Love in a Cold Climate is the sequel to Nancy Mitford's bestselling novel The Pursuit of Love. 'How lovely - green velvet and silver. I call that a dream, so soft and delicious, too.' She rubbed a fold of the skirt against her cheek. 'Mine's silver lame, it smells like a bird cage when it gets hot but I do love it. Aren't you thankful evening skirts are long again?' Ah, the dresses! But oh, the monotony of the Season, with its endless run of glittering balls. Even fabulously fashionable Polly Hampton - with her startling good looks and excellent social connections - is beginning to wilt under the glare. Groomed for the perfect marriage by her mother, fearsome Lady Montdore, Polly instead scandalises society by declaring her love for her uncle 'Boy' Dougdale, the Lecherous Lecturer, and promptly eloping to France. But the consequences of this union no one could quite expect . . . Love in a Cold Climate is the wickedly funny follow-up to The Pursuit of Love. 'Entirely original, inimitable and irresistible' Philip Hensher, Spectator

ナンシー・ミットフォードが描く本作は、貴族社会の裏に潜む冷徹な人間模様を鋭いウィットで切り出した傑作です。ポリーが選ぶ背徳の愛は階級社会への反逆であり、ロマンスを超えた魂の孤独を浮き彫りにします。華麗な描写さえも空虚さを際立たせる装置となり、著者の持つ猛毒と知性が全編に冴え渡っています。 映像版は豪華な舞台設定で視覚を奪いますが、行間に潜む残酷な皮肉を堪能できるのはやはり原作です。映像で時代の芳香を楽しみ、本を開いて鋭い言葉の刃に触れる。この往復こそがミットフォード文学を享受する醍醐味であり、至高の読書体験となるはずです。