In My Father's Den (New Zealand Classics)

By Maurice Gee

Book Overview

When Celia Inverarity, aged seventeen, is found brutally murdered in a secluded West Auckland park one Sunday afternoon, Paul Prior, her English teacher and mentor, is suspected of being her murderer.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195581113
• ISBN13: 9780195581119
• Release Date: February 1990
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 175 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.5" x 4.9"

Customer Reviews

Unlock the tragic mystery of 'In My Father's Den' and discover where secrets reside

'In My Father's Den' is a 1972 novel by Maurice Gee, but also a splendid 2004 film of the same name both set in New Zealand. I luckily own a copy of this book with a movie cover. I really wouldn't be without it now. It was the obvious dark history of the characters, the film hints at, that drew me to the book. With 175 well written pages, and covering a lot of the same ground the film did, which make both book and film worthy of your attention. For younger readers the lapse in time and language between then and now isn't an issue. 'In My Father's Den' instantly drew me in and kept me enthralled throughout. The alternating shifts in time of the chapters is a brilliant way to learn about one important character, teacher Paul Prior's past, and family history as well as other's who have populated his life in memorable or undesirable ways, to turn him into something of a loner. Recorded in present tense, the narritive is never dull, but full of vivid descriptions it's difficult to dislike. It is in Paul's father's secret sanctum, that a world of books awaits, and emotions run strongly for a girl called Joyce Poole. Joyce first met Paul on a bridge that is lovingly stored in my mind now thanks to this book, as well as many other worthy scenes. There is a vital poem with the name Celia in it that Paul shares with Joyce when they're together, both unaware how it would affect their futures. It is at a party that the girl of Paul's dreams is whisked away from him, by Charlie Inverarity. Years of trouble might have ensued had it not been for a girl called Celia Inverarity who Paul eventually takes a vested interest in with a number of motives. One is to help with her studies. The other is to find out about Joyce Celia's mother the girl he loved. Yet Charlie's ever watchful, wondering keen eyes on his daughter threaten to cast a dark brooding cloud over the pair and shatter a blossoming friendship. A murder takes place in Wadesville and Celia is the victim. It is here that the story begins and what follows retraces the events leading up to this act of senseless violence. 'In My Father's Den' is only one book of many around. I highly recommend it for it's tender and thrilling moments. It's everything you could possibly desire in one book. I doubt you'll be disappointed. 'In My Father's Den' is worth finding.