Secrets

Virtually all of the characters in The Nice and the Good carry with them some secret during the course of the novel. The keeping and discovering of secrets carry the events of the novel along. Willy keeps his time in Dachau a secret; Theo keeps secret why he left India. Paula doesn't tell anyone that Richard divorced her and that Eric is coming for her; Octavian is having an affair with his secretary. Ducane is involved with both Kate and Jessica, Kate made a pass at Fivey, and Biranne witnessed Mrs. Radeechy's death. Pierce is hiding Montrose and McGrath helped Radeechy set up the vaults for his rituals. The characters spend a great deal of time thinking about their secrets and plotting how to keep them from the others. The secrets are almost all about love or sexual affairs as well. The characters keep secrets from their lovers...