The Child's Child by Barbara Vine
Page-turner, so far. Amazon review:
Quote:
“This is a double time line book, with the central part, an unpublished fictional book, based on a `real' (fictional real) case, from the late 1920s, bookended by the reader of that book in 2011.
The central `real' which the unpublished book called `The Child's Child' is based on, concerns a homosexual couple, back in the time when homosexuality was illegal, and a young middle class girl who becomes pregnant (unmarried) at a time when abortion was illegal, dangerous, and to be pregnant, unwed, a dreadful slur and disaster, blackening the entire family of the unmarried pregnant girl or woman, with shame and social ostracism. The young girl is the sister of one of the men. This central book explores hiding secrets deemed too shameful to be known, violence and betrayal.
The wrap-around involves a gay couple of the present day, and the sister of one of the men. Although homosexuality is legalised, violent anti-gay prejudice still exists, and to be gay can still feel differently dangerous. The present setting also deals with violence, living a lie, and betrayal, albeit the change in social mores presents very different choices”
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