by Max Beerbohm
When Zuleika Dobson arrives at Oxford, all men who behold her are bewitched by her beauty. The one man who is not impressed, the Duke of Dorset, soon becomes the object of Miss Dobson's affections. Soon, he also falls under her spell, thus making him unattractive--just like the rest of the silly undergraduates. His response to her rejection? To kill himself, for he cannot live without her love. Hilarity and mass suicide ensue.
Beerbohm's novel is witty and entertaining. The oft-quoted best line: "Death cancels all engagements" is one of many clever quips. I discovered this novel via Jane Smiley in her Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Novel. I am impressed with her recommendation.
1/18/06
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