Quartet in Autumn

In the novel Quartet in Autumn, author Barbara Pym conducts readers through the lives of four middle-aged office employees and their participation in a quartet, explaining how each is affected by loneliness. Since Pym’s characters believe that they can win through to hope and happiness, she presents them each with an obstinate optimism even though they face different problems. Her character’s wit and artistry are most sparkling in her novel.