Status Updates From A Summer Bird-Cage

The post-party discussion between Sarah and Wilfred is fascinating. Talk about cards on the table! And very uncomplimentary if it’s also about AS Byatt

This captures that narrow historical corridor between the austerity of the 1950s and the full explosion of Swinging London in the mid/late 60s. Despite elements of modernity the infrastructure for a truly modern female life hasn't quite been built yet. These characters are caught between eras. It's fab and has a wonderful duality: part classic novel of manners, part early herald of 1960s liberation

Every time I pick this up I love it. I've just got to the party section which is brilliantly done. All that's good and all that's awful about house parties. This is such a vivid evocation of early 60s London complete with Beehives, bohemianism, and the shadow of Victorian values clearly present but starting to recede.

Very assured for a debut