Pastors and Masters

Pastors and Masters by Ivy Compton-Burnett is a sharply observed satire set in a rigid English boys’ school. Through clipped dialogue and emotional restraint, Compton-Burnett explores power dynamics, hypocrisy, and intellectual pretension. The novel’s minimalist style and focus on social and psychological tensions create a unique reading experience, marking her as a distinct voice in early 20th-century British literature.