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Howard's Niece Picks Up Beloved Family Saga
4 Sep
Summary
- Louisa Young continues Elizabeth Jane Howard's Cazalet Chronicles.
- The new novel, The Golden Hours, is set in the early 1960s.
- Young is Howard's niece, adding a personal connection to the series.
Louisa Young, niece of the late Elizabeth Jane Howard, has penned "The Golden Hours," the sixth installment in the beloved Cazalet Chronicles. This new novel picks up the family saga in the early 1960s.
The series, originally spanning from 1937 to 1956 through five books, is renowned for its detailed portrayal of the upper-middle-class Cazalet family. Howard's original works were celebrated for their precise rendering of both period detail and timeless emotion.
"The Golden Hours" focuses on Polly, now the chatelaine of a country house, as the family gathers for Christmas. The narrative explores the lives of the next generation, including questions about Louise's future and the living arrangements of Clary, Zoe, and Rupert.
Writing a continuation novel presents unique challenges, but Young, with 16 previous books to her name, draws on her close relationship with Howard. The novel has been described as a delightful addition, achieving a startling mimicry of Howard's voice.
Despite minor differences in dialogue and some philosophical musings, the novel recaptures the pleasure of returning to the Cazalet family. It captures the enduring theme of change within humanity, a hallmark of the series. With two more volumes promised, the saga is set to continue.
