Feast

The story is set in the frame of impending disaster; the readers know that the cliff on which the Inn is set is cracking-and that only sixteen will survive its collapse. And against this time drama is played. The family that run the Inn are ignorant of its probable fate; it is only by chance that one of the staff happens on a letter, negligently left unopened, and containing a warning. The guests are held together by hate-by suspicion-by greed-by anger. There is readily imagined symbolism here, and more than a suggestion of comparison with The Bridge of San Luis Rey. But there is a tenous thread of good, and now here, now there, a softening influence emerges, ultimately to bring part of the group together for 'the feast'-which alone saves them from destruction. A haunting sort of story.-Kirkus Reviews