Pandora

From the Inside Flap A novel about love, high living, intrigue and a missing painting. Raymond Kelvedon had been a dashing subaltern in 1944 when he had come across the glorious painting by Raphael depicting Pandora releasing the seven deadly sins into the world. The painting ended up on the bedroom wall of his beautiful home, Foxes Court, in the peaceful county of Larkshire. His tempestuous wife, Galina, entertained her lovers there as well as giving birth to her four children beneath its watchful gaze, but after her tragic and mysterious death, Raymond kept the painting hidden away in a tower room, its existence forgotten by most of those who ever knew about it. Now, Raymond has a gallery, a new wife and adorable young twins, as well as his four grown children. Then into all their lives erupts Emerald ? lovely, talented and desperately searching for her real parents. Zach Ansteig, an attractive and mysterious American encourages her to go to Foxes Court where, he persuades her, her birth mother will be found. The Kelvedon family is outraged. But Zach is also searching for something ? the Raphael Pandora, which he believes should belong to him. From the Trade Paperback edition. About the Author Jilly Cooper is a well-known journalist and author of many bestselling books including Riders , Rivals , Polo , The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous . No picture ever came more beautiful than Raphael's Pandora... Discovered by a dashing young lieutenant, Raymond Kelvedon in a Normandy Chateau in 1944, she had cast her spell over his family - all artists and dealers - for fifty years. Hanging in a turret of their lovely Cotswold house, Pandora witnessed Raymond's tempestuous wife Galena both entertaining a string of lovers, and giving birth to her four children: Jupiter, Alizarin, Jonathan and superbrat Sienna. Then an exquisite stranger rolls up, claiming to be a long-lost daughter of the family, setting the three Belvedon brothers at each other's throats. Accompanying her is her fatally glamorous boyfriend, whose very different agenda includes an unhealthy interest in the Raphael. When the painting is stolen during a fireworks party, the police are called and a global search ensues to discover once and for all who stole the masterpiece and who it actually belongs to. Will passionate love triumph, and will Pandora be restored to her rightful home? ————————————————— 'Cooper's sheer exuberance and energy are contagious' The Times 'The whole thing is a riot - vastly superior to anything else in a glossy cover' Daily Telegraph 'This is Jilly on top form with her most sparkling novel to date' Evening Standard 'One reads her for her joie de vivre, her maudlin romanticism, her love of arty references and her razor sharp sense of humour. Oh, and the sex' New Statesman 'cooper's Sheer Exuberance And Energy Are Contagious' The Times No Picture Ever Came More Beautiful Than Raphael's Pandora. Discovered By A Dashing Young Lieutenant, Raymond Kelvedon In A Normandy Chateau In 1944, She Had Cast Her Spell Over His Family - All Artists And Dealers - For Fifty Years. Hanging In A Turret Of Their Lovely Cotswold House, Pandora Witnessed Raymond's Tempestuous Wife Galena Both Entertaining A String Of Lovers, And Giving Birth To Her Four Children: Jupiter, Alizarin, Jonathan And Superbrat Sienna. Then An Exquisite Stranger Rolls Up, Claiming To Be A Long-lost Daughter Of The Family, Setting The Three Belvedon Brothers At Each Other's Throats. Accompanying Her Is Her Fatally Glamorous Boyfriend, Whose Very Different Agenda Includes An Unhealthy Interest In The Raphael. During A Fireworks Party, The Painting Is Stolen. The Hunt To Retrieve It Takes The Reader On A Thrilling Journey To Vienna, Geneva, Paris, New York And London. After A Nail-biting Court Case And A Record-smashing Old Masters Sale At Sotheby's, Passionate Love Triumphs And Pandora Is Restored To Her Rightful Home. "No picture was ever more beautiful than Raphael's Pandora. Discovered in a Normandy chateau in 1944, she had cast her spell over the Belvedon family - all artists and dealers - for half a century. Now she's locked away in a turret of their lovely Cotswold house, increasing her colossal value by the second. All is well until an exquisite stranger turns up, claiming to be a long-lost daughter of the family. Accompanying her is her fatally glamorous American boyfriend, whose agenda includes an unhealthy interest in the Raphael. When the painting is stolen, the hunt to retrieve it takes the reader on a breathless chase, from London and Paris to New York."--Publisher