Author : Vita Sackville-West
Score: 6/10
Year: 1930 (original) ; 2001 (present edition)
Publisher: Virago Press
ISBN 9780860683599
Pages 285
Language: English
1906. Sebastian, aged 19, is Duke and Heir to the House Chevron. He loves his Estate, his Title and the easy life he leads. He feels pride in his duties as heir, and loves the tradition into which he was born. One evening, escaping the boredom he experiences from his mother's guests at a lavish party she organized, he finds himself on the roof, talking to Leonard Anquetil, whose position in life is in a lower Class, and who challenges Sebastian's views and expected societal roles.
Vita's title for this story is very apt, telling the story of characters in the early 20th century, during the Edwardian Era, and very slightly beyond it. Vita draws a critic, often ascerbic, sometimes with humour, of High Society, its moral decay and its refusal to evolve with the world.
She depicts every day life of the upper class in this Era, showcasing the artificial and superficial nature of this financial rich class, and how it uses tradition as a justification for their societal roles - only rendered possible with the help of servants, in the lower classes.
Vita critisizes this artiscoracy, where authenticity has been replaced by intellectual vapididity ; where deception, infidelity and greed are all well hidden and disguised in good manners ; where marriage is for convience and financial stability, and, mainly, to fulfil social standards and expecations, but not for romance. Affairs are run on a regular basis, but hushed in constant attempts to prevent any scandal, which would show their true lack of morality - whereas, characters in lower classes are much more loyal and didn't lose their moral compasses.
This novel also discusses different social expecations regarding sexuality, based on the person's gender. During Vita's period, only men and women are described, of course.
Lastly, the novel deals with the question of individuality, and if a person has the right to lead an independant life, making their own decisions, or having to follow tradition and social conventions, having to stifle their natural desires and dreams.
The first 6 chapters are set in 1906-1907. Not much happens, much like the slow decay and refusals to progress by the upper classes ; the last chapter jumps forward by 5 years, and recounts a few of the changes that occured in the interval. I find this to be an interesting and wise choice.
Characters are more or less well fleshed. I find the most interesting are Sebastian, with his mood swings as part of his inner conflict ; his sister Viola and her growth ; and two others that must remain nameless and read by you, who are independant and original. The rest, sadly, aren't as well developped, and are more on the margin, with the exceptions of Lucy, Sebastian & Viola's mother, and a few of her relations.
The Edwardians wasn't the easiest read ; several characters appear bigoted (references to anti-Jews, or having to lower one's standards to marry Jews), so, although realistic both for a publication in 1930 and a story set in 1906-1911, it was still a cringy portion to read.
In two instances, I skipped about 3 lines, as part of Chevron's daily routine included killing animals for food.
The style was fluid, but as as eloquent as other novels that I read from this period. At times, the humouruous notes were pleasent, but overall, the novel was somewhat drier than others.
There are 7, rather long chapters, of about 35-40 pages each, subdivided by a " * " in a few places, but still forcing a rather complete reading session for a chapter, which is what I did. I was rather pleased with the ending, that tied the 7th and the 1st chapters together, with an open-ended final.
Just before the novel, there is a short introduction by Juliet Nicholson, pages vii-xiii.
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