Straitley's narration, is very thoughtful and telling, perfectly characterized, to the point where I thought I may have recognized Roy in some people I know, personally, especially when it came to his obvious disdain for modern sensitivities, and political correctness. But Roy is a stubborn fighter, and he intends to see his old friend honored, and the truth exposed, once and for all. But, those traditions are at stake now, and he finds himself being pushed out, told to accept his retirement and enjoy the rest of his life in peace. He loves the old traditions, the way the teachers and administration closed ranks around one another, even if they weren’t exactly best friends. Roy Straitley is a bachelor, a man who has devoted his entire life to teaching and is proud of his loyalty to the school. The past has come calling, dredging up a sordid scandal from twenty -years prior, one that is still unresolved in Roy’s mind, and one that involves the new headmaster, a man Roy is convinced is out to settle old scores.įans of classic British mysteries will appreciate the slow, but steady pace of this novel, which is more atmosphere than action for a good while, but it is utterly absorbing because of the dark tones and feeling of foreboding. But, that is not the only thing niggling at him.

The old ways are being shoved to the side in favor of technology, by a new headmaster, who is a former student of Roy’s.Īs the new headmaster brings about sweeping changes, including girls in the classroom, Roy struggles to adapt.

But, the school is standing on rocky ground after a scandal and financial problems. Oswald’s Grammar boys school for thirty years. Roy Straitley has taught Latin at the prestigious St. I had a feeling I was going to like this book, and my intuitions didn’t disappoint me. “Injustice is the tiny shard of something broken in the soul that can never be mended.” A boy capable of bad things.ĭifferent Class by Joanne Harris is a 2017 Touchstone publication.

A boy who even twenty years on haunts his teacher’s dreams. But while Straitley does his sardonic best to resist this march to the future, a shadow from his past is stirring. With insolvency and academic failure looming, a new broom has arrived at the venerable school, bringing Powerpoint, sharp suits and even sixth form girls to the dusty corridors. But every so often there’s a boy who doesn’t fit the mould. Each class has its clowns, its rebels, its underdogs, its ‘Brodie’ boys who, whilst of course he doesn’t have favourites, hold a special place in an old teacher’s heart. After thirty years at St Oswald’s Grammar in North Yorkshire, Latin master Roy Straitley has seen all kinds of boys come and go.

Different class joanne harris review