Angela Thirkell’s Private Enterprise is a sharp and gently humorous portrayal of post-World War II life in Barsetshire, her beloved fictional English county. Set against the backdrop of a society adjusting to peacetime bureaucracy and rationing, the novel captures the quiet tensions between tradition and change, comfort and constraint. With her trademark wit, Thirkell explores how the inhabitants of Barsetshire navigate the new social order — where class boundaries blur, government interference grows, and private initiative is both prized and hindered. The story follows a web of familiar and new characters, many of whom are struggling with the absurdities of red tape, housing shortages, and disrupted lives. Romance simmers just beneath the surface as young people seek love and purpose amid uncertain futures, and older generations cling to the old ways with varying degrees of resignation or resistance. Though the postwar setting brings a slightly sharper edge to Thirkell’s satire, Private Enterprise remains a comedy of manners at heart — full of engaging dialogue, eccentric personalities, and domestic charm. It is a novel about perseverance, subtle rebellion, and the enduring quirks of English village life. For fans of classic fiction with a humorous touch, this installment offers both comfort and quiet commentary.