First published 1978
Six friends—Bernard, Neville, Louis, Susan, Rhoda, and Jinny—emerge and dissolve across decades, their inner landscapes shifting like oceanic rhythms. From childhood through adulthood, they trace interconnected lives marked by individual yearnings and collective consciousness. Each character becomes both witness and participant in a symphonic exploration of identity, where personal boundaries blur and merge. Their monologues reveal intricate psychological landscapes—sometimes fragmented, sometimes luminous—as they navigate love, ambition, isolation, and connection. Against the backdrop of early 20th-century England, they struggle to define themselves while remaining profoundly entangled.
Genres: literary-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: ensemble-cast, stream-of-consciousness
Setting: London
Period: 1920s
297 pages · Paperback · Harvest Books