So Once Was I

Also known as A Pattern Of Roses in the US. It was written by an author K M Peyton I read this book in my early teens and it made a great impression on me. It has a real Gothic atmosphere to it. The full quote of unknown origin is 'As you are now, so once was I, As I am now, so you will be, Prepare for death and follow me...' I guess now you would describe it as a Crossover book because it has an appeal to young adults and adults. It's an intense story that has alot of dark themes under the surface. From what I remember of the story: A teenage boy called Tim Ingram discovers a gravestone in a church yard that has the same initials or name as him. He gets involved in researching who the grave was for. Along the way he discovers many long passions and secrets. The books were fascinating in it's historical details. But also there's the love/hate Tim and Rebecca. He really sees to resent how unattractive she is. But in actual fact he feels very differently. Tim discovers in the past and the present, people are capable of inflicting great pain on those they love. The books comes to a dramatic climax when Tim discovers how the boy on the gravestone really died. The story touches briefly on the subject of suicide. There' s undercurrents of sexual attraction. There's also a suggestion that a disabled woman is deeply repressed and frustrated love for someone she can't have. It's unusual of young people's books to touch on such weighty subjects. It was later turned into a television film, with Helena Bonham Carter. The book seems to have mainly been forgotten about. It hasn't passed into the classics of young people's fiction. I don't know why, as it's so well written. Perhaps because the author is more well known for pony books. I've not read her other books, but I can guess that they'd be very different in tone to this. I've had alot of difficulty finding much about this book. It appears it's out of print. I cannot remember precisely what happened at the end, does anyone out there know? Please give a spoiler warning for those who've not read it!