History in Vogue discussion

As Vera becomes increasingly attached to Roland, her dream of life at Oxford with him and her brother are crushed when England takes its first steps toward war with Europe. Though her brother Edward, still under military age, is denied permission by their father to join, he chooses not to go up for his first year, and with news that Roland is actively seeking a commission to the front, Vera finds herself alone at Oxford. She excels at her studies, and passes the time through letters between herself and Roland. They manipulate ways to see each other when they can, first at New Year, when he introduces Vera to his family, then on the train for her return to term after the holiday. Vera is taken ill at school and returns home, when she gets a letter from Roland that he has received his orders, and has him invited to her family's home so she can say goodbye before he leaves for France.

Vera and Roland have the most awkward relationship in person but their letters are full of beautiful phrases. I like her letters better than the telling of the story. She seems in love with the idea of love and being of like minds, much like Georgette Heyer, who was younger but still growing up in that Edwardian upper middle class culture. Vera's observations on English girls are so astute. It's amazing she figured all that out. It's too sad that it took a war to liberate a generation of young women.

I don't really pretend to understand the whole Oxford thing except I would never ever make it in. I admire her brains and her guts to go for it.