This book is Daphne du Maurier’s second which she wrote in June and July of 1930, in London.

In it Dick, the sheltered only son of a famous poet, has left home and made his way to London after an unfortunate scene at home. Life in the shadow of his successful father has become impossible and Dick decides to throw himself into the Thames from Westminster Bridge.

A passerby, Jake stops Dick from jumping and they end up signing up together to work on a merchant ship bound for Scandinavia. A great friendship develops with Jake, who is a few years older than Dick taking the part of the wiser, older brother whom Dick had lacked.

They journey around Scandinavia by ships and car but Dick ends up travelling to Paris where more experiences await him, mainly in the shape of Hesta, a young student of music.

Around about the middle of the book I felt that it could have been doing with a bit of editing as there was too much meandering description but otherwise I really enjoyed this one, especially after the action moves to Paris.

Considering that du Maurier was only 23 when she wrote this book I find it impressive that she seems to have been able to put herself in the place of a young man in a relationship so successfully, writing of his feelings for Hesta and then of their changing circumstances.

I wasn’t too sure of this one to begin with but by the time I reached the end I realised that I had thoroughly enjoyed it.