A Cup of Tea - by Amy Ephron (Paperback)

About the Book

In 1917, as war looms abroad, Rosemary Fell has a perfect life--wealth, privilege, and handsome fiance Philip Alsop. One cold, rainy night, on a charitable impulse, Rosemary invites a destitute young woman home for tea. Philip is struck by the girl's beauty, and all of their lives are changed forever. This darkly romantic World War I-era love story may soon be a major motion picture directed by Anjelica Huston.

Book Synopsis

Amy Ephron gives us a delightful tale of romance, set against the backdrop of New York society during the uncertain days of World War I. Rosemary Fell was born to privilege - her only real hardship having been the loss of her mother some years earlier. She has friends and she has a great deal of money, and now she is about to marry Phillip Alsop, who owns a shipping concern and is of her social circle, though not of her wealth. Finally, she will have everything she wants. It is then, in a moment of beneficence, that she invites Eleanor Smith, a penniless young woman she sees under a streetlamp in the rain, to come to her home for a cup of tea and to warm herself by the fire. While there, Rosemary sees Eleanor exchange an unmistakable look with Phillip, and suddenly everything in Rosemary's carefully sculptured life changes. Rosemary sends Eleanor on her way, but she cannot undo this chance encounter that puts into play a tempestuous and all-consuming triangle. As the war builds in Europe, Phillip is sent to fight abroad, throwing all of their lives off balance.

From the Back Cover

Rosemary Fell was born into privilege. She has wealth, well-connected friends, and a handsome fiance, Philip Alsop. Finally she has everything she wants.

It is then, in a moment of beneficence, that Rosemary invites Eleanor Smith, a penniless young woman she sees under a streetlamp in the rain, into her home for a cup of tea. While there, Rosemary sees Eleanor exchange an unmistakable look with Philip, and she sends Eleanor on her way. But she cannot undo this chance encounter, and it leads to a tempestuous and all-consuming love triangle -- until the tides of war throw all their lives off balance.

Inspired by a classic Katherine Mansfield short story, A Cup of Tea engages with its vivid -- and often amusing -- cast of characters, wonderful period detail, brilliant evocation of the uncertain days of World War I, and delightfully spare and picturesque sense of story.

Review Quotes

"An elegant love story...as exquisitely sculpted as fine porcelain." - Entertainment Weekly
"A jewel.... This novel will plunge you into New York City in the turbulent year of 1917 and will keep you enthralled.... A page turner from start to finish, Ms. Ephron's spare novel has classic proportions." - West Coast Review of Books
"This book is smooth and seamlessly written witha screenwriter's sure hand for manipulation in short spaces." - Los Angeles Times