Gluck, though unravelling in old age, brings the perspective of the elderly to our changing times, comparing his own internment during WWII to those of modern-day asylum seekers. Sacha and Robert differ from their predecessors, for rather than the children teaching the adults a lesson, it is the protagonists of Smith’s previous novels that teach the children. Through each iteration of the quartet Smith has served up a prophetic or powerful child – a figure of the next generation that is come. But, as always, Smith delivers a few new voices: there is a chapter dedicated to Grace’s memory of summers and people past, and another given to Hero, an inspiring asylum seeker staying hopeful in the face of strife.

To the reader who has followed the quartetfrom the beginning, seeing these characters reappear is like speaking with old friends. The siblings, with their mother Grace in tow, travel to meet the 104-year-old Daniel Gluck (from Autumn), and fatefully cross paths with Arthur and Charlotte (from Winter). Summer follows Sacha and Robert Greenlaw, a young sister and brother, as they grow up and consider what it means to be a family in what feels like end times. Through Summer we see past the conclusion of Brexit and come to grapple with the division that remains between those who cry out for change and those who say - so? Through diverse, disconnected voices across Britain, the four books track the changing political landscape of a post-Brexit nation. Following from Autumn (2017), Winter (2018) and Spring (2019), Summer delivers to readers what we have come to crave – a juxtaposing, dream-like novel that speaks to our time. With the final instalment of her Seasonal Quartet , Ali Smith brings us full circle into Summer (2020).

Daniel gluck ali smith