William Trevor is an undisputed master of the short story but, perhaps, less known for his novels. Felicia’s Journey, which follows the journey of a young, innocent girl from rural Ireland to Birmingham, is bursting with understated mood and atmosphere. Perfectly crafted and wonderfully cinematic (you may have seen director Atom Egoyan’s recent screen adaptation starring Bob Hoskins) it screams with a sinister undercurrent of menace; there are few writers who say so much so quietly. Youre beautiful, Johnny told her and so, full of hope seventeen-year-old Felicia crosses the Irish Sea to England to find her lover and tell him she is pregnant. Searching desperately for Johnny, she is, instead, found by Mr Hilditch, pudgy canteen catering manager, collector and befriender of homeless young girls.