The Light Years (The Cazalet Chronicles Book 1) [MM0019]

1991 MMPB in excellent condition. This "dazzling" novel follows a family of English aristocrats as their country teeters on the brink of World War II (Penelope Fitzgerald). As war clouds gather on the distant horizon, Hugh, Edward, and Rupert Cazalet, along with their wives, children, and loyal servants, prepare to leave London for their annual pilgrimage to the family's Sussex estate. There, they will join their parents, William and Kitty, and sister, Rachel, at Home Place, the sprawling retreat where the three brothers hope to spend an idyllic summer of years gone by. But the First World War has left indelible scars. Hugh, the eldest of his siblings, was wounded in France and is haunted both by recurring nightmares of battle and the prospect of another war. Edward adores his wife, Villy, a former dancer searching for meaning in life, yet he's incapable of remaining faithful to her. Rupert desires only to fulfill his potential as a painter, but finds that love and art cannot coexist. And devoted daughter Rachel discovers the joys-and limitations-of intimacy with another woman.

A candid portrait of British life in the late 1930s and a sweeping depiction of a world on the brink of war, The Light Years is a must-read for fans of Downton Abbey. Three generations of the Cazalet family come to unforgettable dramatic life in this saga about England during the last century-and the long-held values and cherished traditions that would soon disappear forever.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "The Cazalet family, Brig and the Duchy, with their three sons, one daughter, and respective daughters-in-law, grandchildren, staff . . this 1990 written, pre WW2 setting tome encapsulates perfectly the life of the middle classes in England on the brink of another war. Their relationships, their weaknesses, the societal attitudes, all make for an engrossing read. I'm ordering the rest in the series."; "LOVED THIS BOOK!!! 10 stars if I could!"; "This is book 1 of 5 and I am looking forward to reading more about the Cazelat family. This covered yrs 1937 and 1938. She addresses class, sexuality, the roles of women and men, family, politics, and life in general. A wonderful discovery."; "If you´re thinking cozy, think again. This is a brilliant, insightful and unsparingly depiction of an extended family. Howard can paint a complete canvas of a marriage in two sentences. On to the next one!"; "War is on the doorstep and you meet the extended Czalet family going about their lives in England. Looking forward to the rest of the series and what lies ahead for the characters I've grown to know."