by A. S. Byatt
First published 1985
In 1950s England, the Potter family is torn between domestic duty and intellectual passion. Stephanie, a clergyman's wife, chafes against the constraints of her role. Her brilliant sister Frederica dives into the heady world of Cambridge, navigating academia and sexuality. Meanwhile, their troubled brother Marcus desperately seeks friendship and love. As the siblings' paths diverge, they each grapple with the universal human need for fulfillment, no matter the cost.
Genres: literary-fiction, domestic-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary, family-drama, academic
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: England
Period: 1950s
Hardcover · Scribner