Beyond the Pale (Masterplots II: Short Story Series, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: William Trevor Cox
- First Published: 1981
- Type of Plot: Domestic realism
- Time of Work: 1979
- Setting: County Antrim, Northern Ireland
- Principal Characters: Dorothy Milson (Milly), Major R. B. Strafe, Cynthia Strafe, Dekko Deacon, Mr., Kitty, Unnamed young man
- Genres: Short fiction, Domestic realism
- Subjects: Suicide, Murder or homicide, England or English people, Violence, Adultery, Hotels, motels, or inns, Card games, Holidays, Terrorism or terrorists, Ireland or Irish people
- Locales: Northern Ireland
The Story
This tale of four English bridge players who habitually go on a summer holiday excursion to the same lodge in County Antrim, on the coast of Northern Ireland, examines what happens when something disrupts the “casual comedy” to reveal hidden unpleasant undercurrents in their lives. The story's narrator, Milly, insists on the perfection of the ritualized patterns of the foursome. For many years they have spent the first two weeks of June at Glencorn Lodge, hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Malseed. She notes approvingly that this year things are just the same as always at the...
[The entire page is 1453 words long]
