The Dragonfly Pool

Eva Ibbotson’s books do two things for you:

a) They transport you to a place, time and ambience that is redolent with olde-worlde charm and mystique.

b) They make your cynical soul believe that there are people (and especially children) who want to make this world a nicer place to live in.

Ibbotson’s books have always been comfort-food for my soul. She’s another author who finds a place in my travel-bag. You may be in a paradise (or personal purgatory, as the case may be), but dip into her stories and you are immediately hooked.

‘The Dragonfly Pool’ is no different.

It tells the tale of a much-loved and surprisingly unspoilt little girl called Tally. Tally lives in London with her widowed father, Dr.Hamilton and a pair of maiden aunts. Despite her idyllic existence, the shadow of impending war looms heavily over their heads. Hitler is at his despotic worst and The Second World War is imminent.

Around this time, Dr.Hamilton receives an unexpected scholarship for Tally at a boarding school called Delderton. Delderton is located in South Devon countryside and safely ensconced from the dangers of war. After many protestations and misgivings, Tally is parcelled off to Delderton and there she discovers a whole new world…

For Delderton is a progressive school. There are no rules, the students look like a bunch of happy savages, the principal judges people by their reactions to the ancient Cedar tree that stands tall in the school garden, the school cook is a beautiful ex-model and biology lessons could start at four in the morning without any prior warning whatsoever.

And then there is the enigmatic Matteo von Tarlenheim; biology teacher by profession but bandit in appearance. Much loved by the students for cutting a dashing figure and respected for his infinite understanding of the fauna and flora that surrounds them, Matteo is the most popular teacher in school. But Matteo has mysterious foreign roots and his past is soon entwined with Tally and her adventures.

In course of time, Tally and her quickly formed friends are off to Bergania to take part in a folk-dance festival. Bergania is a tiny country in Europe ruled by just king, Johannes who has stoutly refused to assist Hitler. And Johannes has a young son, Karil, who lives the life of a poor little rich boy.In Bergania, adventure raises it’s tantalising head and soon the fates of Tally and Karil and irrevocably entwined.

The story is a splendid blend of nature ramblings, wry humour, touches of darkness and the quintessential overriding message of *being true to oneself*. Ibbotson’s characters are well-etched, be it the Aragorn-like Matteo or the stubbornly optimistic Tally. The palette of supporting characters keep you engaged with their quirks and individual strengths of character. The surroundings vary from a naturalist’s utopia to the despondency of a war-weary landscape. Ibbotson holds the reigns of both worlds deftly and keeps you enchanted till the very end.