“A first novel that should begin to establish for her a reputation as a creative writer. The book has a subtle charm and is strongly evocative in the Proustian manner. The characters are all carefully drawn, but the most successful is certainly the boy’s mother, Sunday, who has a delightful quality of irresponsible gaiety.” – Olivia Manning

“Miss Dick gives us grace, subtlety, surprises and some writing which is listening to its own voice. She also gives a great deal of pleasure in a novel that is bravely true to its programme.” Spectator

“A grown-up novel about a child, and a very fascinating and original work... primarily an evocative book, its value lies in the memories it awakens . . . drawn very intimately out of remembered emotion and half-tones of love and pain... has a touch of the quality I can only call magic-not black magic, but a kind of tasteful, pastel witchcraft just as capable of achieving its protean effects. There is a real joy in people, and the desire to write of them as deeply and as intimately as possible... the total effect is impressive.” – Pamela Hansford Johnson