Crampton Hodnet

Set in North Oxford, the narrative explores the lives of Miss Morrow, a spinster companion, and her employer Miss Doggett, whose social circle diminishes Miss Morrow's worth. The arrival of Stephen Latimer, a charming cleric, disrupts their routine with a marriage proposal. Meanwhile, Francis Cleveland, Miss Doggett's nephew, struggles with midlife desires, leading to scandalous gossip when he declares love for a pupil. A fabricated town, Crampton Hodnet, symbolizes the deceptive nature of appearances. Written in 1939 and published posthumously in 1987, this novel delves into themes of love, societal expectations, and the complexity of relationships.