This novel exposes family tensions of expectation and obligation, and is an accessible parallel to ‘The Ambassadors’ by Henry James. It charts the decisions made by Beatrice, a bored middle-aged teacher, dispatched to bohemian Paris to persuade a wilful nephew to return home to America. I was captivated by the information she uncovers, and how she attempts to influence family members, whilst in turn trying to avoid being manipulated by others.
