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Synopsis

'Humour, humanity and relish for the enjoyably mundane'  Elizabeth Buchan, The Times

The Andersons are a military family, with honours and traditions stretching back two hundred years. When the second Iraq war breaks out, it is only natural that their newest generation should be represented in the ranks of British officers. And it is: at twenty-four, Lieutenant Susie Anderson delays her wedding to her handsome fellow-officer Callum, and joins her regiment on the hot sands of Kuwait.

Her brother Francis, meanwhile, continues to pursue his cabaret career as Madame Fanny Fantoini, drag chanteuse and fishnet-stockinged vamp, with a stinging line in repartee and the most remarkable falsetto top C in Clapham. As the neighbours agree, it must all be terribly difficult for their poor parents, especially the General.

The real difficulties come, though, when Callum is sent home injured, altered and bitter, to set off a painful tangle of relationships which is resolved by the least likely angel of them all.

Libby Purves' latest novel, set against a background of desert war, seedy clubs, a hippie sailing-ship and quiet English village life, is a commentary on changing social roles, the nature of courage and the futility of prejudice.

Press Reviews

'Purves' great skill is her ability to mary her cultural and historical insights with her characters' personal development - all wrapped up in a well-paced detective story... Engrossing' - Sunday Times

'Purves tackles a number of topical issues head-on, while astutely depicting family life.' - Woman & Home

About the Author

Libby Purves is a writer and also a broadcaster who has presented the talk programme Midweek on Radio 4 since 1984 and formerly presented Today. She is a main columnist on The Times and in 1999 was named the Granada 'What the Papers Say' Columnist of the Year, and awarded an O.B.E. for services to journalism.

This is her tenth novel. She lives in Suffolk with her husband, the broadcaster and writer Paul Heiney, and their son and daughter.