The Chinese Room

The Chinese Room, first published in 1942, is a novel combining a mysterious string of anonymous letters with the sex lives of the main characters: the exploits of Nicholas, a banker; the sexual awakening of his wife, Muriel; and Nicholas' affair with Sidonie, his secretary and mistress. Set in England in the 1940s, The Chinese Room was very popular despite attempt to censor the book, and underwent numerous reprintings into the 1960s. Author Vivian Connell (1909-1981) was the author of a number of novels, plays and short stories. (less)