018 - Pt 1 Ch 13

In The Last Ditch, an amusing yet deeply moving tale, author Violet Hunt explores the wartime experiences of a British aristocratic family grappling with the inevitable changes brought on by the Great War. As the old feudal privileges fade away in the trenches, Lady Arles, the fiercely determined matriarch, fights to uphold her familys legacy until her last breath. Meanwhile, her bohemian daughter Venice dreams of becoming a poet and finds herself entangled with a Socialist lover, revealing her vulnerability without the comforts of aristocracy. The scandalous Ilsa, another daughter, continually stirs controversy with her reckless romantic escapades, while Audley Bar, the ennui-ridden adventurer, feels compelled to join the war effort, haunted by the loss of his young friends on the Western Front. With a sharp, affectionate wit, Hunt critiques her outdated characters, all the while expressing a deep empathy for the rising poor of England, who are discovering newfound freedoms amidst the collapse of the old order. Written during a time of relentless conflict, this novel paints a poignant portrait of a family lost in grief and navigating a rapidly changing world. - Summary by Expatriate