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Family History
Evelyn, aged thirty-nine, is an attractive widow living an irreproachable life. Then she meets Miles, fifteen years her junior, and falls passionately in love. But both lovers have strong personalities and passion does not equal happiness. Evelyn, deeply jealous and conventional is shocked at her lover's casual ways and his insistence on working all day. Miles’s love for Evelyn is real but he cannot devote himself wholly to her whims. Vita Sackville-West collides attitudes to work, sex and society in the changing world of the early 1930s.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1932
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About the author
Vita Sackville-West
129 books476 followersNovels of British writer Victoria Mary Sackville-West, known as Vita, include
The Edwardians
(1930) and
All Passion Spent
(1931).
This prolific English author, poet, and memoirist in the early 20th century lived not so privately.
While married to the diplomat Harold Nicolson, she conducted a series of scandalous amorous liaisons with many women, including the brilliant Virginia Woolf. They had an open marriage. Both Sackville-West and her husband had same-sex relationships. Her exuberant aristocratic life was one of inordinate privilege and way ahead of her time. She frequently traveled to Europe in the company of one or the other of her lovers and often dressed as a man to be able to gain access to places where only the couples could go. Gardening, like writing, was a passion Vita cherished with the certainty of a vocation: she wrote books on the topic and constructed the gardens of the castle of Sissinghurst, one of England's most beautiful gardens at her home.
She published her first book Poems of East and West in 1917. She followed this with a novel, Heritage, in 1919. A second novel, The Heir (1922), dealt with her feelings about her family. Her next book, Knole and the Sackvilles (1922), covered her family history. The Edwardians (1930) and All Passion Spent (1931) are perhaps her best known novels today. In the latter, the elderly Lady Slane courageously embraces a long suppressed sense of freedom and whimsy after a lifetime of convention. In 1948 she was appointed a Companion of Honour for her services to literature. She continued to develop her garden at Sissinghurst Castle and for many years wrote a weekly gardening column for The Observer. In 1955 she was awarded the gold Veitch medal of the Royal Horticultural Society. In her last decade she published a further biography, Daughter of France (1959) and a final novel, No Signposts in the Sea (1961).
She died of cancer on June 2, 1962.
This prolific English author, poet, and memoirist in the early 20th century lived not so privately.
While married to the diplomat Harold Nicolson, she conducted a series of scandalous amorous liaisons with many women, including the brilliant Virginia Woolf. They had an open marriage. Both Sackville-West and her husband had same-sex relationships. Her exuberant aristocratic life was one of inordinate privilege and way ahead of her time. She frequently traveled to Europe in the company of one or the other of her lovers and often dressed as a man to be able to gain access to places where only the couples could go. Gardening, like writing, was a passion Vita cherished with the certainty of a vocation: she wrote books on the topic and constructed the gardens of the castle of Sissinghurst, one of England's most beautiful gardens at her home.
She published her first book Poems of East and West in 1917. She followed this with a novel, Heritage, in 1919. A second novel, The Heir (1922), dealt with her feelings about her family. Her next book, Knole and the Sackvilles (1922), covered her family history. The Edwardians (1930) and All Passion Spent (1931) are perhaps her best known novels today. In the latter, the elderly Lady Slane courageously embraces a long suppressed sense of freedom and whimsy after a lifetime of convention. In 1948 she was appointed a Companion of Honour for her services to literature. She continued to develop her garden at Sissinghurst Castle and for many years wrote a weekly gardening column for The Observer. In 1955 she was awarded the gold Veitch medal of the Royal Horticultural Society. In her last decade she published a further biography, Daughter of France (1959) and a final novel, No Signposts in the Sea (1961).
She died of cancer on June 2, 1962.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
January 10, 2014
It seems that at one time this novel by Vita Sackville West was fairly neglected, and apparently even Vita herself wrote of it quite disparagingly. However as well as being a really good story – it a wonderful 1930’s exploration of the complexities of family life, relationships and society in an England on the brink of great change. West also seems to have quite a bit to say about love in this novel, romantic love, obsessional love of people and places and the difficulties when the lovers are mismatched in the eyes of society, alongside the perils of staking too much on one person.
