The Blower of Bubbles

"The Blower of Bubbles" by Arthur Beverley Baxter is a series of short stories capturing the somber mood of post-war England by following people whose lives have been changed by war, particularly in English society. The first story revolves around a young man called Basil Norman, nicknamed "The Blower of Bubbles," as he deals with the sadness of London after the war, thinking about love, loss, and creating art. The book begins with the main character feeling down on Christmas Eve in Sloane Square, which is made worse by the happy holiday atmosphere around him. Through different meetings, he has conversations that show his cynical and thoughtful personality. Then, Basil Norman, a friend from long ago, arrives and changes the story, setting Norman's positive attitude and energy against the main character's gloomy thinking. The beginning creates a feeling of looking into strong human feelings, love, and the tricky parts of life that come up in a world changed by the war.