It's a musical, but the book was published in an early collection of plays so I gave it a read. I'm not wild about Coward's music - too foreign. But the book is lovely and simple. Reminded me of the Barry Manilow song 'Copacabana'. A young couple are in love, he's a poor song writer she has a rich guy who wants to marry her, a rich old dame talks about her life being in love with a poor song writer, running off, but he gets upset seeing her dance with a count and dies in a duel. Which makes him a wanker but it gives the piece weight because she never gets over him.
It's a very simple effective book - contrasting timelines, sad love story, bookended with a happy one a la The Man in Grey.
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