The new Head is an accountant, not teacher trained, and an old boy whom Straitley once taught. Oswald's into a popular and profitable concern. The old Head has retired and a new broom comes in, intent to turn St. Read moreĪlthough there are roughly 10 years between the publication dates of GENTLEMAN & PLAYERS (2005) and DIFFERENT CLASS (2016), in reality there is only a time lapse of about a year and it would probably pay to read the two in sequence so as to avoid forgetting some bits from the former that are important in the latter.The theme is similar - Roy Straitley should be preparing for retirement - his main teaching subject Classics appears to be becoming obsolete and he is having to accept female students from a nearby college into his classes. A boy who still haunts Straitley’s dreams twenty years later. But while Straitley does his sardonic best to resist these steps toward the future, a shadow from his past begins to stir again.

With insolvency and academic failure looming, a new headmaster arrives at the venerable school, bringing with him new technology, sharp suits, and even girls to the dusty corridors. But every so often there’s a boy who doesn’t quite fit the mold. Each class has its own clowns, rebels, and underdogs-all who hold a special place in the old teacher’s heart. Oswald’s Grammar in North Yorkshire, England, Latin master Roy Straitley has seen all kinds of boys come and go. “Harris delivers mischief and murder to an English prep school in Different Class, a delightfully malicious view of privileged students with overly active imaginations.” - The New York Times Book Reviewįrom the New York Times bestselling author of Chocolat comes a dark, psychological suspense tale in the tradition of Patricia Highsmith about a sociopathic young outcast at an antiquated prep school and the curmudgeonly Latin teacher who uncovers his dangerous secret.Īfter thirty years at St. rich, dramatic tale that builds to a surprising conclusion.” - T he Washington Post

Joanne Harris’s latest novel, Different Class, has a killer elevator pitch and, what’s more, it delivers on its intriguing premise….

Different class by joanne harris