Set in 1959 Washington, this novel follows Mary van der Linden, an American expatriate surrounded by the trappings of diplomatic life—parties, jazz, and family contentment—as she navigates her role as a devoted mother and wife. Sebastian Faulks brings his signature emotional depth and keen character study to this departure, weaving together intimate family drama with a sweeping historical backdrop. The seemingly perfect world of embassy life gradually reveals its hidden complexities as Mary's story unfolds against the Cold War era.
