It is the first in a trilogy about an upper-class English family in the interwar period focusing on the romantic life of Linda Radlett, as narrated by her cousin, Fanny Logan.

The early chapters recount the Radlett children's bizarre upbringing, including their contrasting obsessions with hunting and preventing cruelty to animals, and the activities of their secret society, the "Hons".

The Radlett daughters receive little in the way of formal education, and as Linda grows older she is increasingly consumed by a desire for romantic love and marriage.

Louisa, the eldest Radlett child, makes her début and quickly becomes engaged to John Fort William, a Scottish peer more than twenty years her senior.

Linda finds Lord Fort William an unromantic choice of husband, but is deeply jealous that Louisa is getting married.

Merlin brings Tony Kroesig, heir to a wealthy banking family, as a last-minute guest to Linda's coming-out ball.

On the way back to England, Linda runs out of money in Paris and meets Fabrice de Sauveterre, a wealthy French duke.

During this time she cultivates a great interest in clothes, which Fabrice encourages and finances, but most of her happiness is the result of the fact that she has finally found the love of her life.

[3] In 2022 India Knight published the novel Darling, an updating of The Pursuit of Love set in modern times featuring many of the same characters.