Book: Great Granny Webster

"Great Granny Webster" by Caroline Blackwood is a sharp, introspective novella that delves into the complexities of aristocratic decay and familial dysfunction. Set in post-war England, the story is narrated by an unnamed teenage girl who is sent to live with her formidable great-grandmother in a gloomy Victorian mansion. Great Granny Webster is an embodiment of stoicism and rigidity; her stern demeanor and austere lifestyle reflect the remnants of a bygone era. As the narrator becomes entangled with her peculiar relatives, including an eccentric aunt who resides in a dilapidated castle and a charming, yet troubled cousin, she unravels unsettling truths about her family's history. Blackwood's vivid characterization and mordant wit paint an incisive portrait of a decaying aristocracy clinging to its former grandeur. Through her exploration of the intersection between personal history and cultural heritage, Blackwood crafts a haunting tale that reveals the silent persistence of the past in shaping individual destinies.