Eva TroutEva Trout, Elizabeth Bowens last novel, epitomizes her bold exploration of the territory between the comedy of manners and cutting social commentary. Orphaned at a young age, Eva has found a home of sorts in Worcestershire with her former schoolteacher, Iseult Arbles, and Iseult's husband, Eric. From a safe distance in London, her legal guardian, Constantine, assumes that all's well. But Eva's flighty, romantic nature hasn't entirely clicked with the

but the question of where he went and why is one for which the Old Man will give no answer

As the two reflect on the losses they have experienced - or

with yours

freaking out) as an intergalactic battle raged and an ancient superweapon threatened to obliterate Earth

in the matter of a missing heiress

I am innocent

the other to kill for Him

outselling every other book except the Bible and Shakespeares plays

' Some things in life

Mikey befriends Roger

little Crab Skerry takes his first run through the gorse-maze

Jess has gone