In the fourth “marvelous, magical and mesmerizing” (Publishing News, London) novel in the beloved Cazalet family saga, the cousins are now in their twenties, trying to piece together their lives in the aftermath of World War II. The excitement of Victory in Europe Day has come and gone, and England remains locked in the drab grip of privation. Polly and Clary Cazalet, now twenty and sharing a London flat, question whether life will ever get easier. Against the backdrop of a crumbling empire, the Cazalets and their family, friends, and lovers watch a number of startling events unfold: deaths, weddings, a shattering pregnancy, divorces. With deep insight, imagination, and passion, Elizabeth Jane Howard shapes the destinies of these characters who have become like our own dear family and friends. For some, the future holds only uncertainty—for others, unexpected happiness. And for fans of the Cazalet Chronicles, new and old, Casting Off presents a true gem of absolute, unforgettable storytelling pleasure.