The Light Years

As featured on BBC Radio 4 Open Book A modern classic, The Light Years is a story of twentieth-century English life in the countryside and the first in Elizabeth Jane Howard's extraordinary, bestselling family saga The Cazalet Chronicles. 'She helps us to do the necessary thing – open our eyes and our hearts' – Hilary Mantel, author of Wolf Hall Every summer, the Cazalet brothers – Hugh, Edward and Rupert – return to the family home in the heart of the Sussex countryside with their wives and children. There, they are joined by their parents and unmarried sister Rachel to enjoy two blissful months of picnics, games, and excursions to the coast. But despite the idyllic setting, nothing can be done to soothe the siblings' heartache: Hugh is haunted by the ravages of the Great War, Edward is torn between his wife and his latest infidelity, and Rupert is in turmoil over his inability to please his demanding wife. Meanwhile, Rachel risks losing her only chance at happiness because of her unflinching loyalty to the family. 'Charming, poignant and quite irresistible . . . to be cherished and shared' – The Times Continue the dazzling historical series with Marking Time and Confusion . Elegantly Constructed And Told With Exceptional Grace, The Light Years Is A Modern Classic Of Twentieth-century English Life And Is The First Novel In Elizabeth Jane Howard's Extraordinary, Bestselling Family Saga The Cazalet Chronicles. Every Summer, The Cazalet Brothers – Hugh, Edward And Rupert – Return To The Family Home In The Heart Of The Sussex Countryside With Their Wives And Children. There, They Are Joined By Their Parents And Unmarried Sister Rachel To Enjoy Two Blissful Months Of Picnics, Games, And Excursions To The Coast. But Despite The Idyllic Setting, Nothing Can Be Done To Soothe The Siblings’ Heartache: Hugh Is Haunted By The Ravages Of The Great War, Edward Is Torn Between His Wife And His Latest Infidelity, And Rupert Is In Turmoil Over His Inability To Please His Demanding Wife. Meanwhile, Rachel Risks Losing Her Only Chance At Happiness Because Of Her Unflinching Loyalty To The Family. With Cover Artwork Exclusively Designed By Artist Luke Edward Hall, This Will Be An Edition To Treasure. The Light Years Is Followed By Marking Time, The Second Book In The Series. 'charming, Poignant And Quite Irresistible . . . To Be Cherished And Shared' – Times In the summer of 1937 World War II is only a distant cloud on the horizon. As the various Cazalet households prepare for their summer pilgrimage to the family estate in Sussex, we meet the entire cast. There's bluff, hearty Edward, in love with but by no means faithful to his wife, Villy; Hugh, wounded in the Great War, but devoted to pregnant Sybil; Rupert, who worships the body if not the mind of his child-bride, Zoe; and Rachel, the spinster sister, conducting a desperate clandestine love affair under the family roof. The first book in the landmark Cazalet Chronicles, previously a BBC radio and TV series. With the onset of war, The Light Years reveals a privileged family facing uncertain times.