Evelyn Jarrold is a beautiful, elegant woman, nearing forty a widow with a seventeen year old son at Eton. Her father in law is a self-made man, wealthy with a large country estate, he is proud of the coal industry which made his fortune. Living in a London flat Evelyn has kept close to this large family of sons, daughters and grandchildren since her husband died in the First World War. Evelyn is trusted and respected by her in-laws; her conduct has never been in question. The Jarrolds are a traditional family, hunting, shooting conservatives that Evelyn’s son Dan, his Grandfather’s heir, finds himself to be rather at odds with. Evelyn’s niece Ruth adores her glamorous aunt, visiting her and chatting to her at length – although Evelyn finds her adoration rather wearisome.
Miles Vane-Merrick is a twenty five year old rising Labour politician. He too is from a privileged background – a younger son he has no money, although he has a picturesque ruined castle and surrounding lands buried deep in the Kent countryside, where he lives much of the time with a couple of faithful old retainers. Miles’s home is an almost exact representation of Sissinghurst – the Nicolson family home that Vita herself loved so dearly and where in the 1930’s she created some spectacular gardens .
“The lane widened, and the fan of light showed up a group of oast-houses beside a great tiled barn; then it swung round on a long, low range of buildings with a pointed arch between two gables. Miles drove under the arch and pulled up. It was very dark and cold. The hard winter starlight revealed an untidy courtyard, enclosed by ruined walls, and, opposite, an arrowy tower springing up to a lovely height with glinting windows”
When Evelyn and Miles begin a passionate relationship they are flouting several social conventions and inequalities. Evelyn is a fashionably and expensively dressed woman right off the cover of a fashion magazine, used to a life of comfort, ease and idleness. Miles is an idealistic socialist working on an economics book; he loves the countryside and his castle almost obsessively. Evelyn and Miles strive to keep their relationship a secret – spending time together at Miles’s castle or at Evelyn’s flat while Dan finishes his year at Eton. Evelyn’s love for Miles is of the all-consuming variety, he becomes her reason for living, and yet she is concerned about how her son and family would re-act to her relationship. Evelyn is jealous of Mile’s work, of his bohemian friends who she dislikes. Dan meanwhile is delighted by Miles, hangs upon his every word, impressed by his ideologies he see in Miles all the things he aspires to – things the Jarrolds will never understand or approve.
“Love as Evelyn understood it was an entire absorption of one lover into the other. He wanted to retain his individuality, his activity, his time-table. He wanted to lead his own life, parallel with the life of love, separate, independent.”
There is a story (referred to in the introduction to my VMC edition) that Harold Nicolson read Family History during a train journey and wept the entire way. Throughout the story of Evelyn and Miles, the reader has the distinct impression that this love affair cannot survive the difficulties which each of these mismatched lovers place upon the other. Evelyn cares deeply about her beloved son, but outside of her relationship with Dan she is quite able to be spoilt, selfish, vain and dreadfully jealous – yet she is not unlikeable, there is a sympathetic vulnerability to Evelyn – she is conventional with few if any interests. Yet in idealist Miles – a man who likes his women “idle and decorative” and hates “clever women” I found much more to dislike. The ending is perhaps inevitable in one sense – yet Vita Sackville-West gives her readers an ending that is really very sad, but beautifully written.
Evelyn Jarrold is a beautiful, elegant woman, nearing forty a widow with a seventeen year old son at Eton. Her father in law is a self-made man, wealthy with a large country estate, he is proud of the coal industry which made his fortune. Living in a London flat Evelyn has kept close to this large family of sons, daughters and grandchildren since her husband died in the First World War. Evelyn is trusted and respected by her in-laws; her conduct has never been in question. The Jarrolds are a traditional family, hunting, shooting conservatives that Evelyn’s son Dan, his Grandfather’s heir, finds himself to be rather at odds with. Evelyn’s niece Ruth adores her glamorous aunt, visiting her and chatting to her at length – although Evelyn finds her adoration rather wearisome.
Miles Vane-Merrick is a twenty five year old rising Labour politician. He too is from a privileged background – a younger son he has no money, although he has a picturesque ruined castle and surrounding lands buried deep in the Kent countryside, where he lives much of the time with a couple of faithful old retainers. Miles’s home is an almost exact representation of Sissinghurst – the Nicolson family home that Vita herself loved so dearly and where in the 1930’s she created some spectacular gardens .
