A respected London firm built on travel and exploration faces lean years, a spendthrift owner, and a new scheme that blurs the line between publicity and fraud. In the middle stands a tireless manager who keeps schedules, authors, and budgets from collapse while colleagues chase fashion, status, and quick returns. A chance delivery from a remote mission hints at genuine discovery, yet a proposed “unknown island” sensation promises easier money—and lasting damage.
The daily grind of letters, proofs, and contracts gives way to rancor as a well-connected hire undermines the chain of command and a hasty marriage brings fresh pressure into the office. When a night of choking fog and a sudden illness halt the routine, time away forces hard choices about work, loyalty, and self-respect.
Set in interwar London’s publishing trade, the story blends wit with a clear eye for business, showing the cost of shortcuts and the quiet strength it takes to do the right thing.
