This is the story of Ann Laventie, caught up in her bohemian family’s cleverness and determined to fit in. This is Ann’s coming of age. She constantly compares herself to her siblings Elizabeth, an essay writer, and Dick, an artist, and to their father, Richard Laventie, an intellectual. But it will take Ann time to realise they’re full of themselves, snooty and not as talented as she originally thought.
They live in the country with their physically disabled wife and mother – the two other siblings and their father think they’re hot stuff. Emotions are repressed and love and marriage is disparaged. Mr Laventie leads the charge, isolating them from the local families and making fun of any of their local visitors. There’s a sense of pseudo-intellectualism. They’re smug and conceited of their talents and Ann discovers they aren’t as wonderful as they think. She is awed by them and puts them on a pedestal. As she changes so do her views. The first half of the story is set at their country house then the action takes place in London mostly.
In contrast to her family Ann is sociable and is amiable with other people. She becomes friendly with the Gayford family who are chaotic and loveable.
Being Margery Sharp’s first novel it isn’t as ship-shape as later one’s. Published in the 1930’s it reflects that time. The ending was somewhat disappointing as her beau is somewhat lacking in taste at the end. There’s also a marked difference between them in terms of knowledge of culture.
Overall, a beautiful story about learning to trust your own judgement and fit your own mould. Humour is interspersed throughout and really makes this book shine.
Readable 