But the novel begins before she is introduced, somewhat after Leaven of Malice ends, with two of its protagonists, Pearl Veronica Vambrace and Solly Bridgetower now married but stuck in a difficult situation.

Until and unless the boy is born, Solly can't touch the money; his only unencumbered inheritance is a measly $100 (and he and Veronica must live in and keep up his late mother's house).

Monica becomes the beneficiary of the Bridgetower Trust, and goes to England to study with several teachers chosen for her by Sir Benedict Domdaniel, a theatrical knight who works as a conductor.

Meanwhile, back in Salterton, Solly deals with maintaining the Bridgetower estate on limited funds, and attempts more and more desperately to have a child with Veronica, so he will come into his conditional inheritance.

Revelstoke's character is based, in much biographical detail by Davies, on composer Peter Warlock (Philip Arnold Heseltine), whose own family were friends of the author's in Wales.

The book explores a broad range of life, melding the low and the high: dirty floors and unwashed feet in unheated flats, alongside the sublimity of soaring music and beautiful poetry.

"[2] Each character is strikingly drawn, and, true to life, exhibit frailties, for which Davies shows considerable understanding, although he scorns the pompous and self-important.