A Cup of Tea: A Novel of 1917

Summary (from the publisher): Born to privilege, Rosemary Fell has wealth, well-connected friends, and a handsome fiancé, Philip Alsop. One cold and rainy night she sees, under a streetlap, the mysterious Eleanor Smith huddled against the elements. In a moment of beneficence, Rosemary invites the penniless young woman home for a cup of tea.

Arriving on the scene, Philip notices Eleanor warming herself by the roaring fire. When Rosemary sees them exchange an unmistakable look, she promptly sends the girl packing. But she's too late. In that one brief moment, Rosemary's carefully sculptured life has cracked beyond repair...

Inspired by the classic Katherine Mansfield short story, A Cup of Tea springs to life from its rich cast of characters and brilliant evocation of the uncertain days of World War I. This darkly romantic novel engages us with impeccable plotting and a deep sense of foreboding, propelling us towards its shocking conclusion.

Review: This fast paced novella (I read it in one afternoon) tells the tragic story of a love triangle set in 1917. Based on a short story by Katherine Mansfield, which I have regrettably not read, the title refers to the simple act that sets the course of events in motion. Wealthy Rosemary Fell, seemingly on a whim, asks a poor woman down on her luck home with her to have a cup of tea. That woman, the beautiful and mysterious Eleanor Smith, is able to find a job and lodging as a result of her encounter with Rosemary. But she also meets Philip Alsop, Rosemary's fiancé, and the two fall in love, leading to the destruction of Rosemary's orderly and privileged life.

In many ways this novel seems to be an indictment of Rosemary. Although she is generous towards Eleanor, the author clearly indicates that she is generous for selfish reasons; "It was like something one would read about, to find a girl in the dusk and bring her home for tea. [...] And think how she would feel if she could successfully show this poor creature that life could be wonderful, that all women were sisters, that the world was full of possibilities" (8). Later, when Eleanor returns the money Rosemary gave her by mail, Rosemary again seems delighted, asking Philip, "Do you think maybe I helped her?" (69). Rosemary is portrayed as naïve, selfish, and self absorbed and she undoubtedly is in many ways.

On the other hand, Ephron is too kind in her depiction of Eleanor and Philip. After all, they are the ones that have an affair, even though Philip is engaged. The novel seems to indicate that "true love" is excuse enough for betraying someone.

I did think the portrayal of class relations was interesting. As Ephron says in the afterward, 1917 was one of the first periods where it would have been thinkable for a woman of Rosemary's status to interact with a poor woman living on the streets like Eleanor. I also liked that Philip had known both wealth and poverty, so he seemed uniquely suited to interact with the two women on opposite ends of the extreme. Although the author leaves out details about Eleanor's background, I think it would have added to my understanding of her as a character if I could have seen how she ended up on the street corner, begging for money in the rain.

The ending of this was very upsetting, but it was a concise ending to a love story that was otherwise messy and that would have caused great scandal socially if it had become publicly known. An interesting look into the social pressures of the time and the way love can captivate and instantly change the trajectory of many lives.

Stars: 3