From the introduction: Hilarious upper crust rivalries in 1920s London. The high society of London is in turmoil. Mr. Scarborough, a man who has lead the Royal Winetasters Guild for forty years, has come down with a grave illness. In his last speech, which was now and then cut off by nausea or random outbursts of patriotism, he announced that the members must choose a new guild master in an election that would be carried out in three weeks.