The Suckling

by Geraldine Symons

Hattie Suckling of the title is torn between the two worlds of her parents, who love each other but not the same way of life. Her mother wants English nursery habits, early bed-time, milk puddings, nannies and routine (none of them easily found in a French sea- port, even at the turn of the century), and total ignorance of sex, smells, oysters and Roman Catholicism (which are all too prevalent). Her father wants spunk and gaiety and late restaurant dinners, curiosity and romance and the rest of it for her. Hattie isn't sure: she sometimes wants bits of both, sometimes not, and ends in a fairly cheerful confusion of soul.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Geraldine (Dorothy) Symons. (Georgina Groves) Died June 1996.