Angela Thirkell's stylish prose and deft portrayal of the human spectacle in the imaginary county of Barsetshire continue in this comedy of manners. Set in the mid-1950s, following the upheaval of war and its aftermath, this novel provides a canvas for the comings and goings of cultivated gentry. Many old friends from previous novels appear, and, as always, romance and gossip play a central role in the plot.