"My Novel" — Volume 11

The opening of this work treats hate not as a sudden outburst but as a quiet, almost invisible current that shapes society’s grandest schemes. Through the sharply observed mind of Randal Leslie—a clever, well‑educated schemer who fashions deceit as a philosophy—the narrator asks why the most polished civility still rests on a hidden, poisonous impulse. The tone is both wry and scholarly, inviting listeners to contemplate how ambition, self‑love, and the masquerade of refinement let hatred slip unnoticed into everyday affairs.

Set against the bustling backdrop of Bond Street and its fading grandeur, the story introduces Audley Egerton, a statesman who appears untouchable by spite yet whose reputation rests on the delicate balance of wealth and public image. As the narrative unfolds, the listener senses a growing tension between the age‑old “Dance of Death” and today’s polished masquerade, hinting that even the most aloof figures may harbor unseen enemies. The first act promises a thoughtful exploration of human motives, wrapped in the elegance of early‑20th‑century social intrigue.