Two journalists, Hugo Vansitart and Valerie Jones, meet while interviewing Eleanor Darcy, the notorious wife of the former economic adviser to the Cabinet. Falling in love, they hole up together in a hotel to write their pieces, but Eleanor’s view of utopia seems to affect them both strangely.

          On the eve of interviewing the fabulous and elusive Eleanor Darcy, journalists Valerie and Hugo meet and shack up in a hotel on the dubious strength of Hugo’s credit card. As Eleanor (nee Apricot Smith) expounds her utopian plans for religion, education, sex, and money, their spontaneous passion changes course. Weldon mingles tart social commentary and political satire in a novel that is both somber and very funny.