1939-41 Home front for the Cazalets during WWII. Mostly through the eyes of the teenage and pre-teen girls Louise (budding actress), Polly (still deciding) and Clary (nascent writer). You also meet some of the family friends. Set mostly in the countryside, with visits to London, against the backdrop of war. Howard really catches the 'between places' that children of this age suffer, neither quite one thing or the other, child but almost not a child, of the varying ages. The girls very focused on their hierarchy, who should or shouldn't be able to do or know specific things. And what they think they do know and understand, and how muddy that is.

For someone who generally doesn't enjoy coming of age novels, I am totally engaged with their story.

The country house and its satellites is crammed to the gills as they give wartime homes to other family members, friends and the girl's tutor Miss Milliment. As well as a kind of babies orphanage run by Rachel, and ultimately a respite home for wounded soldiers.

The stories wind in and out and deepen the picture of each character at this time. It feels very authentic.

It's interesting to discover that despite mostly being a wealthy family, some of them are already wearing dentures by their 40s, far less common now. My father was proud that he still had most of his own teeth at 90! ( )

https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/marking-time-by-elizabeth-jane-howard/

Marking Time is the second of the series, set a year after the first, and concentrating very much on three teenage Cazalet girls, whose fathers are brothers. But it’s now war time – the book starts in September 1939 and ends with Pearl Harbour in December 1941, so it covers a long and crucial period of the girls’ lives; Louise, an aspiring actress, whose father is abusive; Clary, an aspiring writer, whose father goes missing after Dunkirk; and sensitive Polly, whose mother is very ill though nobody will admit it. Between the lines (and not only there) is a thoughtful reflection on the roles of women in English society of the time.

The cast of characters is huge – the family tree at the start lists eighteen living Cazalet relatives, and there are a half dozen more who get at least some viewpoint time – lovers, servants, in-laws. But Howard keeps them all under control, and although we know that parts of this are based on her own life, it doesn’t come across didactically. There is a minor twist at the end of the book which made me gasp, but in any case I would have been impatient for the next instalment; some very tempting plot lines have been set up. I’ll get to it soon enough! ( )

Extraordinarily well written second book in this family chromicle. Not only emotionally accurate but also very true to life historically as well ( )

The second volume of this series concentrates, for the most part, on the three adolescent girls of the family. Elizabeth Jane Howard captures their characters beautifully and just what it was like to be stuck at home trying to carry on with life when the world was descending into chaos. Frustration, fear and mundanity are the dominant themes. But also how are they going to make their way in the world? There are many secrets that lead to some heartbreaking misunderstandings. We also get glimpses into the lives of the other characters, family, extended family, friends and servants; their worries and concerns and the many secrets here too. Everything is beautifully observed and written. Can't wait to get onto the next instalment. ( )

**** : La guerre a éclaté. Une partie de la famille se réfugie à Home Place dirigé de main de maître par la Duche. Les enfants grandissent : les aînés tentent de vivre leurs rêves malgre la guerre; les plus jeunes partagés entre la réalité et l'insouciance de leur âge. On retrouve la finesse et l'humour du premier tome.