First published 1977
Flora descends the stairs calling out to her husband Richard, announcing herself like someone offering a wonderful gift. Tall, blonde, and beautiful, Flora sees herself as kindness personified. She seems to control everything around her perfectly: her home, her baby, Richard, her friend Meg, Kit who has always loved her, and Patrick the novelist who lives as their domestic companion. Only Liz, the bohemian painter, refuses to worship Flora like the others do. Flora captivates everyone in her circle, showing them dreams of happiness and success that keep them spellbound. This golden tyrant enchants them all, and they work together to shield her from seeing her true nature. But Liz sees clearly what the others cannot. She alone recognizes that Flora's supposed kindness acts as the most dangerous poison of all, and she must reveal this truth to the others.
Genres: literary-fiction, domestic-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-study, unreliable-narrator
Period: 20th-century
384 pages · Hardcover · Magna Large Print Books