| In what may be his finest novel since The Rector of Justin, Louis Auchincloss offers his richest portrait yet of the man- ners and mores of the Establishment world he knows so well. The lady of situations is Natica Chauncey, the daughter of a ruined fi- nancier who is forced to rely on a kindly matron for her glancing acquaintance with the aristocracy of Long Island. But Natica is too clear-sighted to pretend that such a life, as much as it dazzles her, would satisfy her intellect. Coming of age at a time when anything more than a modest show of ambition does not be- come a lady, she must seek her own for- tune in the fortunes of others. And so, with little more than her wits and deter- mination, she makes her way through the social shoals of New England prepschools, Hudson Valley estates, and NewYork drawing rooms. Natica sees herself as a Bronte sister"without the moors and without the ge-nius"; her doting Aunt Ruth, a womanof less imagination but considerably morecompassion, would contend merely thatshe has "an attractive personality and a .first-class mind." But Natica has one thing more: a gift for finding opportu-nity in improbable situations, even at the risk of scandal. |
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