We are sitting on the estate "Summerleigh" in Edwardian England. Women here are strictly tied to rules regarding decency
and public display; the so called ties of the convention. A grand ball, with much glitter and glamour, is being held at Summerleigh. Eventhough the ball was organised by her parents, Marianne doesn''t feel she fits in. She feels uncomfortable between all these beautiful people, and because of an ill-placed remark of a nanny, Marianne discovers with fright that there is apparently only one purpose for her in this life: to get married, have a family. But how could she ever marry one of these young men, each of which she has known for so long? Marianne thinks of it as a dull and depressing prospect. Untill she meets the fascinating Arthur...
Iris gets wedding proposals by the dozens, but no man can truly interest her. She realizes that it is expected of her as well that she marries, but not visualising herself a married women either, she decides to flee from the parental house by becoming a nurse during war time.
When Eva meets suffragettes, she immediately knows she belongs with them. To paint and fight for a better life for women, that''s what Eva wants to do. But in the England of 1909, this is a venture.
Clemency feels obliged to take care of her ill mother and the household when her sisters go their own way one by one. Somebody in the family has to make the sacrifice, and everybody seems to run away hoping to avoid being the last remaining candidate.
"For My Sisters" is the moving autobiography of the four sisters MacLise. Iris, pretty but egocentric and immature. Marianne, shy and benign with a very romantic nature. Clemency, always cheerful until doom strikes. Finally, Eva the little misfit.
With "For My Sisters", Judith Lennox has written a touching, captivating novel about life in England in the 20th century, the life of four women before, during and after the war. Their life is not a bed of rozes, but it is partly ruled by love, suffering, pain, desire and destiny. In short, a sublime story that will fascinate you from the beginning to the end. It is a master piece. For this book, 550 pages is not one page too much!