Wind Off the Small Isles

by: Mary Stewart
Genre: Romance?
Grade: A??

Perdita works as an assistant to Cora Gresham, a children's author who requires her young aide to be ready at a moments notice to take off for parts unseen for research and inspiration. Normally the job is rewarding and invigorating but Perdita is a bit put out when her employer, rather than going to the larger canary islands which she painstakingly researched decides to set her pirate book on Lanzarote. That particular island has been hard hit by volcanoes and is mostly desert surrounded by rocks made of hardened lava and ash. The island begins to hold a certain appeal though when they run into Mrs. Gresham's globe trotting son, Michael. Caught up in a romantic tale from the history of the isle and in her new acquaintance Perdita begins to feel the magic of the wind that comes off the small isles.

This is a short story rather than a book, really. It is only 96 pages long and doesn't hold much in terms of story. It is written in Stewart's fantastic style and it does paint a lovely picture of Lanzarote and the two main characters, Michael and Perdita. We are given only a quick view of the relationship but it holds lots of promise. They are both charming people, easily likable, and I love the particular picture of the sixties time period she paints. It is all lovely travel, drinks on a veranda and people who aren't thinking about an economic crisis, wars, or social reform. It captures a moment that exists only in old movies and a class and group of people that probably don't exist anymore. I don't know to recommend or not. If you are a fan of Stewarts romantic mysteries and can get it from the library, do. Otherwise, I would give it a miss.

Tea: Iced. This is set in the desert after all!