by C. P. Snow
First published 1974
Lewis Eliot finds himself drawn into the complex world of British establishment politics in the 1970s. As an aging barrister and former civil servant, he watches younger colleagues maneuver for position while grappling with his own diminishing influence. The corridors of power that once felt familiar now seem foreign to him. Personal relationships blur with professional obligations as Eliot confronts the gap between idealistic intentions and pragmatic realities. Old friendships face new strains when political loyalties divide former allies. Eliot must decide whether to retreat into comfortable retirement or engage with a changing world that increasingly challenges his assumptions. This final chapter in his long journey explores how wisdom and experience measure against the relentless demands of public life.
Genres: fiction, 20th-century, contemporary, british-literature, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: changing-times, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Britain
Period: 1970s
313 pages · Hardcover · Macmillan