A story of love, adultery and politics set at the time of Kennedy's succession to power. It follows the story of Charlie, a British diplomat in America, Mary, his wife and a New York journalist and how their lives become entwined and affected by the politics of the day. A departure for Sebastian Faulks from war to politics, but good characterisation makes this an enjoyable, interesting read.
She had not been able to share with Charlie her feelings about the children's absence: she could not put into words her physical loss without sounding self-pitying. As for her mother, Charlie could understand and sympathize well enough, having lost both his own parents, but there was really nothing to say beyond the platitudes on which she and her father had fixed.
