A brilliant novel about the life of the English intelligentsia. A deceptively simple story that begins with absolute idyll, develops into drama and ends in tragedy. During the hot summer season, Polina invited her daughter Teresa with her husband Maurice and their little son Luke to live outside the city. Maurice is engaged in creative work: he is writing a new guide to this part of the country. At first glance, Teresa appears to have an idyllic marriage. But Polina notices the growing distance between her daughter and son-in-law. Editor James and his friend Carol often visit Maurice. And one fine day, Polina begins to fear that Maurice is seriously infatuated with Carol... A brilliant new novel from Booker Prize winner Penelope Lively, amazing in the strength and sincerity of the narrative.