“The lane widened, and the fan of light showed up a group of oast-houses beside a great tiled barn; then it swung round on a long, low range of buildings with a pointed arch between two gables. Miles drove under the arch and pulled up. It was very dark and cold. The hard winter starlight revealed an untidy courtyard, enclosed by ruined walls, and, opposite, an arrowy tower springing up to a lovely height with glinting windows”
When Evelyn and Miles begin a passionate relationship they are flouting several social conventions and inequalities. Evelyn is a fashionably and expensively dressed woman right off the cover of a fashion magazine, used to a life of comfort, ease and idleness. Miles is an idealistic socialist working on an economics book; he loves the countryside and his castle almost obsessively. Evelyn and Miles strive to keep their relationship a secret – spending time together at Miles’s castle or at Evelyn’s flat while Dan finishes his year at Eton. Evelyn’s love for Miles is of the all-consuming variety, he becomes her reason for living, and yet she is concerned about how her son and family would re-act to her relationship. Evelyn is jealous of Mile’s work, of his bohemian friends who she dislikes. Dan meanwhile is delighted by Miles, hangs upon his every word, impressed by his ideologies he see in Miles all the things he aspires to – things the Jarrolds will never understand or approve.
“Love as Evelyn understood it was an entire absorption of one lover into the other. He wanted to retain his individuality, his activity, his time-table. He wanted to lead his own life, parallel with the life of love, separate, independent.”
There is a story (referred to in the introduction to my VMC edition) that Harold Nicolson read Family History during a train journey and wept the entire way. Throughout the story of Evelyn and Miles, the reader has the distinct impression that this love affair cannot survive the difficulties which each of these mismatched lovers place upon the other. Evelyn cares deeply about her beloved son, but outside of her relationship with Dan she is quite able to be spoilt, selfish, vain and dreadfully jealous – yet she is not unlikeable, there is a sympathetic vulnerability to Evelyn – she is conventional with few if any interests. Yet in idealist Miles – a man who likes his women “idle and decorative” and hates “clever women” I found much more to dislike. The ending is perhaps inevitable in one sense – yet Vita Sackville-West gives her readers an ending that is really very sad, but beautifully written.
February 15, 2021
I really thought 'Family History' was exceptional against the more general view which regards it as merely mediocre.
It was a complex novel, traversing through two generations, and I am ashamed as I use the word, 'generation'. The book forbids me to use it,
A woman of thirty nine and a man of twenty five fall violently in love against the prejudices of society. The complications of their relationship are beautifully written about by the author. This book is a marvelous study of their relationship, a reverence of it. I am completely in love with each word I have just read.
I am speechless, when it comes to describing 'Family History'. All I can do at the moment is to recommend it highly. To help with the matters, I can quote what Vita Sackville-West's husband wrote in his diary after reading this exceptional work of literature,
"Read Family History in train and weep copiously"
which should probably sum it up.
Intimate. Heart touching. Beautiful.
It was a complex novel, traversing through two generations, and I am ashamed as I use the word, 'generation'. The book forbids me to use it,
A woman of thirty nine and a man of twenty five fall violently in love against the prejudices of society. The complications of their relationship are beautifully written about by the author. This book is a marvelous study of their relationship, a reverence of it. I am completely in love with each word I have just read.
I am speechless, when it comes to describing 'Family History'. All I can do at the moment is to recommend it highly. To help with the matters, I can quote what Vita Sackville-West's husband wrote in his diary after reading this exceptional work of literature,
"Read Family History in train and weep copiously"
which should probably sum it up.
Intimate. Heart touching. Beautiful.
July 29, 2019
”Evelyn struggled up Park Lane against the wind. Life was easy and pleasant for her, - too easy, too pleasant, - and she welcomed the wind as something that would buffet her from without. People were inclined as a rule to consider her wishes; to make much of her, to spoil her; the Jarrolds adored her, and her many friends were a great deal fonder of her than she of them. It was all soft and comfortable.”
