The Children of Dynmouth

Reading The Children of Dynmouth was like returning to a different era, even if the narrative dynamics and character formations remain enduring. The story is set in a small seaside town in England in the 1970s, where a different set of activities and cultural mores dominate daily life; the shadow of the war remaining enduring. As in all Trevor's works, his ability to evoke an atmosphere (particularly in such a limited number of pages) is quite remarkable. At the centre of the work, and one of the eponymous children, is the also remarkable Timothy Gedge, a unique literary creation. The reader — and perhaps the town's residents — are drawn to, but also thoroughly repulsed by him. Initially, it is hard to work Timothy out. He is a latchkey kid and a de facto loner. It is also evident early on that he is perhaps a delusional fantasist too. When his creepiness (and perennial spying) evolves to blackmail, the story starts truly to unfold. While the town's vicar does appear to call Timothy out — and also implicitly recognise that Dynmouth as a whole has failed him (and could be responsible for his actions) — the reader is left with the intriguing conclusion that Gedge is set to embark shortly on a new realm of fantasies. 9 out of 10.

By William Trevor