The Skeleton In The Grass, reminiscent of Robert Barnard's much-acclaimed Out of the Blackout, illuminates an earlier time and place: a small English village in 1936, as Franco's troops are conquering Spain and Hitler's legions are preparing to overrun Europe. The world at large may be sliding into the abyss of disaster, but life at Hallam, country seat of the glamorous and renowned Hallam family, still represents the ultimate in British civilization. Teatime, with its cucumber sandwiches and cream cakes, continues as it ...
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The Skeleton In The Grass, reminiscent of Robert Barnard's much-acclaimed Out of the Blackout, illuminates an earlier time and place: a small English village in 1936, as Franco's troops are conquering Spain and Hitler's legions are preparing to overrun Europe. The world at large may be sliding into the abyss of disaster, but life at Hallam, country seat of the glamorous and renowned Hallam family, still represents the ultimate in British civilization. Teatime, with its cucumber sandwiches and cream cakes, continues as it has for a hundred years. It's not that the Hallam family ignores the world outside its gracious doors. On the contrary, Helen and Dennis Hallam care passionately about peace and principle, and Dennis dramatically conveys these views to the nation in his controversial weekly review column. Avowed pacifists, Helen and Dennis represent a political stance that the villagers mistrust and fear. That fear and suspicion turn to nasty pranks when a sinister Fascist major gains control over some of the local youths. Helen and Dennis, and their sons Oliver and Will, become the victims of cruel taunts and the kind of teasing that leads to terror. As the Hallams and villagers grow more hostile, we see the story through the eyes of Sarah Causeley, and idealistic young woman who has recently come to be nursery governess at Hallam. To Sarah, the Hallams represent beauty, brilliance, and style-an idyllic life in the midst of chaos. But as she watches, the Hallams' world begins to disintegrate, and a tense and unexpected encounter leads to a shocking murder. Much more than a crime novel, The Skeleton in the Grass is an extraordinary piece of fiction that captures the essence of a family that captures the essence of a family and a world on the brink of extinction. With subtlety and skill, Robert Barnard amazes with his versatility and storytelling power.
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Add this copy of The Skeleton in the Grass to cart. $13.50, good condition, Sold by Bookmans rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Tucson, AZ, UNITED STATES, published 1987 by Scribner's Sons (1987).
Add this copy of The Skeleton in the Grass to cart. $18.94, very good condition, Sold by John C. Newland rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Cheltenham, Glos., UNITED KINGDOM, published 1987 by Crime Club/Collins.
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Seller's Description:
Used-Very Good. VG hardback in Good dust jacket. 1st impression. A bright copy in tight binding; dust jacket not price-clipped, but slightly worn at edges.
Add this copy of The Skeleton in the Grass to cart. $20.00, very good condition, Sold by MLC Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Northfield, MN, UNITED STATES, published 1987 by Collins Crime.
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Seller's Description:
Near Fine in Very Good jacket. Signed by Author Page tops lightly foxed. DJ shows mild edgewear with a couple of small chips. Jacket in mylar. Signed by Barnard on the title page. Size: 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall.
Add this copy of The Skeleton in the Grass to cart. $20.85, good condition, Sold by Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Frederick, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1987 by Collins Crime.
Add this copy of The Skeleton in the Grass (the Crime Club) to cart. $25.00, very good condition, Sold by Maxwell's House of Books rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from La Mesa, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1987 by Collins Crime.
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Seller's Description:
Near Fine in Near Fine jacket. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall A beautiful clean crisp hardcover copy in near fine condition, faint age toning to front endpaper. DJ in near fine condition and in protective mylar cover. Signed by author.
Add this copy of The Skeleton in the Grass ***Signed Copy*** to cart. $45.00, like new condition, Sold by Murder By The Book rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Cranston, RI, UNITED STATES, published 1987 by Collins Crime Club.
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Fine in Fine jacket. Book. Signed by Author First edition, so stated. Fine in fine dust jacket, not price clipped, £ 9.95 iprice intact, in protective mylar cover. SIGNED COPY. Signed, without inscription, by the author on the title page. A beautiful copy! "A young man is found shot to death on the lawn of the country home of the Hallams, a charming family of intellectuals. They are liberals and pacifists in a conservative neighborhood. We watch events through the eyes of Sarah, an intelligent, engaging young woman who's the new nursery/governess to the youngest Hallam child. She is a bit of a Jane Eyre figure, but very much her own person. She describes the murder to her young charge as "a spot of bother, " knowing it is much more. The novel is set in pre-World War II England. Time and place are vividly described. Villagers favor the bicycle for transport, although horses are still on use. Cars are a bit exotic and objects of envy. A Greta Garbo movie is at the local theater, and the projector breaks down in every showing! Ultimately the story moves to the war years with Sarah serving as an ambulance attendant in the Blitz. This is when we find out the truth of the murder..."--Patto on Amazon.
This book takes you through the many changes in England between WW1 and WW2. I especially like the insights of the 'talk' and the 'action' of providing help to others. The use of ''flash forward' adds to the suspense and development of the characters. A very good book.