This description of Evelyn Jarrold, the novel’s protagonist, comes very near the beginning and I remember reading it and thinking this was a bit of foreshadowing at work. Anyone whose life is described, more than once, as too easy and comfortable is bound to be headed for difficulties. And as the passage suggests, ‘spoiled’ Evelyn is so bored with having everything so smoothly her own way that the reader might indeed guess that she will be the instrument in her own downfall.
On the verge of 40, but still in full possession of her figure and charming looks, Evelyn is a rich widow with one son: Dan, age 17, a student at Eton. She is the pet of her wealthy father-in-law, who made the family’s fortune from coal mines, but she has little to do with her time other than shop, play bridge and pay visits to friends and family. Having lived serenely untouched by passions for many years, she is like a sleeping beauty just waking up.
When her much younger niece Ruth introduces Evelyn to Miles Vane-Merrick, she is fascinated by his intelligence and charismatic personality. Although he, too, is a product of Eton and the land-owning gentry, he has rebelled against his conservative upbringing and is instead drawn to the economic and political theories of socialism - certainly fashionable at the time, although not in his social circles. Miles is only 25, but he is already running his own estate and writing a book and generally being active in a way which makes Evelyn’s life seem all the more empty and dull. Not surprisingly, Miles and Evelyn start having an affair.
This novel is predictable in many ways and the writing - although adequate - has nothing particularly striking to recommend it. I wasn’t exactly bored whilst reading it, but it did feel dated to me and not particularly substantive. Evelyn knows, and the reader knows, that the affair between her and the much younger Miles is going to end in tears; but what did surprise me is how affecting the ending is, and how the author manages to pinpoint an essential difference between her male and female lovers which perhaps still holds true. Although there are probably few modern women with the ‘unoccupied mind’ of Evelyn, her desire to be the most important thing to Miles - for him to be ‘aware of her all the time’ - is at painful odds with Miles’ divided mind and energies. He want to time-table Evelyn and love/romance into convenient blocks in his diary; she wants to be pre-eminent in his life. It’s not that he doesn’t have feelings for her, but they are just one element of his life, while he is everything to her. Therein lies the real tragedy . . . because even their happiest times together are spoiled by Evelyn’s inability to accept that his love will never be of the same quality as hers.
Interesting note: Vita Sackville-West was certainly no Evelyn. If anything, I would say she is much more like Miles.
This description of Evelyn Jarrold, the novel’s protagonist, comes very near the beginning and I remember reading it and thinking this was a bit of foreshadowing at work. Anyone whose life is described, more than once, as too easy and comfortable is bound to be headed for difficulties. And as the passage suggests, ‘spoiled’ Evelyn is so bored with having everything so smoothly her own way that the reader might indeed guess that she will be the instrument in her own downfall.
On the verge of 40, but still in full possession of her figure and charming looks, Evelyn is a rich widow with one son: Dan, age 17, a student at Eton. She is the pet of her wealthy father-in-law, who made the family’s fortune from coal mines, but she has little to do with her time other than shop, play bridge and pay visits to friends and family. Having lived serenely untouched by passions for many years, she is like a sleeping beauty just waking up.
When her much younger niece Ruth introduces Evelyn to Miles Vane-Merrick, she is fascinated by his intelligence and charismatic personality. Although he, too, is a product of Eton and the land-owning gentry, he has rebelled against his conservative upbringing and is instead drawn to the economic and political theories of socialism - certainly fashionable at the time, although not in his social circles. Miles is only 25, but he is already running his own estate and writing a book and generally being active in a way which makes Evelyn’s life seem all the more empty and dull. Not surprisingly, Miles and Evelyn start having an affair.
This novel is predictable in many ways and the writing - although adequate - has nothing particularly striking to recommend it. I wasn’t exactly bored whilst reading it, but it did feel dated to me and not particularly substantive. Evelyn knows, and the reader knows, that the affair between her and the much younger Miles is going to end in tears; but what did surprise me is how affecting the ending is, and how the author manages to pinpoint an essential difference between her male and female lovers which perhaps still holds true. Although there are probably few modern women with the ‘unoccupied mind’ of Evelyn, her desire to be the most important thing to Miles - for him to be ‘aware of her all the time’ - is at painful odds with Miles’ divided mind and energies. He want to time-table Evelyn and love/romance into convenient blocks in his diary; she wants to be pre-eminent in his life. It’s not that he doesn’t have feelings for her, but they are just one element of his life, while he is everything to her. Therein lies the real tragedy . . . because even their happiest times together are spoiled by Evelyn’s inability to accept that his love will never be of the same quality as hers.
