bonfire the day before. Characters Valance family Cecil Valance, a Cambridge student and poet from an aristocratic family and the heir of Corley Court. During his days at Cambridge he has an affair with the younger George Sawle and later pretends to fall in love with George's teenage sister Daphne. He is killed in action during WWI and his reputation as a poet grows after his death. Dudley Valance, Cecil's younger brother who is a writer himself but who is seen as never living up to his older brother. He marries Daphne and has two children with her, Corinna and Wilfred. Lady Louisa Valance, Cecil and Dudley's mother, affectionately known as the general for her tough spirit. Corinna Keeping, Dudley and Daphne's eldest child who is rumoured to actually be the progeny of Cecil. She goes on to become a school teacher at Corley Court and later dies of cancer. Sawle family George Sawle, a young history student who has an affair with Cecil. Shortly after Cecil's death his mother discovers his relationship with Cecil and George enters into a passionless marriage with a fellow scholar, Madeleine. Daphne "Duffle" Sawle, George's younger sister who develops a crush on Cecil during his brief stay at Two Acres, her family home. Daphne and Cecil have a passionate correspondence during her youth and after his death she marries his younger brother Dudley though she is unhappy and uncomfortable in her role as Lady Valance. Freda Sawle, mother of Hubert, her eldest son, also killed in action in WWI, George and Daphne. Key themes In particular The Stranger's Child looks at the gradual evolution of gay culture in Britain and the effects of memory and ageing on individuals and society (for instance literary reputation, architecture and romantic relationships). Critical reception The Stranger's Child was generally received positively by critics, with Hari Kunzru in The Guardian calling it "this affecting, erudite novel" and Keith Miller in The Daily Telegraph describing it as "sleek, seductive and a little sly". Nicola Shulman in the Evening Standard said: "This subject - of memory and memorial, and the fates of the keepers of the flame - has been done before, and well, as the author acknowledges. But it may never have been done as amusingly". Peter Kemp in the Sunday Times said: "Masterly in its narrative sweep, richly textured prose and imaginative flair and depth, this novel about an