Review: ‘The Golden Hour’ is a nice sequel to The Cazalets – at least for the die-hard fans

The novel The Golden Hour serves as a sixth installment in the beloved Cazalet saga, originally created by Elizabeth Jane Howard. Authored by Louisa Young, the book picks up during Christmas 1962 and continues through the spring of 1966, following the extended family into the swinging sixties. Young, who has personal connections to the Howard family and is a devoted fan of the series, focuses primarily on the lives of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of William and Kitty Cazalet.

While the narrative style differs from Howard’s original work, lacking some of her lush detail and elegant phrasing, Young successfully employs short, fast-paced chapters to manage the large ensemble cast. The book explores generational shifts during the 1960s, offering new perspectives on complex character relationships, including Rachel’s journey. Although the dense cast of characters may prove difficult for newcomers, established fans of the Cazalet series will likely appreciate the continuation of these stories and the final cliffhanger provided by the author.