Interesting note: Vita Sackville-West was certainly no Evelyn. If anything, I would say she is much more like Miles.
July 26, 2022
Well written but ultimately not terribly satisfying story of a widow who falls in love with a younger man and doesn't deal very well with it when things don't really work out. The plot and central character let it down, and I won't even mention the ridiculous attempt by the author to differentiate between the two uses of the word that (too late, but don't say that you haven't been warned about thatt (!)). The thing is I really enjoyed her two most well-known novels, All Passion Spent and The Edwardians, but ever since reading them I have been disappointed in everything else I've read by her. I think I might just give up and re-read the ones that I like.
April 7, 2016
Sackville-West's book works as a sort of time-machine that takes us into the life of upper-class socialite Evelyn Jarrold in 1930s England. For more in-depth information and observations, check out my blog post about the book right here: https://outsideofacat.wordpress.com/2016/04/07/portraits-out-of-focus-family-history/
May 19, 2016
Not a whole lot of interest in this book - very much a psychological romance plot with some commentary on pre-WWII English class structures. First part of the book employs a rather interesting episodic narrative technique which is abandoned later on. Not sure about the wisdom of spoiling your ending in the table of contents...
December 28, 2019
Hübsches Zeitcolorit...
October 30, 2015
Didn't like the central female character, Evelyn; my boyfriend would have told her to 'man up'!
October 29, 2023
1932 [by Hogarth Press]
Rereading it in 2023 with no recollection of having read it before.....
I appreciated reading this book! Yes, the author is always analyzing her characters but I find these explanations very interesting.
The need, among certain social classes at least, of 'keeping up appearances' is shown very clearly in this book. Victoria Glendinning in her Introduction notes that it is interesting to ponder on how having servants around all the time might have rather severely limited what upper class people did. They had in fact very little privacy, even in their own bedrooms and living rooms.
The author points up with great frequency the difference in opportunity and lifestyle between males and females [of the upper classes].
Evelyn's son Dan is an interesting character in this book. Perhaps his generation is Sackville-West's hope for the future.
Also noteworthy are the few references to capitalism and colonialism. I think I did not realize they were already being discussed/criticized in the 1930s.
The last long chapter of the book is the slow and steady decline of Evelyn's health. Here it is fascinating to see how the author [and others of her time] viewed doctors, and how doctors behaved [among their upper-class patients]. Friend Viola was unusual [it is said] to do her own thinking about the doctor's diagnosis and suggested treatment, and was not at all afraid to ask questions.
2012:
I'm glad Rosemary lent me this to read. The author wrote more novels than I realized she had [I have not read others], and this is not her most popular one, I believe. [All Passion Spent, and perhaps The Edwardians are more popular]
The writing is fluent, reads easily. The characters are drawn in such a cerebral way that it's a little like reading a polemical text rather than fiction. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I'm not sure I would want to read other of her novels with any urgency.
"Miles [25 yrs old] very quickly saw that Evelyn [39 yrs old] would regard his work as her enemy, and would quite unscrupulously divert his attention to herself whenever she got the chance. She would do it subtly at first, but as time went on she would encroach more and more. The undeclared battle between them amused him; and he was determined to win." p 116
But in the previous paragraph:
"It amused him to go away from her, to give his attention to other things, and then to come back to her, doubly ardent and refreshed. He was quite unaware how much she resented this system." p 116
Evelyn's inner thinking is set out at great length as well, and we are to believe that she was quite aware of all she did and felt, but that she simply couldn't put a brake on her extreme love for Miles, could not hold back her jealousy and possessiveness, all the while seeing its bad consequences.
I suppose Vita is telling us that upper-class women of that time, in being kept away from higher education and careers, could hardly be otherwise, having nothing to do with their time than have new clothes made, attend social events, take European holidays. Anyway, it's a good book to read, but I wonder whether people really have so much insight into themselves as she suggests.
Rereading it in 2023 with no recollection of having read it before.....
I appreciated reading this book! Yes, the author is always analyzing her characters but I find these explanations very interesting.
