““Did you like my novel?" she couldn't resist asking. "Yes, I did. At first I thought it would be typical silver-fork fare. But I liked the way your well-bred characters began to unravel. I liked the portrayal of decent people moved to deception, violence, betrayal... you don't seem to shrink from anything in your writing." "Critics say my work is lacking in decency." "That's because your underlying theme- that ordinary people are capable of extraordinary things in their private lives- makes them uncomfortable.””
