This is an auction for THE LOVED AND ENVIED by Enid Bagnold, the author of 'National Velvet'.

Amazon.com review:

"The scene of most of this novel is France, and the milieu is aristocratic, yet the chief characters are Scottish or American. Lady Maclean, wife of Sir Gynt, is the heroine. She had been -- and still is -- a great beauty. A the Chateau of Little Pouilly she holds her court. The courtiers are mostly ageing members of the French nobility. Some are in love with her; all are her admirers. Women admire her, too. She has wit and charm as well as beauty. But 'beauty vanishes, youth passes, however rare, rare it be.' This is a story of the evanescence of youth and beauty; a story of growing old, gracefully and contentedly if possible; seeing love survive or wither away. It is a story especially of a mother and daughter, each wanting to be loved by the other, each aware that their relationship lacked something to make it perfect. No novel of recent years has penetrated so deeply into the mysteries of human love in all its manifestations or dwelt so wisely and beautifully on the theme of encroaching age."

More very favourable reviews on Amazon.com.

From Wikipedia:

"Enid Bagnold (1889-1981) was an English novelist and playwright who was known for her broad range of subject and style. Bagnold’s best-known work is the novel National Velvet (1935), which tells the story of an ambitious 14-year-old girl who rides to victory in Great Britain’s Grand National steeplechase on a horse bought for only £10; a motion picture of the same title was made from the novel in 1944. A quite different novel is The Loved and Envied (1951), a study of a woman facing the approach of old age. As a playwright, Bagnold achieved great success with The Chalk Garden (1955)."

Hardback 1953.

280 pages.

Good condition.

The cost of shipping is $4.95.

There is of course no charge for shipping if you collect this book from my shop in Palmerston North following the auction.

Payment within seven days, please.