Murdoch is a fabulous writer to read. Passages of deep poetic insight merge with humour, keenly observed personality profiles, intense writing, evocative descriptions of food and the star of the show, the sea. The book is a kind of psychological drama/holiday caper featuring the retired fantasist/theatre director, Charles Arrowby and the host of ardent friends and ex-loves who come to visit his new home by the sea at Shruff End. Charles is an arrogant egoist equally uncomfortable with the complicit male world of bawdy and the 'awful eternal presence of marriage', preferring to live in the never-never land of art. Despite many close ethical and mortal shaves, he neglects to change a thing.