The Invader: A Novel

The scene opens in a warmly lit drawing‑room where a small group of academics and society ladies have just finished dinner. Professor Fletcher summons their attention to a striking full‑length portrait that dominates the wall, its painted subject shrouded in questions of authorship and lineage. As the guests argue over the work’s provenance, they stumble into a tangled family tale involving a daring 19th‑century lady who defied convention, married an actor, and vanished with a bronze sculpture in a blaze.

Through witty repartee and flashes of scholarly debate, the novel sets up a charming mystery about identity, reputation, and the way stories are preserved or distorted over generations. Listeners are invited to follow the clues the characters discuss, tracing the scandalous life of the great‑grandmother whose portrait has become an “invader” in the present. The first act promises a lively blend of humor, historical intrigue, and the subtle tension of uncovering a long‑buried secret.