Mankind's comet Book

I did enjoy this . it is rather the equivalent of a sunday evening BBC costume drama in being well written , having a firm story line , clearly defined characters and being a bit of a page turner into the bargain . it is reassuringly safe and engrossing
set after WW1 it is a family drama involving a bullying ,cold , rich solicitor dehumanised by the war and his inferiority complex as the not so good son , his failed marriage to a younger , poorer and in his snobbish eyes not quite the right class , heroine Lily . he had hoped that she would cleanse him of his war nightmares but she does not play the timid supportive wife and he become madly jealous at her popularity and success . she thrives when she becomes pregnant and he goes off the rails completely .
family skeletons abound , class divisions heave into view , an irrevocably stroke ridden father recovers his speech thanks to his daughter in law , an appalling was secret is exposed and it all finishes dramatically and satisfyingly . Lily is a bit too perfect and modern naturally but the novel has no pretensions to greatness and i enjoyed it thoroughly .