A Spinster's Tale by Peter Taylor tells the story of a girl's transition from childhood to young womanhood. The story recounts the events that influence the transition for the protagonist, Elizabeth. Beginning with the death of her mother and continued throughout several encounters with a scary old drunk named Mr. Speed, Elizabeth is forced to grow up too early. At the beginning of the story Elizabeth is quite fearful about a number of things. But watching Mr. Speed, whom she fears at first, desensitizes her to her fears.

Elizabeth comes from a devotedly religious family. Taylor uses symbolic imagery to reveal this; for example, the family lives on Church Street. Also, comparisons build between the old drunk Speed and Elizabeth's teenage brother, who also develops a taste for drinking. The narrator reveals that Elizabeth's mother would rather see her son in the grave than coming...