the last she will write, and the first she will actually send. But after seeing Neville emerge from the Puseys' room in his dressing gown, she tears it up and sends a telegram to David consisting of one word: "Returning". Reception In a 1984 book review by Kirkus Reviews called the book a "sad little comedy", summarizing it as "less subtle, more artificial than Brookner's three previous, similar character-portraits: the themes are laid on thick... Still, for readers who relish a blend of extra-dry humor, tartly wistful introspection, and literary self-consciousness, this small entertainment—winner of England's Booker Prize—will be a delicate, provocative pleasure." Anne Tyler, writing for The New York Times called it "Brookner's most absorbing novel" and praised the book for its tone: "oddly detached, very small-scale, faintly humorous". Awards The novel won the Booker Prize in 1984. Television film An adaptation by Christopher Hampton for a television film of the same name was produced by the BBC and A&E Television Networks and first screened in 1986. It starred Anna Massey and Denholm Elliott. References Booker Prize-winning works 1984 British novels English novels Novels set in hotels Novels set in Switzerland Novels about writers British novels adapted into films Lake Geneva Jonathan Cape books