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Autumn deals with ideas surrounding Brexit and how it was received by the people. This much is clear, and the many people focus on the characters reaction to different events happening, in the past and present. However, not only are reactions important, but so is the way time is organized in the novel. This organization plays directly into the mind, as many people have experienced days that seem to move slower than others. If time is not considered as part of the way the characters react to events, then the organization of the novel will not make sense. The lack of a direct timeline provides an important function in the book by allowing the storyline to connect pasts with futures in a way that seems natural while still emphasizing the present.

This novel was written recently, and so much of the present is similar to now. Yet, what seems to be extremely clear is how knowledge and memories of the past color the reactions of the characters in the present. Elizabeth’s first chapter deals with her trying to get a passport from the post office. Time is playing an interesting role here, though mainly for comedic effect. Thus, it seems strange to the reader that Elizabeth is spending so much time trying to renew her passport even though she does not have any immediate travel plans. It is not until later in the novel that the reader realizes why Elizabeth feels the need to get the passport right then. This is easier to understand if the reader also considers the effects of Brexit and how it might affect people from the UK who want passports. Thus, the time outside the novel and the present time inside the novel intersect. However, while Elizabeth’s chapters are more of a straightforward timeline, with the real differences being similar to experiences the reader might have, Daniel’s chapters have a more timeless quality.

In Daniel’s first chapter he appears in a dreamlike state. This immediately makes a direct timeline not important, considering dreams and surrealism do not require specific intervals. His chapter has the narrator aging backwards and interacting with different parts almost as though the state is combining multiple memories and sensations in a way that means time does not matter. The ending of the chapter invokes an image of the modern century, but even still creates a sort of timeless quality because of the various events that have repeated over the years similar to the scene at the end. Yet, Daniel also realizes in this dream state that he is still very much present in the 21^st century. This is almost a direct contrast to the timeless quality of the rest of the chapter, but truly provides a juxtaposition to the time in Elizabeth’s chapter. While it is clear that Elizabeth is in a specific time and place, she does not appear present in the same way Daniel appears in his timeless dream.

These contrasts are further explored later in the novel and might have to do with the amount of time both have been alive and the experiences they have to draw upon. Daniel is much older, and his memories span many decades. Thus, he has experienced a multiplicity of events. Essentially, similar events happen over and over again, and having been alive longer Daniel is more likely to have experienced events that have seemed repetitive. Elizabeth on the other hand has not experienced the same number of events. She does appear to want to understand Daniel and how his experiences have affected his view of the world, but with the lack of firsthand knowledge she seems somewhat lost. This deals indirectly with time. Since Daniel has been alive much longer he does not necessarily see time as moving forward in the same way Elizabeth views it. This is indirectly tied into the repetition of events, especially those that shaped each of their lives.

Autumn creates parallels between events that would not necessarily be possible without the manipulation of time. Time in fact even appears less important than the references made between distinct events. Furthermore, the way both Elizabeth and Daniel view the world affects their separate views of time and create the dichotomy between having a direct timeline and a timeless quality that ensures the correct conclusions regarding different problems that are brought up between the two characters.