Chapters 4-8 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 4 The Davies family

Chapter 4 begins with the author speaking about the Darling family who was, in fact, based on the family of Arthur and Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, parents to George and Jack. The author describes the background of Arthur Davies, who was the son of Reverend John Llewelyn Davies, a theologian and scholar who was destined to be offered a bishopric until he went on a rant in front of Queen Victoria, who was so outraged that she had the reverend transferred to remote regions of Westmorland.

Arthur Llewelyn Davies was one of five sons. Arthur, a young and rapidly rising barrister, met Sylvia du Maurier in 1889 at a dinner party. Arthur was immediately entranced by the lovely Sylvia. By all accounts, Sylvia du Maurier was strikingly beautiful. Dolly Parry, the daughter of a friend, later wrote of...