Invitation to the Waltz Rosamond Lehmann


“Besides, nowadays who knows what boys will grow up to be, to want or not to want? What happens o the descendants of hose Victorian grandees? Where are the young men? The mould is the same, but it is cracked: the flavour is strange; it dissipates itself; is spent. Perhaps the last James will never have a car and go to and from Tulverton Mills.” (4)

Rosamond Lehmann writes like no other. The first pages of the book are so filled with descriptions and figurative language! It is truly beautiful.
This passage is very insightful to what was going on in the 1920’s. During that period of time, it was okay to work for a living and the new riches were accepted a bit more among the old money people. The latter were, at least for some, becoming poorer as the need to work for a living increased. Possibilities for young boys were so unlimited but yet it remained that they would do what their fathers did. Some did break away and followed their own dreams, which is what I think “the mould is the same but it is cracked: the flavour is strange; it dissipates itself; is spent” means. It can also be applied to women in general. We are still women and “femininity” has not changed for some. However, we are conquering new heights each and every day. There are more women in the workforce making a difference in our economy than ever.
This quotation makes me think of the movie “American Psycho” and how the main character “cracked” since he was a bit crazy and a psychotic sadistic killer. However, to the world, he was just like his predecessors.

“These walls enclose a world” (5)