The Mountain

The Mountain is based in 1989 in a run-down northern English town and tells the story of Nigel Charon, a young teacher in his first job and Anna Lomas, a troubled girl who is a selective mute as well as being in constant trouble with the authorities. It is clear from day one that Charon does not fit in and is unwilling to play the game. Anna has a troubled home life and Charon takes her under his wing. But in looking after her is he overstepping the boundaries? The novel is generally comic but with dark undercurrents. The Eighties were not all frilly cuffs, ra-ra skirts and Wham! ? the gloomy setting is enhanced by frequent references to The Smiths, with whom Anna is obsessed.