'Faster Faster ' is a novel that tells of the mid-life crisis of Claudia Winsloe, who finds herself trapped by the dual responsibilities of her career and her family. The harder she pushes herself the more she becomes out of touch and increasingly isolated.

The novel is set in the West of England, over the course of one week in January 1942. Set against the background of a decaying English country-house tradition, the story follows Valentine Arbell and her two daughters, as they struggle to stand up for their existing lifestyle.

Primarily a drama of character, events move swiftly under the compulsion of war conditions, and decisions are forced upon them all.

"'You've never told me about your marriage, Laura?' said Duke Ayland.

. . . 'Yes. It's only - I'm very fond of Alfred, ' said Laura, taking the plunge and temporarily unaware that almost all wives begin conversations about almost all husbands in precisely the same way"

Laura has been married for seven years. On those occasions when an after-dinner snooze behind The Times seems preferable to her riveting conversation about their two small sons, Laura dismisses the notion that Alfred does not understand her, reflecting instead that they are what is called happily married. At...

"She could never, looking backwards, remember a time when she had not known that a woman's failure or success in life depended entirely upon whether or not she succeeded in getting a husband"

When in the company of a young man a dutiful daughter should immediately assume an air of fresh, sparkling enjoyment. She should not speak of "being friends" with him-a young man is either eligible or he is not-and never, but never, should she get herself talked about, for a young girl who does so is doomed. "Men may dance with her, or flirt with her, but they don't propose." It would be quite a...