Christina Parsons, an orphan, moves to her Uncle Russell's country estate, Flambards, which he hopes to return to solvency with a marriage between his son, Mark, and Christina, when she receives her inheritance

    

    It was two-thirty. If everything went according to schedule, she could safely reckon to be dead by six o'clock.'But by the day's end, events have taken a dramatic turn and Miss Hawkins is sentenced to live. Forcibly retired, she is presented by her colleagues with a five-year diary.Programmed since childhood to total obedience, Miss Hawkins slavishly follows her diary's commands until the impossible happens – she meets a man. As a last reprieve from the horrors of loneliness she embarks on a determined full-scale mission to taste life's secret pleasures – and pains– until the cup runs dry…

    The contents of this volume include: Manfred, Hebrew Melodies, Ode to Napoleon Bonaparte, Monody on the Death of the Right Hon. R. B. Sheridan, The Lament of Tasso, Poems, Ode on Venice, The Prophecy of Dante, Cain, Marino Faliero, and many more. This vintage book was first published in 1840 and is being republished now in an affordable, modern, high-quality, edition. It comes complete with a specially commissioned new biography of the author."

    

    This captivating and highly unusual text, originally conceived as a picture book and now reset in paperback format, weaves together evocative descriptions, history and myth with Durrell's personal reminiscences. No traveller to Greece or admirer of the genius of Durrell should miss it.