Kate O'Brien The Flower of May

This is one of Kate O'Brien's later novels. It is set in Ireland not long before the First World war. Fanny Morrow is just 18 and attending her older sister's wedding. Her sister is a rather vain pretty girl... Fanny is told by her parents that she cant go back to school in Belgium, where she has been receiving her education. The parents dont tell her that they have financial problems and that Julia, her mother is in poor health and needs a companion. She is very upset about having to leave school as she loves learning and has been very happy in the Belgian convent. Her best friend Lucille is still at school, but she too has problems. Lucille's family are very rich and her mother wants her to go into society and make a good marriage. Lucille wishes that she could go to university and get a job, but without familial support this seems impossible. However, she invites Fanny to come on a trip to Europe with her visiting Italy.. and her parents allow her to go.