Elizabeth Taylor is a favourite author of mine. This book, though, like some of her other novels, was rather a slow starter. The atmosphere is mournful, the characters variously downtrodden, unattractive, chilly. It was only towards the halfway mark that I began to care more about them, and to find them interesting, touching or funny (though this novel has fewer overtly funny moments than, for example, At Mrs Lippincote's).
Cressida (Cressy) rebels against the Catholic community she has been brought up in, disgusted at the way her parents and other relations allow themselves to live under the rule of her dominant grandfather, the founder of the group. She gets a job and a room in the local village and meets David, a journalist, who has his own complicated reasons for his interest in her.
David's mother Midge is one of the most interesting characters: elegant, worldly and capable, yet secretly needy, and ruthless in pursuit of whatever she needs to retain her comfort. She provides a master class in manipulation; although she has setbacks, she also has a talent for turning the most unpromising situations to her advantage.
One of the more problematic aspects of the book is the character of Cressy, who at first appears to be sympathetic, but who does not have the maturity or strength of character to sustain the gesture she has made. She becomes frankly irritating, even if there are reasons why she is as she is. But describing people with all their failings is one of Taylor's strengths. There is certainly nobody wholly admirable here – in fact I'm not sure that there is anyone admirable at all.
Not my favourite of Taylor's works, but still worth reading. It is full of deadpan little throwaways, excruciating moments and delicious putdowns.