Virginija Traskeviciute

Virginija Traskeviciute asked Katherine Webb:

Dear Katherine, I would like to learn about one phrase from "The Unseen", in the very beginning of the book: "It had been a blousy summer day; all diaphanous clouds, with a curling breeze that had caught the donkeys' tails, made them stream out behind them, and made the empty deckchairs billow." THE DONKEYS' TAILS – what does it mean, and what do they here?? I am not an English-speaker. Thank you so much in advance!

Katherine Webb Hello Virginija, thanks so much for your question, and I hope you're enjoying the book. Well, in England, especially in the past, it was very common for there to be donkeys at the beach - donkeys are like asses - which people would pay for their children to have a ride on, up and down the beach. So in that phrase I'm just setting the scene, with the breeze making their long tails fly out. I hope that makes sense?? Here's a link to the donkey's wiki page! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey

All best wishes,
Katherine

More Answered Questions

Jaz

Jaz asked Katherine Webb:

You say in your influences "Too many to list!", who are just one or two of them?

Mary Day

Mary Day asked Katherine Webb:

That is really helpful. It confirms my experience. I often think ENSA should be represented in the Cenotaph march-past. My mother, and almost certainly your grandmother were presented with the Africa Star. My mother got the ribbon bit in the post (I think I still have it somewhere) and didn't bother going to the ceremony for the metal bit that went with it. Thank you. No need to get back. Required ?

Graham Wilson

Graham Wilson asked Katherine Webb:

Hi Katherine, have just discovered you through reading "A Half Forgotten Song" I loved it, particularly how it plays with memory - the shifting understanding of things from a long time ago. Charles Aubrey felt so real I thought he was an actual artist thought clearly not - did any particular artist/s inspire this character? I will now read something else you have written - any suggestions?

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