This may have seemed like a period comic novel at first page but in fact it turned out to be an interesting reflection of the effect of world politics on the people who lived through them, in all its personal opportunities and costs.
The book was based on the author's own life and her family, making her and her sisters famous in their time. It is the first of a trilogy, an immediate best seller and has been repeatedly adapted into film and television, a pretty good result for what might be considered a flimsy novel.
We found plenty to talk about, from why gentlemen wear pink coats to fox hunt (they are actually red and named after the tailor who invented them) to the politics of running away to the Spanish Civil War and/or marrying a fascist. The choices of these family members put them on opposite sides of history with all the complications that would normally arise from that. It is truly a reflection of its time.
We all enjoyed it so much that it is a contender for movie night, which is our August plan. We are meeting on August 14, at 6:30 and the plan is to meet at the Deep Run Hunt Club so we can use the large screen TV. If you have another idea, let me know, either for venue or for the movie.
See you all then!
