On the home front I am singularly blessed. My PA Pippa Birch is owed a huge debt of gratitude for typing the lion’s share of the synopsis and the penultimate draft, and for checking and seeking out endless facts and figures. Pippa came up with many ideas, as did Annette Xuereb-Brennan, Mandy Williams and Caterina Krucker, who heroically typed the rest of the manuscript and refused to go crackers over the endless corrections. To them all I am truly obligated – and also to dear Ann Mills, our housekeeper, for her sweetness and patience in keeping us all sane and comparatively tidy. Phil Bradley, of Cornerstones, drove me to endless places while I was writing the book and always got me there on time.
Most of all I want to thank my darling family, for putting up with shameless neglect for months on end. My husband Leo, who was encyclopedic on military matters, our son Felix and his wife Edwina, our daughter Emily, Bessie the Labrador, Hero the lurcher and our four cats, all provided their essential mix of good copy and endless cheer.
Table of Contents
Cover
About the Book
Title
Copyright
About the Author
Also by Jilly Cooper
Dedication
Map
The Legend of Pandora’s Box
Cast of Characters
The Animals
Prologue
Part 1
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Part 2
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Epilogue
Acknowledgements