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The Light Years: A Novel by Elizabeth Jane Howard book coverOut in 41 days
Historical FictionHistoricalBritish LiteratureClassicsFamily SagaFamily

The Light Years: A Novel

by Elizabeth Jane Howard · Cazalet Chronicles, Book 1

DEC1Tue
Publishes Tuesday 1 December 2026Paperback · Modern Library · 528 pagesSee everything out in December 2026 →
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About the book

From the publisher

In this modern classic of twentieth-century English life, the first in the beloved Cazalet Chronicles, a family gathers for the summer of 1937 at their country manor house, setting in motion events that will reverberate through generations.

Every summer, the Cazalet brothers—Hugh, Edward and Rupert—return to the family home in the heart of the English countryside with their wives and children. There, they join their formidable parents and unmarried sister Rachel to enjoy two glorious months of picnics, games, and sun-drenched excursions to the coast. But not even this idyllic setting can soothe each family member’s heartache, fears, and loneliness.

Hugh, haunted by memories of the Great War, is terrified at the looming prospect of more violence in Europe. Edward, charming and handsome, is torn between his wife, Villy, and his latest infidelity, while Villy dreads the tedium of domestic life after her former career as a dancer. Rupert, a talented painter, is in turmoil over his inability to please his demanding new wife, Zoe, while staying true to his artistic dreams. Meanwhile, Rachel’s unflinching loyalty to the family means risking her one chance at happiness, with the woman she feels so passionately about…

An extraordinary saga, both intimate and sweeping in scope, The Light Years introduces an unforgettable cast of characters.

Description supplied by the publisher.

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The series in order

Cazalet Chronicles

This is Book 1 of 5. Every book in the series has its own page.

Out the same day

Also publishing 1 December

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