The Stranger’s Child

“The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.”

Part One: Two Acres (1913)

The novel opens in 1913 at the affluent Stanmore household, “Two Acres,” where young poet Cecil Valance visits his Cambridge friend George Sawle. Cecil’s charm and aristocratic confidence captivate George’s family, especially George’s sister Daphne. Cecil writes a poem, “Two Acres,” which becomes famous after his death in World War I.

Part Two: Revel (1926)

Thirteen years later, Daphne is married to Cecil’s brother Dudley Valance. The family gathers at Corley Court, the Valance estate, for a memorial event honoring Cecil. Tensions arise as Daphne reflects on her marriage and Cecil’s legacy, while literary scholars begin mythologizing his work.

Part Three: Steady, Boys, Steady! (1967)

In the swinging sixties, biographer Paul Bryant interviews elderly Daphne and others connected to Cecil. Paul uncovers hidden truths about Cecil’s sexuality and his relationships with George and Daphne. The past becomes contested as memories clash with public perception.

Part Four: The Handsome Sailor (1979-1980)

Paul’s biography is published, revealing Cecil’s homosexuality and questioning the authenticity of his famous poem. Daphne, now a widow, grapples with the exposure of family secrets. The novel explores how history is constructed and distorted over time.

Part Five: The Missing Link (2003)

In the final section, scholars and descendants reassess Cecil’s legacy. The truth about his life remains elusive, highlighting how memory, literature, and myth intertwine. The novel ends with a meditation on the unreliability of history and personal narratives.

Key Ideas

• The fluidity of memory and historical truth
• The construction of literary and personal legacies
• Hidden queer histories in early 20th-century England
• The impact of war on art and identity
• The tension between public myth and private reality