Then: The financial circumstances experienced by the family in "The Rocking-Horse Winner" are shared by many upper-class people in the years surrounding World War I. Great emphasis is placed on possessions and the appearance of wealth among the privileged, particularly in London.

Now: In 1996, Princess Diana officially divorces Prince Charles, receiving an estimated $26 million dollars to insure that her lifestyle remains secure.

Then: The English family undergoes a transformation with married couples having fewer children than previous generations. Of couples married in 1925, 16 percent have no children, 25 percent have one child, 25 percent have two, and only 14 percent have three or more children.

Now: From 1970-1995, the average number of children per family worldwide falls from six to three. The average size of a family in a developing country is 3.9.

Then: By 1928 in England, all women eighteen years or older can vote. Increasing numbers of women...