MILLSTONE

It is the Swinging Sixties and Rosamund Stacey is young and inexperienced at a time when sexual liberation is well on its way. She conceals her ignorance beneath a show of independence and becomes pregnant as a result of a one-night stand. Although single parenthood is still not socially acceptable, she chooses to have the baby rather than to seek an illegal abortion, and finds her life transformed by motherhood. In the helplessness of the baby she finds unexpected joy and fulfilment. You will be fascinated by the description of the NHS as it was in the early 1960s as we enter the life of this postgraduate student living in London. Rosamund's attempt at a do-it-yourself abortion is unforgettable and Rosamund is a marvellous, true Drabble heroine. 196pp, a short and powerful read.