Family saga, but told in "reverse" order - with the first section taking place in the 1940s, and the next about 3 years earlier, etc.

The first chapter has lots of characters so I was worried about remembering them all. But after that it focuses mainly on husband Conrad and his wife Antonia (although that name is hardly ever used - it’s usually “she” or “Mrs. Fleming” or “darling”). Quite good bit when both Conrad and his wife have had affairs in secret during a holiday. When they get back together they’re both worried that the other’s behaviour is a sign that they’re suspected of infidelity when neither of them suspects the other at all.

Quotable bit in section 1937(?) where Imogen talks about the future as walking on a path width hedges on each side with occasional alternate paths that you could choose.

The final section was quite long, about a love affair going wrong when Antonia was 19. At the very end, she meets the man who she's going to end up marrying, who exhorts her not to be unhappy and says "this is just the beginning" and you think - ah, that's nice - she's found happiness! But at the same time it's bittersweet because you know that their relationship isn't going to be plain sailing at all.

I had read this in February 1998, when I wrote: A bit like Mary Wesley in subject matter, but better prose; I'm surprised I hadn't come across this author before. The story was written in sections, each section taking place in progressively earlier years, which was a bit strange at first (e.g. a character is introduced towards the end of the "1943" section, and you know that when you get to the end of that section, you'll see no mention of him again) but worked very well. The book told the story of a woman, starting with her coping with grown-up children wanting to get married, and working back through her life to the time before she was married. I'd give it a 8/10.

Completed : 03-Jun-2019