Into the rarefied atmosphere of the Hotel du Lac timidly walks Edith Hope, romantic novelist and holder of modest dreams. Edith has been exiled from home after embarrassing herself and her friends. S

Anita Brookner’s first novel, available as a Penguin Essential for the first time. ‘Dr Weiss, at forty, knew that her life had been ruined by literature.’ Ruth Weiss, an academic, is beautiful, intel