A tale of envy, greed and power as old money takes on the new in a bitter feud over land – but there is much more than land at stake here – reputation, acceptance and ambition lie alongside this sad feud as fights ensue in court and boardrooms. It’s an interesting slice of social nuances, a comedy of manners with much to lose. Sadly it’s the old money that fares least well.
Pride: Gazing from his magnificent Chawbury Manor, Miles Straker has it all. A society wife who runs his home like clockwork, four gorgeous children, a smart stucco in West London and, most importantly of all, his multi-national PR business. Greed. Utterly ruthless in both business and pleasure, Miles is a man who gets what he wants in a heartbeat, with a web of power that can bring a company to its knees or get you splashed on every front page. Envy. When self-made millionaire Ross Clegg buys the land adjoining the Straker Chawbury estate, Miles is overcome with jealousy. Not only are Ross and his family welcomed by the country elite, Ross's booming business means he's hailed as a hero of the people. Wrath. But Miles Straker is a dangerous enemy and he vows to take the Clegg empire apart piece by piece, starting with his obnoxious family...Battle rages from the boardroom to the bedroom as old money takes on the new, and two families are plunged into a bitter feud.
Nicholas Coleridge is managing director of Condé Nast in Britain, the magazine publishing house that includes Vogue, Tatler, House & Garden and Vanity Fair. He has written two previous novels and lives in London. He is married with four children.
