Valmouth is an imaginary English spa resort that attracts centenarians owing to its famed pure air.

The novel's plot concerns, among other things, the effects of a black woman and her niece moving into a spa resort inhabited by wealthy centenarians.

Meanwhile, the exotic Mrs Yajñavalkya, a black masseuse and chiropodist, attempts to procure a sexual dalliance with Thetis' virile brother David for the centenarian Lady Parvula de Panzoust.

[2][3][4] It opened at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, in London and made a name of Fenella Fielding as Lady Parvula de Panzoust.

[5] The musical has since been staged several times including twice at the Chichester Festival Theatre and several cast album recordings have been released.