At first glance this may seem such a simple and tedious story but the more I think about it the more I love it. It touches so many themes : repressed or non-repressed homosexuality, the effect of religion, the lives of the rich and the privileged, alcoholism, family ties etc. It begins with innocence and ends with losing it. Several different personalities are to become connected and to be parted. The first time ever I was confused of what I should think about the doings of the characters and just ended up having this strange melancholic feeling. Beautiful prose.