Transposing a well-loved children's classic into a new story, 'The Sea Daffodil' considers how the ability to move freely between times and locations might speed up the finding of a healing herb for the virus. Tom discovers a thrilling world of magic and enchantment in Castleford — where he becomes the university's youngest student since Newton — and in his time travels is variously accompanied by a trio of historians, a world famous scientist, and a disheveled omniglot professor.
He visits to Dover, Hungary and Crete; as well as — by implication — the ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome. This constitutes the first stages of a quest organized by the apparently immortal Nicholas of Tolentino, who is perhaps a miracle-working medieval Italian saint, or else an obscure university administrator. He is usually found hidden in the vaults of the university library. From here — via the central tower's lift − you can navigate to any time or place, including 'Twenty-Something' (surely a dangerous age!) or 54 BC.
Another magic portal is the ever-changing Vermeer picture in the vestibule of the Registry building (this may have something to do with Vermeer's limited output!) which operates in conjunction with a strange clock (a detail which respects, echoes, and occasionally improves Philippa Pearce's 1958 original). Only the appearance of subsequent volumes can reveal how Tom finally returns home to his niche Hampstead cottage after his eventful and much extended Easter quarantine.
Poised somewhere between fantasy, Bildungsroman and literary fiction — neither entirely serious nor yet entirely playful — The Sea Daffodil makes for an absorbing and often entertaining read.
