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The Last September

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1929

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Book Brief

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Elizabeth Bowen

The Last September

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1929
Book Details
Pages

320

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Ireland • 1920s

Publication Year

1929

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

The Last September by Elizabeth Bowen follows young Lois Farquar, who lives in a country house in Ireland during the War of Independence. Through Lois's experiences, the novel explores themes of identity, social change, and the decline of the Anglo-Irish gentry amidst political unrest and personal dilemmas.

Melancholic

Mysterious

Contemplative

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

3.6

3,654 ratings

50%

Loved it

34%

Mixed feelings

16%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

The Last September by Elizabeth Bowen is praised for its evocative prose and vivid depiction of Anglo-Irish tensions during the Irish War of Independence. The novel's atmospheric setting and complex characters draw readers in, though some find its pacing uneven. Bowen's intricate exploration of societal decay and personal disillusionment resonates profoundly.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Last September?

Readers who enjoy The Last September by Elizabeth Bowen are likely fans of historical fiction and character-driven narratives, akin to those found in E.M. Forster’s A Passage to India and Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse. They appreciate exploring themes of social change and personal identity against a backdrop of cultural upheaval.

3.6

3,654 ratings

50%

Loved it

34%

Mixed feelings

16%

Not a fan

Character List

Lois Farquar

Lois is the niece of Sir Richard and Lady Naylor, living at Danielstown, who embodies the uncertainties of post-World War I Anglo-Irish society, grappling with self-doubt and societal pressures.

A visitor to Danielstown with Anglo-Irish roots, known for his unrequited love and lack of self-awareness, who contributes an outsider's perspective and romantic tensions within the estate.

Another visitor to Danielstown, who stays briefly but significantly influences Lois and highlights themes of war and personal awakening, while avoiding romantic involvement with Hugo.

Styled as an invalid yet notably perceptive about the events and relationships surrounding her at Danielstown, providing a more objective perspective amidst societal conventions.

The quiet owner of Danielstown, who expresses views on Ireland and the war and maintains the social stature of the Anglo-Irish class while showing concern for neighbors.

A dominant figure at Danielstown, voicing aristocratic views and driving the narrative forward, especially influencing Lois's engagement and interactions under her social hierarchy.

Lois's cousin and Lady Naylor’s nephew, embodying a superficial engagement with liberal politics, providing an element of idle rebellion without serious political commitment.

An English soldier serving in Ireland, representing a potential romantic path for Lois and symbolizing the presence of English authority and cultural influence in the area.

Book Details
Pages

320

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Ireland • 1920s

Publication Year

1929

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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