Unlike other young women of her generation, who were bred up from childhood to sit behind tea-tables and say the right things to tea-drinkers, Sylvia Marshall the twig of this novel was reared to think for herself and to trust her own instincts and experience. This, coupled with her passionate temperament, makes Sylvia a compelling figure as she resists efforts to mold her with every rebellious fiber of her independent nature.
Sylvia's home is a Montessori home, where everyone takes part in household tasks, and the children learn by being included in adult activities. Without making a...