Eleanor answers “Is Aunt Agatha actually Daniel's mother?”

Susan M asked this question about The Summer Before the War:

Is Aunt Agatha actually Daniel's mother?

Eleanor I think there is definitely enough subtle remarks used by the author to at least entertain the idea.
1. Daniel was always the " favorite" of the nephew…moreI think there is definitely enough subtle remarks used by the author to at least entertain the idea.
1. Daniel was always the " favorite" of the nephew's
2. Agatha had lost her first fiance before marrying. And there were very strict social requirements at the time. There is a reason many endorsed the idea that " the first baby could come at anytime." It was a way for many marriages to remain intact under such strict requirements. I could see her sister taking the child to raise as her own so that Agatha could still be accepted socially and not be relegated to a spinster life or a convent.
3. I think the way she handled Celeste and her issue is revealing of a women who carried the scars of possibly being socially ostracized and having to give up her baby and the pain of very being able to love and mourn for Daniel as a mother. Such a strong women just was completely deflated by the whole situation. (less)

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The Summer Before the War

by Helen Simonson (Goodreads Author)

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