All change : the fifth and final volume in The Cazalet Chronicles

As featured on BBC Radio 4 Open Book As the old world begins to fade from view and a new dawn emerges, All Change marks the fifth and final volume in Elizabeth Jane Howard's bestselling The Cazalet Chronicles. 'She helps us to do the necessary thing – open our eyes and our hearts' – Hilary Mantel, author of Wolf Hall It is the 1950s and as the Duchy, the Cazalets' beloved matriarch, dies, she takes with her the last remnants of a disappearing world – houses with servants, class, and tradition – in which the Cazalets have thrived. Louise, now divorced, becomes entangled in a painful affair, while Polly and Clary must balance marriage and motherhood with their own ideas and ambitions. Hugh and Edward, now in their sixties, are feeling ill-equipped for this modern world, while Villy, long abandoned by her husband, must at last learn to live independently. But it is Rachel, who has always lived for others, who will face her greatest challenges yet. As the Cazalets descend on Home Place for Christmas, only one thing is certain: nothing will ever be the same again. 'Charming, poignant and quite irresistible . . . to be cherished and shared' – The Times This is the heartbreaking and heartwarming final instalment of Elizabeth Jane Howard's bestselling series. ‘elizabeth Jane Howard Is One Of Those Novelists Who Shows, Through Her Work, What The Novel Is For . . . She Helps Us To Do The Necessary Thing – Open Our Eyes And Our Hearts.’ - Hilary Mantel, Author Of Wolf Hall. It Is The 1950s And As The Duchy, The Cazalets’ Beloved Matriarch, Dies, She Takes With Her The Last Remnants Of A Disappearing World – Of Houses With Servants, Of Class And Tradition – In Which The Cazalets Have Thrived. Louise, Now Divorced, Becomes Entangled In A Painful Affair; While Polly And Clary Must Balance Marriage And Motherhood With Their Own Ideas And Ambitions. Hugh And Edward, Now In Their Sixties, Are Feeling Ill-equipped For This Modern World; While Villy, Long Abandoned By Her Husband, Must At Last Learn To Live Independently. But It Is Rachel, Who Has Always Lived For Others, Who Will Face Her Greatest Challenges Yet. Events Converge At Christmas; As A New Generation Of Cazalets Descend On Home Place. Only One Thing Is Certain: Nothing Will Ever Be The Same Again. All Change Is The Fifth Novel In Elizabeth Jane Howard's Cazalet Chronicles. Read From The Beginning Of The Series: The Light Years, Marking Time, Casting Off And Confusion. The fifth and final book in the landmark Cazalet Chronicles, previously a BBC radio and TV series. All Change follows the characters of a privileged family coming to terms with life in post-war England. The fifth book in the landmark Cazalet Chronicles, recently broadcast on BBC Radio 4