The need, among certain social classes at least, of 'keeping up appearances' is shown very clearly in this book. Victoria Glendinning in her Introduction notes that it is interesting to ponder on how having servants around all the time might have rather severely limited what upper class people did. They had in fact very little privacy, even in their own bedrooms and living rooms.
The author points up with great frequency the difference in opportunity and lifestyle between males and females [of the upper classes].
Evelyn's son Dan is an interesting character in this book. Perhaps his generation is Sackville-West's hope for the future.
Also noteworthy are the few references to capitalism and colonialism. I think I did not realize they were already being discussed/criticized in the 1930s.
The last long chapter of the book is the slow and steady decline of Evelyn's health. Here it is fascinating to see how the author [and others of her time] viewed doctors, and how doctors behaved [among their upper-class patients]. Friend Viola was unusual [it is said] to do her own thinking about the doctor's diagnosis and suggested treatment, and was not at all afraid to ask questions.
2012:
I'm glad Rosemary lent me this to read. The author wrote more novels than I realized she had [I have not read others], and this is not her most popular one, I believe. [All Passion Spent, and perhaps The Edwardians are more popular]
The writing is fluent, reads easily. The characters are drawn in such a cerebral way that it's a little like reading a polemical text rather than fiction. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I'm not sure I would want to read other of her novels with any urgency.
"Miles [25 yrs old] very quickly saw that Evelyn [39 yrs old] would regard his work as her enemy, and would quite unscrupulously divert his attention to herself whenever she got the chance. She would do it subtly at first, but as time went on she would encroach more and more. The undeclared battle between them amused him; and he was determined to win." p 116
But in the previous paragraph:
"It amused him to go away from her, to give his attention to other things, and then to come back to her, doubly ardent and refreshed. He was quite unaware how much she resented this system." p 116
Evelyn's inner thinking is set out at great length as well, and we are to believe that she was quite aware of all she did and felt, but that she simply couldn't put a brake on her extreme love for Miles, could not hold back her jealousy and possessiveness, all the while seeing its bad consequences.
I suppose Vita is telling us that upper-class women of that time, in being kept away from higher education and careers, could hardly be otherwise, having nothing to do with their time than have new clothes made, attend social events, take European holidays. Anyway, it's a good book to read, but I wonder whether people really have so much insight into themselves as she suggests.
October 6, 2017
I think this is my favourite Vita S-W novel. I read it several years ago and again just now. I just love the depiction of love. It's so masterful, cleanly drawn and intense without being the least bit smutty. The characters as well are deftly carved out, a fascinating time in history - between the wars, between classes, things changing, traditions, etc. I love the way she can show the strenghths and weaknesses of 'family values' -how they can stifle but also protect and carry you. I cried at the end. What a wonderful book. (I also admire the experiment of 'thatt' - anyone who has the character to challenge English grammar so thoroughly, and then dismiss it herself as too annoying is a total writer-hero in my book!)
April 11, 2024
I didn't really expect to like this.
I bought it on a whim because the German title (a woman of fourty) made me laugh as I turn 40 this year. I also thought it would get a chuckle from my mom.
I'd never read a novel by Sackville-West, so I wasn't sure what to expect. It flowed nicely, and I got used to the multitude of POV's in this.
I don't think I further want to ponder the moral of the ending of the novel and I do have to keep reminding myself of when it was written.
But yeah, not a chore at all.
I bought it on a whim because the German title (a woman of fourty) made me laugh as I turn 40 this year. I also thought it would get a chuckle from my mom.
I'd never read a novel by Sackville-West, so I wasn't sure what to expect. It flowed nicely, and I got used to the multitude of POV's in this.
I don't think I further want to ponder the moral of the ending of the novel and I do have to keep reminding myself of when it was written.
But yeah, not a chore at all.
December 29, 2019
Phenomenal! I loved everything about this novel. The setting, the dialogue, the penetrating look at what motivates the characters. The only thing that grated on me was that the son, who is 15 when the book begins, talks like a 9 year old and I had to keep reminding myself of his age. Minor complaint for sure. I will definitely reread this one in a few years.
April 30, 2012
Lovely read by one of my favorite authors.
