'A masterpiece . . . Molly Keane is a mistress of wicked comedy' Malcolm Bradbury, VOGUE
Behind its rich veneer, the estate of Temple Alice is a crumbling fortress, from which the aristocratic St Charles family keeps the realities of life at bay. Aroon, the unlovely daughter of the house, silently longs for love and approval, which she certainly doesn't receive from her elegant, icy mother. And though her handsome father is fond of her, his passion is for the thrill of the chase - high-bred ladies and servants are equally fair game. Sinking into a decaying grace, the family's adherence to the unyielding codes of 'good behaviour' is both their salvation and their downfall. For their reserved fa es conceal dark secrets and hushed cruelties . . .
'A remarkable novel, beautifully written, brilliant . . . every page a pleasure to read' P.D. James
'Wickedly alive' Victoria Glendinning, SUNDAY TIMES
'Dark, complex, engaging . . . a wonderful tour de force' Marian Keyes