A general class of linear and nonautonomous delay differen-
tial equations with initial data in a separable Hilbert space is treated.
The classic questions of existence, uniqueness, and regularity of solutions
are addressed. Moreover, the semigroup approach typically adopted
in the autonomous case for continuous initial functions is extended,
and thus the existence of an equivalent abstract ordinary formulation
is shown to hold. Finally, the existence of infinitely many Lyapunov
exponents for the associated evolution is proven and their meaning is
discussed.
