The Peacocks are five in family: father, mother, and three daughters. The year is 1870 or thereabouts. But though the opening chapter has the cool detachment of a 'period piece', it is not long before we are caught up in a passionate concern with the girls' love affairs and the undercurrent of conflict between the two generations. By his self-imposed discipline of Victorianism Mr Bullett has succeeded in creating a story more tense and exciting than many a self-styled 'thriller'- the intimate story of three marriageable young ladies, each of whom, though they are united in family affection, is a person apart, with her own special quality and character. They live in a small comfortable world, with a dryly humorous father and an affectionate mother who knows all the answers. Why should they wish to escape from such sweet security? And yet ...
The Peacocks are five in family: father, mother, and three daughters. The year is 1870 or thereabouts. But though the opening chapter has the cool detachment of a 'period piece', it is not long before we are caught up in a passionate concern with the girls' love affairs and the undercurrent of conflict between the two generations. By his self-imposed discipline of Victorianism Mr Bullett has succeeded in creating a story more tense and exciting than many a self-styled 'thriller'- the intimate story of three marriageable young ladies, each of whom, though they are united in family affection, is a person apart, with her own special quality and character. They live in a small comfortable world, with a dryly humorous father and an affectionate mother who knows all the answers. Why should they wish to escape from such sweet security? And yet ...