In the industrial Five Towns of Edwardian England, where money talks and family obligations weigh heavier than coal dust, a wealthy eccentric finds his solitary routine upended by a young woman who refuses to be ignored. James Ollerenshaw has cultivated his solitude with the same precision he applies to his fortune, but Helen Rathbone approaches him in the park with a confidence that startles them both. She wants something from him, and she knows exactly how to get it. What follows is a meticulously observed comedy of manners where two stubborn individuals circle each other, each trying to gain the upper hand in a game where the stakes are pride and happiness. Bennett writes with the precision of a master craftsman, finding endless amusement in the small ceremonies and social rituals of provincial English life. The humor is dry, affectionate, and devastating. If you appreciate the comic novels of E.F. Benson or the social satire of H.G. Wells, this is exactly your kind of book.
