Although he does not share the new Head’s vision for the School, Straitley views Buckfast as a worthy opponent, and looks forward to taking up her challenge – that is, until a group of pupils report finding what looks like human remains on the site of a new building project. Now, as Head, she reveals herself to be a genuine force for change. Rebecca Buckfast is not new to the School, having been part of the Crisis Team brought in the previous year to try to turn the School’s fortunes around. This year, new challenges await not least the arrival of girls in the School, and the appointment of a Headmistress, the first in the School’s 500-year history. Roy Straitley, the elderly Latin Master and last surviving relic of the School’s glory days, has been facing retirement for years, but cannot contemplate leaving the place that represents his whole life. Founded in the 16th century, now beset by financial problems, falling numbers and a series of scandals, the School seems on the brink of disaster. The setting is St Oswald’s, a crumbling private school for boys in the north of England. Joanne kindly answered a few of my questions. Her latest novel, A Narrow Door, was published by Orion on 4 August 2021. Joanne Harris’ novels include Gentlemen and Players, Chocolat, The Strawberry Thief, Five Quarters of the Orange, Different Class, The Lollipop Shoes, Runemarks, The Gospel of Loki, Sleep, Pale Sister and Orfeia.
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