Bright DayThe story opens in the immediate post-WW2 period. The narrator, Gregory Dawson, is a scriptwriter staying at an hotel in Cornwall while he works on a filmscript. There is an air of depression and indecision about his future. One evening he sees a couple who look vaguely familiar. They prove to be people he knew in the short period before the outbreak of WW1 when, in his teens he was working for a wool wholesaler in 2Bruddersford3. In a Proustian moment, a piece of music brings back memories of his youth. He recalls the Alingtons, a family of mysterious young women who he sees intermittently, then discovers that they are his boss's daughters. The story then relates his growing friendship with the family, Dawson's own progress with his intended career as a writer, and the arrival of the Nixeys, (the couple in the hotel), who put a blight on the whole episode as he sees it. This period, told in a series of flashbacks, culminates in a tragedy. As the story comes up to date, Dawson discovers various facts about these events which cause him to revise his feelings about that time, and his own future prospects. |
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afternoon Ah'll Ah'm Ah've Alington arrived asked began Ben Kerry Blatt Brent Bridget Brigg Terrace Broadstone Bruddersford Canal Street César Franck chap course cried Croxton dark drink Eleanor Nixey Elizabeth Elizabeth Earl eyes face feel felt film gave George Adony girls glance gone Greg Gregory Dawson grinning Hallé Orchestra happened Harfner Harndean Harold Ellis heard Hollywood Horncastle Jake Jake West Joan Jock Barniston Joe Ackworth Kerry knew Knott laughed Laura Leaton London looked Mervin minute morning mother never nice night Oliver once pantomime Pikeley play Puckrup remember replied round sample-room Sawley script seemed shouted silly smiling staring stuff talk tell there's thing thought told tonight took tram turned Uncle Miles W. W. Jacobs Wabley waiting walk What's whisky wonderful wool young