(#gifted @penguinukbooks) No one has their finger on the pulse of contemporary Britain quite like Ali Smith. The final instalment of her incredible Seasonal Quartet is the most contemporary contemporary literature I've ever read, tackling the coronavirus pandemic while the pandemic is still ongoing. But it did make me wonder whether Smith had another direction in mind for this book? It came out in the middle of August and the UK went into lockdown at the end of March, which is referred to in the book... So how late into her writing process was she making edits to include the pandemic? Some parts seemed like last-minute edits that I can't help but wonder what Smith originally had in mind for the end of the quartet!

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But we’re still treated to another little-known lesson in British history and the life story of an underappreciated female artist. I knew absolutely nothing about the internment camps on the Isle of Man during WWII, and Smith focuses particularly on the Douglas camp, known as 'the artist's camp'. I had also never heard of Lorenza Mazzetti, so I'm always grateful to these books for teaching me a little something and broadening my mind.

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I've been asked a few times whether this quartet can be read in any order, and I always suggest starting with Autumn. Summer has cemented that opinion. You'll want to read them in publication order so you can be bowled over when Smith brings her characters back, connecting them in ways you might never have thought of. Although I wasn’t *too* pleased with my least favourite character returning...

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As usual, Smith's commentary on British politics and history is perfect. The ideal of balance of humour and horror, the kind of lines you read and laugh at the ridiculousness but then sober up once you remember these are the realities of the British political landscape right now. These books are going to be a fantastic resource for understanding life in the UK during this era in the future. Reading them in 30 years will be like opening a time capsule.