May Sarton’s novel of ideas is set in the academic world of Harvard and portrays the life of a group of American liberals in the 1950s. The main character is a brilliant Professor of English, a man dedicated to his friends, students and ideals. His uncompromising views lead to his suicide and it is the effect of that suicide on those closest to him that Sarton explores in her book. It’s a thoughtful book and the way that Cavan’s idealism gives his colleagues the courage to stand up for the cause of civil and intellectual freedom when faced with the repressive anti-Communist views prevalent at the time is carefully delineated. But overall I found the book lifeless and the characters were not well-rounded or sympathetic. Apparently Cavan is based on F O Matthiessen, someone with whom I am not familiar, but who also committed suicide in 1950, a victim of McCarthyism. This certainly adds another layer of interest to the novel, and as a snapshot of the time the book is atmospheric and feels authentic. But it does not engage the emotions and I could not engage very much with any of the characters. Readable but not particularly enjoyable.