Most of the 13 essays of this well-rounded collection were presented in earlier form at the 2007 Rumer Godden Centenary Symposium, held at the U. of Cambridge, the UK (where Le-Guilcher, the
organizer, earned her PhD in English). Le-Guilcher and co-editor Lassner (Northwestern U., Mass.) open the volume with a lengthy introduction to Godden's life and work. The essays that follow
offer discussion of specific works, including A fugue in time, The dolls' house, China court, The river, and Black narcissus, as well as analysis of themes found in her writing, such as the
representation of the British in India, the treatment of children in her novels, and representation of race. The volume concludes with an essay sampling excerpts from interviews with Godden,
and a brief biographical essay by her daughter. Annotation 穢2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
