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O, the Brave Music

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( 760 ratings, 149 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
O, the Brave Music by Dorothy Evelyn Smith is a poignant exploration of childhood and family life set in Northern England. The narrative follows young Ruan Ashley as she navigates the complexities of growing up in a small town, dealing with family tensions and personal dreams. Through her vivid imagination and resilience, Ruan discovers the beauty of life's ups and downs, learning valuable lessons in love and understanding.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might like this book if you enjoy coming-of-age stories set in the early 20th century, filled with rich character development and vivid descriptions of English landscapes. Readers who appreciate narratives of childhood innocence intertwined with themes of family life might find this novel particularly engaging.

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A female narrator looks back on her childhood in a coming-of-age novel set before the First World War.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Sometimes I think that was the happiest day of my life, those hours of heat and silence and colour, along with David high up on the moor. But then I remember that I have said that of many other days, so I cannot be sure.

A female narrator looks back on her childhood in a coming-of-age novel set before the First World War. Ruan is an intelligent and imaginative child, who gradually comes to understand the nuances of the adult world around her, as she moves from the Manse, under the strict rule of her father, a non-conformist minister, to Cobbetts, her mother's ancestral home, under the tutelage of her Uncle Alaric, and back to the guardianship of Rosie Day at Bolton House high up on the moor above the town where she was born.

Her young life is shaped by a series of tragedies, but also the warmth of enduring friendships, particularly with David, her dearest friend who shares her love of the wild expanse and colours of the moor.

Series: British Library Women Writers

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  • O, the Brave Music
    Sometimes I think that was the happiest day of my life, those hours of heat and silence and colour, along with David high up on the moor. But then I remember that I have said that of many other days, so I cannot be sure. A female narrator looks back on her childhood in a coming-of-age novel set before the...
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

O, the Brave Music by Dorothy Evelyn Smith is a compelling work of general fiction that is often praised for its vivid prose and eloquent exploration of themes such as family, identity, and personal growth. The narrative's depth and emotional resonance are highlighted, with readers appreciating its intricate depiction of relationships and the personal transformations of the characters. The book's ability to evoke a strong sense of place is also frequently commended, creating an immersive and memorable reading experience.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780712353380

Publisher: British Library Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 22 October 2020

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: British Library Publishing

Contributors:

  • Afterword by Simon Thomas

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 190.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 320

About the Author

Dorothy Evelyn Smith (18931969) began her writing career penning short stories and articles for English magazines during the First World War in which her husband was serving. She began her first novel in 1939, and through the years of the Second World War her writing was often interrupted by war work.

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