Davenport Dunn, a Man of Our Day. Volume 2 (of 2)

A sharply observed comedy of manners opens with the nervous Davenport Dunn arriving at a drawing‑room where Lady Augusta Arden and Lord Glengariff are poised to test his decorum. A seemingly innocuous telegram, left unopened out of deference, is finally revealed, and its contents unleash an immediate crisis that throws Dunn’s reputation into turmoil. The dialogue crackles with wit, exposing the delicate dance of pride, obligation, and the subtle power plays of the upper class.

From this fraught introduction, the novel follows Dunn as he navigates a succession of social entanglements, sudden fortunes, and unexpected journeys across Europe. Along the way he encounters a colorful cast—cunning financiers, eccentric aristocrats, and earnest friends—each revealing a different facet of the bustling world he inhabits. Lever’s lively prose captures the restless spirit of an age in transition, inviting listeners to enjoy a portrait of ambition, folly, and the ever‑shifting rules of gentlemanly conduct.