August 11, 2014
Very classy novel, beautifully written
January 17, 2018
Or maybe three and a half? Not sure I went for that ending, positively Victorian... But up to then, pretty good.
January 26, 2019
A beautifully drawn portrait of a doomed love affair, that cleverly demonstrates all the upper class pretensions of the age.
January 22, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this story - though I feel like it was a 200 page story in a 300 page book. There was one point where she quoted the poem "A Handful of Dust" and I thought that would have made a better title for this book (as it came before the Waugh book by that name). This could have used a major edit without taking anything away from the story. I did find the protagonist a bit annoying - she was smothering and histrionic where as the lover was always accommodating. What I didn't understand was the author going out of her way to criticize the lover, mentioning character flaws she hadn't actually depicted within the narrative. Each sentence and paragraph is expertly crafted...I just wish the author had spared us so much reiteration.
September 26, 2022
Noblesse, Angleterre, transition, amour, choc de mentalités //
Elle fait partie de la vieille bourgeoisie victorienne de l’Angleterre, lui est un député réformiste qui veut aller de l’avant et rompre avec les traditions. 15 ans et un monde de conventions les séparent mais ils tenteront tout de même tout pour poursuivre leur relation des plus complexes. Vita Sackville-West me charme toujours autant de par sa plume et son modernisme, elle qui écrit la bourgeoisie anglaise plus vraie que nature et qui dépeint les sentiments amoureux comme personne. On la cache souvent dans l’ombre de Virginia Woolf mais elle brille très clairement par et pour elle-même ! ⭐️ Mon amour pour cette autrice se confirme de plus en plus!
Elle fait partie de la vieille bourgeoisie victorienne de l’Angleterre, lui est un député réformiste qui veut aller de l’avant et rompre avec les traditions. 15 ans et un monde de conventions les séparent mais ils tenteront tout de même tout pour poursuivre leur relation des plus complexes. Vita Sackville-West me charme toujours autant de par sa plume et son modernisme, elle qui écrit la bourgeoisie anglaise plus vraie que nature et qui dépeint les sentiments amoureux comme personne. On la cache souvent dans l’ombre de Virginia Woolf mais elle brille très clairement par et pour elle-même ! ⭐️ Mon amour pour cette autrice se confirme de plus en plus!
June 13, 2020
Much preferred this to some of her earlier books. Set between the two world wars. Evelyn lives a conventional upper class life. Following the death of her husband during the war, she still continues to mix with her in-laws the Jarrolds, living the same boring and constrained lives they always did. That changes when she meets up and coming politican Miles Vane- merrick. Despite being 15yrs her junior, they begin a passionate but fiery affair. Evelyn knows her conventional beliefs and her in-laws will heap disapproval on their love and as time passes does her best to drive Miles away. Enjoyable read.
May 27, 2022
There's something remarkably modern in this book, in the way Evelyn sees the world around her and her feelings. And also in the fact that this is the story of a woman who falls in love and loves a man fifteen years younger than her.
The ending is surprisingly old fashioned. I wish the book had stopped fifty pages earlier and left us hanging more. It feels like once again, the woman in love ends up punished.
The ending is surprisingly old fashioned. I wish the book had stopped fifty pages earlier and left us hanging more. It feels like once again, the woman in love ends up punished.
February 1, 2022
What a beautiful story. The characters were so well depicted, the relationships between all of them had a realness and familiarity. Evelyn’s decisions were heartbreaking and understandable. This had such an incredible depiction of depression and grief. And a truly tragic ending. The whole book was perfect.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2018
Hat mich emotional sehr mitgenommen
July 10, 2020
Amazing depiction of life in the early 20th century.
March 4, 2021
Bien mais pas au niveau des autres livres d'elle que j'ai déjà lu.
July 23, 2021
The ending spoilt it a little -far too 19th century. Apart from that, I really enjoyed this novel, especially the political and sociological snippets.
January 9, 2022
Of its time, a know edgy romance of an older women & her (limited) choices of the period. Not a classic but a generally pleasant read.
March 15, 2023
I think that thatt was not that good
March 31, 2023
“Love and the woman were insufficient for an active mind. Love and the man, however, were all-too-sufficient for a starved heart and unoccupied mind.”
April 10, 2023
Not a very unique plot but I did love the language and style of writing
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