A review by sarahmatthews
Confusion by Elizabeth Jane Howard

emotional reflective medium-paced

Confusion by Elizabeth Jane Howard

Book 3 of 5  of The Cazalet Chronicles series

Read in Braille

Pub. 1993, 352pp

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The third book in the Cazalet Chronicles series, set in London and Sussex, was just as gripping as the previous two. It covers a longer span of time, starting in 1942 and ending on VE Day, 8 May 1945.

So much is packed into this wonderful novel with  frequent perspective changes which can sometimes catch the reader out, though that in itself serves to add to the feeling of disorientation felt by the characters. The upheaval of the war affects the family in different ways and the pressures on them all are carefully explored.

I don’t want to give any spoilers as I’m so glad I knew nothing about what was coming as I read. I’ll just say that the storylines which I found most powerful were those of Louise and Zoe. Elizabeth Jane Howard continues to get to the heart of how women of this period were feeling; the restrictions on their freedom and choices in life. I read that she was a teenager during the war and she’s brilliantly drawing on those experiences to tell this family saga. The period details are fascinating too, like how Zoe bought pretty curtain fabric from Liberty’s to make into dresses as it wasn’t rationed.

I’ve tried to explain to a friend recently how great this series is but when I try it just comes out sounding incredibly melodramatic! I guess the extraordinary circumstances faced by people during wartime and the large set of characters in these books make this somewhat inevitable. I was swept away by the writing style and in awe of her skilful pacing. 

There’s laughter, tears, lust, tragedy, deceit, hope… and a whole lot of Spam!