shows the days that follow and how they try to get the money for Selina to return to London. She and George grow close. Then Frances appears and is not happy with Selina being there, and she volunteers to lend the money for her to return home. So she is sent in a taxi to the airport, but then late that night Frances and George find Selina there again. Frances is angry and goes away in a huff. Selina comes to George and says that she has lost her passport, and George knows it is a lie as if that were the case, she would be in prison now.
The next day Rodney turns up, intending to take Selina back to London. It is interesting that she has not told George that she is engaged. The conversation ends with Selina saying that she won't marry him. And when they are alone, she admits to leaving the passport behind on purpose, and then she kisses him. George admits that she loves him, and he says that he will marry her.
I liked the book, and my main criticism is that the portrait painted of the Spanish people was in general very negative.
No comments:
Post a Comment