THE NARRATIVE CRAFTSMANSHIP OF ELIZABETH JANE HOWARD IN THE CAZALET CHRONICLES

This article explores the narrative strategies employed by Elizabeth Jane Howard in her five-part family saga, The Cazalet Chronicles. It examines how Howard’s use of shifting perspectives, temporal layering, and detailed domestic realism contributes to the emotional depth and literary significance of the series. Focusing on characters such as Louise, Polly, and Clary, the paper discusses how personal growth, memory, and silence shape the narrative form. Howard’s contribution to the genre of historical fiction is highlighted through her subtle blend of private life with broader cultural and social shifts in mid-20th-century Britain. The article underscores Howard’s mastery of storytelling, which elevates her work beyond traditional family fiction into the realm of enduring literary art.