Chatterton Square

In the summer of 1938, in the shadow of approaching war, the Fraser and Blackett families live outwardly undramatic lives in their neighboring houses in Chatterton Square in the fictional city of Radstowe (Bristol). The Frasers are a large lively family headed by Rosamund, whose husband has abandoned the family to pursue his creative life in France. The Blacketts and their three daughters live a tightly constrained, very conventional existence controlled by totally egotistical Mr. Blackett. E. H. Young depicts the interaction of the two families, and the rich inner lives of these very ordinary people with humor, understanding, and the sort of moral vision shown by Jane Austen. Selfishness and generosity, cold hearts and loving ones, courage and its opposite, all appear in these people. At the end of the book the Munich agreement has achieved "peace in our time," and there is peace of a kind in the two households; but I hated to leave them, wanting to know how they would be affected by the dark years ahead. E. H. Young is a writer who deserves to be rediscovered. Her wit, ability to create fascinating characters, and clear judgement of what makes ordinary life rich and meaningful are a delight.