Her domestic situation is in total contrast to Robert’s. She is a friend of Roberts, who works Saturday’s in the local shop. The book follows the life of the three, but it also includes Joanna, who becomes another narrator for the story. Howard works at the local Power Station, whilst Kathryn is a Librarian, and their quiet domestic life of work, home, and the garden, which is Howard’s pride and joy, is bought into sharp relief by the arrival of their Son.

Howard’s father died when he was young, and he spends much of his adult life looking out for and after his Mother, whilst Kathryn is a young widow. The characters of the parents are well drawn, and the fact that the courtship of Robert’s parents, Kathryn and Howard shows something of their lives together. The teenagers seem to suffer from terminal boredom, and when not at school talk about nothing in particular. The novel is set in a small town in Middle England, in the Mid 1980’s, where nothing seems to happen. The Pools looks at the death of Robert, a 15 year old boy, and the repercussions that the event has on people involved with the boy’s life. Is a deeply heartfelt story of love's passionate endurance, and the devastation wrought by a repressive society.Serpent’s Tail Publishing – ISBN – 9781846686511 Forster had with a policeman, Bob Buckingham, and his wife. In this evocative portrait of midcentury England, Bethan Roberts reimagines the real life relationship the novelist E. The two lovers must share him, until one of them breaks and three lives are destroyed. Tom is their policeman, and in this age it is safer for him to marry Marion and meet Patrick in secret. Patrick is besotted, and opens Tom's eyes to a glamorous, sophisticated new world of art, travel, and beauty.

A few years later near the Brighton Museum, Patrick meets Tom. He teaches her to swim, gently guiding her through the water in the shadow of the city's famous pier and Marion is smitten-determined her love alone will be enough for them both. It is in 1950's Brighton that Marion first catches sight of Tom. Soon to be a motion picture starring Harry Styles, Emma Corrin, and David Dawson, an exquisitely told, tragic tale of thwarted love.

Bethan roberts books