Scandalous Risks by Howatch Part I

This is the 4th Novel in the Starbridge series, and is the only one related by a woman and a lay person. Venetia Flaxton is an upper class girl, from a large family, who is growing up in the 1950s and 60s. The story is about her romance wiht Neville Aysgarth who is now an older man. THe book is set in 1963, seventeen years after Neville has committed himself to his difficult marriage to Dido, in 1946. His marriage has settled into a routine, and Neville has learned to put up with its frustrations. He and Dido are not that close however and Dido is if anything more neurotic than she used to be, though she sees psychiatrists. She and Neville produced 5 children, a daughter, and 4 sons, but three of the sons died at birth. Venetia's family are friendly with the couple, as Lord Flaxton, her father, is a liberal minded agnostic, who owns land in the Starbridge area. The family dont much like Dido, because she has a sharp tongue and very little common sense, and is always making brutal comments. Its generally held that her lack of tact has hampered Neville getting on in his church career. Venetia is friends with Primrose Aysgarth, Neville's elder daughter who is rather plain but very clever, and she envies her friend having a devoted father, as she feels like noone in her family takes much notice of her, since she is the youngest of 6. Venetia comes out in the 50s, but is not a success in the social world, and by 1963, she has not found a husband, or any occupation that she enjoys. She claims that she enjoys reading and studying and that this frightens off upper class males, but she has also refused to go to university, feeling that it would reduce her chances of marrying to zero.