Six siblings commit to a pact to avoid the failures of their parents, only to find their individual lives diverging into unexpected patterns of disillusionment and compromise. As the Matthews family matures, each sibling attempts to navigate the shifting social and political landscape of twentieth-century England. Quentin, Gladys, Rupert, and their siblings struggle against the weight of their upbringing and the evolving expectations of their respective careers. The narrative follows their disparate paths, examining how personal ambition and external pressures force them to abandon their childhood ideals. The story utilizes a multi-perspective framework to track these individual trajectories over several decades.

Discussion often centers on the intricate way Wilson balances the individual development of six distinct protagonists within a single narrative. Readers frequently highlight the sharp, satirical tone used to dissect the shifting values of the British middle class throughout the mid-twentieth century. Critics often point to the novel's structural ambition, noting how effectively it captures the tension between personal agency and the inevitability of repeating familial patterns. The pacing is noted for its deliberate, expansive nature, which allows for a deep examination of the characters' moral compromises. Many readers find the work to be a rigorous study of how historical change impacts the private lives of a single family unit.