Life-tangles: the journal of Rhoda Frith

Rhoda Frith records her days in a candid, almost breathless journal, sketching life in a modest English house while her parents remain abroad in India. The diary opens on the eve of her mother’s long‑awaited return, and the promise of twin children awakens a fierce longing for affection and belonging. As a seventeen‑year‑old, Rhoda feels torn between the gentle recollections of her mother’s smile and the strict, teasing authority of Aunt Jessie, who seems determined to keep her in line.

Her excitement is mixed with resentment as plans are laid for a move to the isolated Woodbine Cottage, a decision made without her input. Determined to prove herself useful and to claim the place that is rightfully hers beside her mother, Rhoda vows to become the family’s quiet pillar, even as the other girls scoff at her ambitions. The journal captures the clash of youthful hope and the weight of expectations, setting the stage for a season of self‑discovery and subtle rebellion.