Consequences

"Consequences" by E.M. Delafield is a novel written in the early 20th century, specifically during the years around World War I. The story revolves around the life of Alex Clare, exploring her upbringing with her siblings and the complexities of her relationships, particularly with authority figures and her peers. The narrative highlights themes of childhood innocence, family dynamics, and the consequences of actions, as indicated by the title. The opening of the book introduces readers to the Clare children gathered around the nursery playing a game called "Consequences." Through their interactions, we meet Alex, the self-appointed leader, who navigates sibling rivalry and the expectations placed upon her. The scene sets the stage for themes of competition and the desire for approval, particularly as Alex grapples with her familial role and the influence of the nursery maid, Emily. As the narrative progresses, Alex's impulsive nature leads to significant repercussions, hinting at the broader implications of her actions, which sets up a compelling trajectory for her character development throughout the rest of the novel. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Edmée Elizabeth Monica Dashwood, née de la Pasture, commonly known as E. M. Delafield, was a prolific English author. She wrote novels, short stories, and plays, among other genres, but Delafield is best known for her largely autobiographical Diary of a Provincial Lady, which took the form of a journal of the life of an upper-middle class Englishwoman living mostly in a Devon village of the 1930s. In sequels, the Provincial Lady buys a flat in London, travels to America and attempts to find war-work during the Phoney War. Delafield's other works include an account of a visit to the Soviet Union, but this is not part of the Provincial Lady series, despite having been reprinted with the title The Provincial Lady in Russia. Delafield is considered by many to have been a master of the comedy of manners.