Finsbury Park Summary

Having grown up in poverty with a loud, drinking mother and older sister, Vera dislikes programs on television that remind her of her first fifteen years of life. At fifteen, while recovering from an attack of rheumatic fever, she is befriended by a gentle school teacher, Miss Andrews, who encourages her to improve her appearance and outlook on life and to stay in school even if it and her home life are pure hell. For two years Vera puts up with the filth and noise, frequently taking refuge in Andrew's lovely flat and learning how to smile and modulate her voice from her example. Having also learned typing, shorthand, and spelling, Vera moves out, promising to visit her mother often but never doing so. She also stops visiting Andrews and finally cuts her off as well.

Over the next five years...