Elizabeth Bowen1929
3/5 stars
Set against the backdrop of the Irish War of Independence, the Last September is a novel of an upper class Irish family reacting to the unsettled times. While shots are being fired in other areas, they are having tennis parties, teas, and dances with the British troops. It is also a coming of age story, of a sort, as Lois, the young woman of the house, experiences what might be love for the first time.
This satirical novel of manners is has beautiful prose that is often poetic. Unfortunately, the story is slow moving and sometimes unwieldy, making it a difficult read at times. The characters, while well drawn, aren't easy to connect with, and the plot is not gripping. When the ending comes, it comes too late to provide an emotional punch. For a short novel, it took entirely too long to read, and does not come recommended.
