DEATH BEFORE DISHONOUR

British author Williams makes his US debut with the tale of an ancient noble family almost destroyed by war, taxes, and a blue-blooded murderer. The story, which begins in 1914 and ends in 1962, chronicles the decline of the once powerful De Clare family, offering a breathless take on 20th-century history along the way. Battles of both World Wars are graphically described, and historical figures like Winston Churchill and King George VI make cameo appearances. Williams also airs some of the period’s seamier gossip: the Duke of Windsor has sexual problems, and his Duchess, supposedly a Nazi spy, plots to overthrow the British government. One of the bad De Clares, Godfrey, is a homosexual who, like Anthony Blunt, spies for the Soviets while working as a distinguished art historian. In 1914, all the eligible De Clares go to fight in France. But the only survivor, ironically, is cousin Fish, who takes the De Clare motto (death before dishonour) so seriously that he insists on fighting on even when badly wounded. Fish marries Vi and becomes the 20th earl after his uncle suffers a fatal fall, and older brother Cromwell cuts his throat. While the other De Clares spend the years between the wars either spying (like Godfrey) or preparing for the next war (like soldier Freddie), Fish farms. When Hitler attacks, the De Clares are again ready: Fish is killed rescuing soldiers from Dunkirk, and his son Gawaine, the new earl, becomes a fighter pilot. Gawaine barely survives a German attack, but lives to marry and reproduce. Time speeds up, as the characters—who have neither inner lives nor shading, only parts to play—rush to the 1960s. There, Godfrey, determined to be earl, continues his murderous scheming, only to be thwarted by plucky Vi. As energetic, and superficial, as a “See Seven European Capitals in Seven Days” tour.