"Set against a background of turbulence and doubt in Margaret Thatcher's Britain, THE RADIANT WAY is a panoramic story of lasting friendship. Psychiatrist Liz Hedland, social worker Alx Brown and art historian Esther Breuer are strong-minded and accomplisehd women, friends since their Cambridge days in the late '50s. But they are ill-prepared to deal with the problems of the '80s when they find themselves confronted by a series of desperate events that lead to dramatic changes in their lives"

It doesn't matter that it's now Blair and New Labour - Drabble is still an excellent writer and this book makes a lot of sense as a study of human relationships.

Sent 20-10 2003 to ridalot with thanks for lending me a London story from the 90s!