The Snow Globe
The Snow Globe is the story of the Forbes family as they make their way through England following the Great War. The Forbes family is “new money,” the result of patriarch Howard’s rise in the world of industry. Eden Hall is their family seat, and as the family gathers there for Christmas, illusions will be shattered and secrets uncovered.
The novel is told primarily from Daisy’s point of view. The youngest daughter, she idolizes her father Howard. After overhearing the kitchen staff gossiping about the master’s flashy mistress, she is sent into a tailspin. As she struggles with her feelings of betrayal, there are other women in the home who are undergoing transformation. Mabel, the demure matriarch of the family, is contemplating rebellion. The oldest daughter, Iris, is busy pushing the envelope in London, but is not so self-absorbed that she ignores Daisy in her time of need. The men of Eden Hall are restless, too. Howard has been leading a double life for some time. Stephen, the family’s chauffeur, holds an unrequited love for someone out of his reach, and must learn to move on.
Judith Kinghorn excels at this time period. Her descriptions are accurate, and the characters’ speech never wanders into modern territory. She vividly depicts the turmoil of the postwar period, as the great houses of England slowly begin to decay and their occupants drift away. The Forbes family and their retainers are all undergoing changes, and Kinghorn deftly captures the complexity of their dreams and desires. Those who love the blockbuster show Downton Abbey will find much to enjoy in The Snow Globe.
