Dirk is a ticking time bomb, prone to alcohol-infused bouts of temper as he acts out his resentment towards anyone better off than himself.

Shirley has been unable to have children, and struggles with issues of faith. Darren appears successful on the outside, but is deeply wounded inside.

Each of the children bear scars from their father's discipline and temper. Through short chapters narrated by different family members, Maggie Gee develops the White family's history and the nature of the parent-child and sibling relationships. Or did she feel lost without her books? There wasn't any point, but she liked to have one with her, a gentle weight nudging her shoulder, keeping her company through the wind, making her more solid, more substantial, less likely to be blown away, less alone. She always liked to have a book in her bag. But May is also strong inside, in her own way, and she has a suppressed intellect that remains an important part of her life: When Alfred went into hospital, May found she couldn't even withdraw money from the bank on her own. Like many women of her generation, her husband made all the decisions. May, the wife and mother, held this crew together over the years. He has developed disturbing extremist political and racial views. Dirk has been unable to establish an independent adult life, and lives at home while working in a corner shop. Shirley is in a relationship with a black man, which caused a rift with her father. Darren is an established journalist living in the US, and is on his third marriage. His adult children have all gone their separate ways, but are brought back into contact at Alfred's bedside. His sudden weakness shocks his wife and adult children, who have grown accustomed to Alfred's firm, controlling hand. One day Alfred collapses on the job and is hospitalized. He is especially upset by the influx of foreigners, changing the ethnic mix of his London neighborhood and, consequently, the park visitors. He longs for the Britain of his youth, during and after World War II. Alfred is close to retirement, and has seen a lot of change over the years. His days are spent patrolling the park, monitoring its condition and making sure visitors adhere to park rules. Alfred White has had a long career as a London park keeper.

The White Family by Maggie Gee