The Last Summer Summary

'The Last Summer' follows the Hardy family, who move from rural Sussex to Walworth, London, in 1939 due to Job's lack of work. They settle into a house on Stead Street, which is unusually cheap due to a poltergeist, but they prioritize the affordable rent over the minor disturbances.

The main characters in the romance are Jonathan Hardy, the eldest son of Job and Jemima, and Emma Somers, the niece of Boots Adams. They meet and develop a friendship over lunchtimes at a Lyons teashop in Camberwell Green during the summer of 1939.

The impending Second World War is the significant historical event that overshadows the narrative. As the summer of 1939 progresses, the gathering clouds of war begin to directly impact the characters' lives, leading to call-up papers and changes in civilian roles.

The poltergeist in the Stead Street house causes floors and doors to move occasionally. However, the sensible Hardy family, particularly Job and Jemima, view it as a minor inconvenience, deciding that eight shillings a week for rent is a bargain they can live with, effectively normalizing the supernatural occurrences.

The Lyons teashop in Camberwell Green serves as the primary meeting place for Jonathan Hardy and Emma Somers. It symbolizes a brief period of normalcy and budding romance amidst the growing anxieties of war, where their friendship blossoms over their lunch breaks.

The provided synopsis does not indicate a full explanation or resolution of the poltergeist. Its presence seems to be more of a quirky detail used to justify the cheap rent of the Hardy family's house, rather than a central supernatural plotline that requires a conclusion.

Boots Adams, Emma's uncle, is on the Officer's Reserve list and is called onto the staff of General Sir Henry Sims. Polly Sims, presumably General Sims' wife, also joins the Auxiliaries, demonstrating a swift and significant involvement of the Adams' social circle in the war effort.

The phrase 'over a long and hazy summer' suggests a period of idyllic, perhaps slightly unreal, development for Jonathan and Emma's friendship. 'Hazy' could imply a dreamlike quality, or a sense of uncertainty and unacknowledged longing, characteristic of a pre-war romance that never fully committed due to the looming future.

Jonathan, the eldest, settles 'particularly quickly' into London life, suggesting an adaptability and perhaps a greater ambition or openness to new experiences compared to his family's rural past. His job at Camberwell Green and subsequent meeting with Emma are direct results of this urban integration.

The impending war forces Jonathan and Emma to confront the temporariness of their 'ordinary lives' and make urgent decisions about their future. The call-up papers for Jonathan introduce a profound sense of urgency and the potential for separation, accelerating the emotional stakes of their friendship.

The Hardy family appears to employ a form of rationalization and normalization. By focusing on the economic advantage of cheap rent, they consciously downplay or ignore the supernatural disturbances, demonstrating a practical, almost stoic, resilience in the face of the inexplicable.

The move from rural Sussex to Walworth, driven by economic necessity, likely creates a blend of anxiety and opportunity. While Job's lack of work signifies hardship, the family's quick settlement, especially Jonathan's, suggests a collective adaptability and perhaps a quiet determination to thrive despite the upheaval.

Emma likely faces the internal conflict of wanting to progress her relationship with Jonathan but being constrained by the societal norms of the time and the rapidly changing world. The 'never allowing their friendship to progress too far' suggests a deliberate holding back, perhaps out of propriety or fear of future heartbreak given the wartime uncertainty.

The poltergeist could be interpreted metaphorically as a representation of the unseen, unsettling forces at play in the world, particularly the looming war. Just as the family tries to ignore the poltergeist, people at large might have been trying to ignore or downplay the signs of impending global conflict, focusing on their daily lives until it became unavoidable.

'The Last Summer' strongly implies that the summer of 1939 marks the end of an era – a final period of normalcy, innocence, and ordinary life before the profound and irreversible changes brought by World War II. It sets a poignant, melancholic tone for the romance and the wider narrative.

The novel subtly hints at class differences through the Hardy family's move due to 'lack of work' and their acceptance of a poltergeist-ridden house for cheap rent. In contrast, Boots Adams is on an Officer's Reserve list, suggesting a higher social standing and different economic security, potentially highlighting the disparities of pre-war British society.

Readers might debate whether Jonathan and Emma should marry quickly, promise to wait for each other, or part ways to protect themselves from potential wartime loss. Their choices would reflect different perspectives on love, duty, and resilience in the face of extreme uncertainty, making their decision a focal point of discussion.

The timing of the war, coinciding precisely with the development of Jonathan and Emma's relationship, suggests a strong element of fate or destiny. It implies that their connection was destined to be tested by historical events, forcing them to confront their feelings and make life-altering decisions under immense pressure.