Starting in 1956 with the publication of A Legacy, Sybille Bedford has recounted—in both fiction and non-fiction—a life that has at times been sensual, traumatic, and impressive. In this marvelous memoir, she moves from Berlin during the Great War to the artistic scene of the French Riviera of the 1920s, through lovers, mentors, enchanters, and friends, and from the elegant yet poor life to the relatively comfortable life in Chelsea, London. Whether she is describing the simple rich beauty of a homemade meal or highlighting the heartbreakingly subtle shadow of an intimate betrayal, she offers enchanting reflections on how history is imprinted on private lives.