It is the Second World War and the human race stands at the crossroads: self-destruction or a glorious evolutionary step to higher consciousness.

In the grand and moated Plague House, served since the start of the war only by the spiteful charlady, Mrs Lovage, live beautiful Elizabeth and her thirteen-year-old twins -plump pyromaniac George and Sissy, always struggling with her mother for her brother's love. Into this strange household comes Lump - otherwise known as Hush - intent on saving the world. But initial confidence wavers as stress, conflict, fire and death are encountered in an inspired and memorable finale.

From the author of Cobweb Walking, The Wedding of Jayanthi Mandel, The Tea-Planter's Daughter and Shining Agnes comes a wonderfully mythic and vibrant novel of the imagination.