The Magic Hour is that time when late afternoon and early evening meet, when sun and moon seem set to tussle as to who is to take possession of the darkening sky. The Magic Hour is a time when it seems that the distant sound of children playing will never cease, when birds sit on telephone wires pretending that daylight will never fade, and bi cyclists amble home without their lights. The Magic Hour is when night creatures are still found to be asleep, when daisies on lawns remain detergent bright, and birds sing among richly various leaves.

……

When Alexandra goes to stay with her cousins at Knighton Hall she is made to feel the poor relation; the daughters of the house are both beautiful and wealthy. She is not to meet the handsome stable lad, Tom O"Brien, until much later.

When Alexandra returns home, her father remarries and she is forced to become a maid-of-all-work. Alexandra makes a success of her new life and meets the lovely Bob Atkins. Meanwhile, Tom O"Brien has become impassioned by the beautiful Lady Florazel Compton who introduces him to the sophistications of 1950s London. Sadly, Alexandra"s contentment with Bob is short-lived and Tom comes back into her life.

prologue

Part One:THE PAST THAT WILL NOT GO AWAY

   England Before World War II

Part Two:MANY YEARS LATER

Part Three:THE HOUR

Epilogue