In Tension, E. M. Delafield crafts a sharp, socially observant novel about reputation, gossip, and the quiet battles of women navigating public scrutiny in an English village. Miss Pauline Marchrose, a capable woman with a professional position at a local college, becomes the unwitting target of Lady Rossiter, a spiteful town matriarch who disapproves of her due to rumors about her past. Through humor and pointed social critique, Delafield explores how small-town prejudices and personal vendettas create an atmosphere where suspicion and judgment fester. Tension is both witty and deeply revealing—a timeless look at how reputations are built, defended, and sometimes destroyed in the face of societal expectations.

Tension

Designer: British Library

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