This autobiographical novel is not only the true story of a child's upbringing by his grandparents in the 1920s, but also a story of the villagers on the Isle of Wight.
Through Charles Lansley's research of his late father Peter Lansley's manuscript, most of the characters have been identified along with their places of residence, memorials and places of interest. We learn about the local milkman, the butcher, the shoemaker and other trades persons who made up the community, including Peter's nursery teacher. But also, through his grandfather's love, we gain a child's understanding of God and the afterlife.
We join Peter at Christmastime for Stir Up Sunday, sips of Guinness and many amusing misunderstandings. We experience various adventures with his girlfriend Victoria in the grounds of a local manor house and at the village creek. Through the stories and anecdotes, we gain a greater understanding of what family and village life was like in the 1920s when the steam train ran supreme, when there was no electricity or telephone, when the house was lit by an oil lamp and candles, when the 'range' was used for cooking and when it was normal for a five-year-old to walk into the village alone.
This book is a delight as a story and as a description of rural life in a time gone by. It should appeal to both those who want to relive the innocence of childhood and those who enjoy learning about local and social history.
