One of a series about the fictional county of Barsetshire in England. Wealthy old Miss Brandon, a tyrannical permanent invalid, is dying. We see the reactions of her few remaining relatives to this event and their strong desire not to inherit Brandon Abbey. The plight of Miss Brandon's oppressed companion, Miss Morris, attracts the attention of the surviving Brandons, and at least one old love-affair is brought to light.
The characters reappear in later Barsetshire novels and this can add to the interest of the book, which is well written, light-hearted and witty, as well as being a 1930s period piece.