The Gate of Angels

Penelope Fitzgerald, Philip Hensher

From Shelf: The Booker Prize 1990 Shortlist

Shortlisted for the Booker Prize. It is 1912, and at Cambridge University the modern age is knocking at the gate.

Shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

It is 1912, and at Cambridge University the modern age is knocking at the gate.

Fred Fairly, a Junior Fellow at the college of St Angelicus, where for centuries no female, not even a pussy cat, has been allowed to set foot, lectures in physics. Science, he is certain, will explain everything.

Until into Fred's orderly life come Daisy. Fred is smitten. Why have I met her? he wonders. How can I tell if she's quite what she seems? Fred is a scientist. To him the truth should be everything. But even scientists make mistakes.