This Was Tomorrow

Elswyth Thane

Jeff Day is in love with Sylvia Sprague. Yet because of his weak heart, he feels he cannot act on his feelings. He returns to the home in Williamsburg Aunt Sue left for him. In walks Sylvie. They acknowledge their mutual emotions. Then he returns to England, leaving her behind in New York City, dancing on stage with her brother Steven.

In England, their mutual distant cousin Evadne is involved in the peace movement. She is hoping their group can convince Nazi Germans to embrace the movement and avert a possible war. Evadne has befriended the problem cousin, Hermione. Evadne will not listen to her family and lets herself be taken over by the group, by Hermione, and the German, Victor. Victor's estranged mother is close to Evadne's family.

When Steven and Sylvia Sprague bring their show to London, he meets Evadne. Playboy Steven is immediately caught. Evadne turns him away, albeit reluctantly. She listens to Hermione rather than her family.

This Was Tomorrow is the sixth book of Thane's excellent Williamsburg Novels. In my opinion, it is the weakest of the seven books. Evadne is a twit; Jeff is stupid. This novel holds together because it is a bridge to the final book of the set, Homing. The history of the beginnings of the Nazi takeover of Europe is well intertwined, keeping the book readable.

Dawn's Early Light
Yankee Stranger
Ever After
The Light Heart
Kissing Kin
This Was Tomorrow
Homing