The Mill by H.E. Bates is a compelling short story that explores family dynamics and rural life in 1930s Britain, focusing on the Hartop family's struggles while operating their mobile grocery business.
Key aspects:
- Centers on the Hartop family - father Jos, mother, and daughter Alice
- Set during a dark November evening in rural Britain
- Explores themes of family tension, poverty, and hardship
- Written in H.E. Bates' characteristic descriptive style
- Showcases complex character relationships and power dynamics