Chatterton Square

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The Blackett household also includes his long-suffering wife Bertha,who seems sweet but downtrodden, and his three daughters, one of whom, Flora, takes after him exactly. Yes, the after-effects of the war are very much present throughout the novel, especially in Rosamund’s thoughts. Against the backdrop of approaching war, Young explores the realities and finality of marriage for women.

the delightful, unconventional Rosamund presides over this unruly household with shocking tolerance and good humour, and Herbert Blackett is both fascinated and repelled by his sensuous and 'unprincipled' neighbour. And aside from Rosamund Fraser and one of Bertha/Herbert’s daughters, Rhoda, there are very few characters to like or to care about in the novel, and several to dislike heartily, because E. And he didn’t like Bertha visiting with Piers, probably because Piers had done his duty and fought in the war and he had gotten injured while Herbert had evaded service. The conclusion of this novel leaves us to our own conclusions as to the future of these characters, not the least of which is the setting just before the beginning of WWII. There will be no shortage of suitors for Rosamund to choose from should Fergus divorce her – not least Piers Lindsay, Mrs Blackett’s kindly cousin, who has recently moved to the area.Without giving us any sort of salacious detail at all, she nonetheless makes it clear that one of the characters (Mrs. The 'E H Young Prize for Greek Thought' was an annual essay prize awarded in her memory at Bristol Grammar School.

This was all fascinating but it was also sometimes difficult to understand this aspect of the book because people and events are not referred to by name. Rosamund’s marital status, and hence her freedom to marry Piers Lindsay, remains somewhat open – as does the nature of the Blackett’s marriage when Bertha finally bows to the pressure inflicted by her husband. They fortunately were happy but not all their friends were so lucky and I remember my father's disquiet when a couple of old friends divorced. His wife and daughters can't stand him but he doesn't realise that because he only sees what he wants to see and he is so far up himself with such a high opinion of his worth. Meanwhile the next generation, face the possibility of having the best years of their lives stolen – and well they know it.The Frasers occupy a corner of Chatterton square – here live – Rosamund Fraser, her childhood friend Agnes Spanner and Rosamund’s five almost adult children. The novel traces their respective emotional journeys-- a muted book, but written with great intelligence. Young shows three of the options open to women at the time (this was , written in 1947): unhappily married, separated and unmarried.

This was my first suggestion for the series (after the first two they had already picked when I came on board) – so glad you liked it.Blackett rules his home in Upper Radstowe with a gloomy and niggardly spirit, and his wife Bertha and their three daughters succumb to his dictates unquestioningly -- until the arrival next door of the Fraser family 'with no apparent male chieftain at the head of it. The action of the story focuses on the slow making of relationships between the two families and while doing so demonstrates the author's brilliant depiction of the personalities involved. Throughout 1938, the summer of appeasement, when the possibility of war was stalking the country we are introduced to the Frasers and the Blacketts. It’s such a rich book, full of interesting insights and threads, so I’m sure it would yield even more on a second reading! I've found an article in the Evening Post archives that suggest Chatterton Square is actually Clifton's oddly triangular Canynge Square, and it would certainly be in about the right place for that to be true.