Lily Christine by Michael Arlen (1928)

Another visitation of a style and created world that could be by no other writer. If that distinctiveness were the only or true criterion of greatness, Arlen would be great indeed. As it is, we tend to slide the other way; he is dismissed as froth. Whilst there is no doubt that he is frothy in a sense, he is a lot more besides. He manages to fully occupy his milieu, that of twenties London and its top-hatted, slightly fast adherents, with a sympathy and teased-out depth which is intriguing. The element that distinguishes his work is its emotional truth. No matter that his characters live within a world of 'rum fellows' and 'dashers' and 'beastly good fun', they also live within an emotional framework which is very carefully elucidated. Arlen knows their minds to a significant extent, and doesn't stint in drawing out all the realistic stretch of their questing sensibilities. Here, Lily Christine Summerest stumbles upon Rupert Harvey after her car breaks down in the country. His house is the nearest and he offers her a bed for the night - not in that way. They fast become friends; he introduces her to his wife when she gets back from being away, and Muriel Harvey likes Lily Christine too - she trusts Rupert implicitly. After all, Lily Christine is super-elegant and beautiful, an honest human being and skilled in friendship, and honourable to boot. Her husband, the famous cricketer Ivor Summerest, is a hulk of a man, a bit of a blood, delightful, but has an eye for the ladies. His playing away has been accommodated by Lily Christine because she knows that ultimately they're just 'pieces of nonsense' and Ivor will always love her best. Unfortunately this state of affairs doesn't last. Ivor falls madly for Mrs Abbey, one of London's leading actresses, whom they all respect enormously. So much so that he is willing to leave Lily Christine. As Ivor and Mrs Abbey have heard the story of Lily Christine's adventure in the country and her night stayed at Rupert's, as has everyone in their set, it's all too easy for them to decide that a lot more went on than actually did, and to cite Rupert in the Summerests' divorce proceedings. Lily Christine is horrified to think she's embroiled Rupert in these scandalous affairs, and feels sure that Ivor will tire of Mrs Abbey after all and return to her - she still loves him. She and Rupert rocket back and forth through fast London society, angling and analysing, trying to develop schemes for winning Ivor back over. At the last moment, Rupert makes a tactical error, thinking he's helping Lily Christine, and disaster strikes in the background. Suffice it to say that this book, like many of Arlen's, ends tragically. In its so strongly delineated and completely original style, it's not only brilliant entertainment, but also a vivid portrait of the spirit of the era.