History Literature / ParadesEnd

''Parade's End'' is the {{omnibus}} name for a historical tetrology by Creator/FordMadoxFord about life in england before, during and after UsefulNotes/WorldWarI. The novels revolve around "the last Tory", Christopher Tietjens, a statistician from a wealthy, upper-class family who serves in the British Army, and his disastrous marriage to a beautiful but selfish socialite.

* UnrequitedTragicMaiden: Valentine is in love with Christopher, but he refuses to go against his morals and cheat on his wife with her [[spoiler:until near the end]].

* UnfortunateNames: Potty. It seems even worse to a modern audience, but even in the period in which the book was set, "potty" meant crazy or insignificant; the adjective is used this way in the book in several places.

* RealityEnsues: [[spoiler:Whereas ''A Man Could Stand Up --'' ends with optimism for Christopher and Valentine's EarnYourHappyEnding and elopement, ''The Last Post'', the final entry in the series, sees the consequences of the decision: while the two truly love each other unconditionally, Christopher's reputation has indeed been blown to smithereens thanks to Sylvia as well as his decision to leave his wife for another woman, forcing them on a modest salary from a small furniture business with a business partner that may be swindling them; Valentine is pregnant and not only acutely aware of their precarious financial position but also worrying that Christopher, who she is practically a carer for at this point, will leave her; and Christopher is still obviously suffering from memory loss and PTSD, and his forgetfulness has fiscal consequences on the family. Furthermore Mark's lifestyle is catching up to him and he's dying, and England at large is suffering from the aftereffects of the war and the old institutions are slowly crumbling.]]

''Parade's End'' is the {{omnibus}} name for a historical tetrology by Ford Madox Ford about life in england before, during and after UsefulNotes/WorldWarI. The novels revolve around "the last Tory", Christopher Tietjens, a statistician from a wealthy, upper-class family who serves in the British Army, and his disastrous marriage to a beautiful but selfish socialite.

''Parade's End'' is the {{omnibus}} name for a historical tetrology by Ford Maddox Ford about life in england before, during and after UsefulNotes/WorldWarI. The novels revolve around "the last Tory", Christopher Tietjens, a statistician from a wealthy, upper-class family who serves in the British Army, and his disastrous marriage to a beautiful but selfish socialite.

* Tragic Hero: Christopher; although he survives the war, life doesn't get better for him due to his reputation being ruined thanks to Sylvia and his choice to leave his wife for another woman instead of divorcing her as he should have.
* The Baby Trap: after having a quickie on a train, Sylvia tricks Christopher into marrying her when she discovers she's pregnant to avoid ruin since because of her promiscuous ways the poor man's probably not the father and he knows it. it says a lot that he marries her anyway, forgives her(maybe) and comes to love the child. He does ultimately leave Sylvia for good when she has Groby tree cut down at the end.

* FieryRedhead: Sylvia.

* HelloNurse: Deconstructed. Sylvia gains the attention of nearly every man in the room when she enters it, causing their wives and girlfriends to become jealous and move closer to "reclaim" them. While she indeed [[IHaveBoobsYouMustObey uses such power to her advantage when she wishes]], the mistrustful response annoys her as she has no real interest in them.

* SpiritedYoungLady: Valentine.

''Parade's End'' is the {{omnibus}} name for a historical tetrology by Ford Maddox Ford eabout life in england before, during and after UsefulNotes/WorldWarI. The novels revolve around "the last Tory", Christopher Tietjens, a statistician from a wealthy, upper-class family who serves in the British Army, and his disastrous marriage to a beautiful but selfish socialite.

''Parade's End'' is the {{omnibus}} name for a historical tetrology by Ford Maddox Ford about life in england before, during and after UsefulNotes/WorldWarI. The novels revolve around "the last Tory", Christopher Tietjens, a statistician from a wealthy, upper-class family who serves in the British Army, and his disastrous marriage.

* BittersweetEnding: In the book. [[spoiler:Christopher and Valentine are able to finally live together in peace and Sylvia has a change of heart and decides to leave the pair alone, but the couple are in financial difficulties and Mark passes away at the very end.]] The TV series is a more straightforward [[EarnYourHappyEnding happy ending]].
* EarnYourHappyEnding: And ''how''! Christopher and Valentine spend three whole books struggling to share the smallest bit of affection. [[spoiler:Subverted in the books, where they eventually end up together, but things don't necessarily get easier. Played straight in the series, however.]]

* WhosYourDaddy: The paternity of Sylvia's child is unclear. In the novels, the child's father is likely Drake, Sylvia's married lover -- but in the BBC series it's possible Christopher is the father after all.

* WoundedGazelleGambit: Sylvia pretends to be dying of cancer in yet another bid to manipulate Christopher in staying by her side. The cutting of Groby tree and now this, becomes the last straw for Christopher and he finally leaves her.

* WoundedGazelleGambit: Sylvia pretends to be dying of cancer in yet another bid to manipulate Christopher in staying by her side. Valentine doesn't buy it.