It is the summer of 1983, and young Nick Guest, an innocent in the matters of politics and money, has moved into an attic room in the Notting Hill home of the F... » 

It is the summer of 1983, and young Nick Guest, an innocent in the matters of politics and money, has moved into an attic room in the Notting Hill home of the Feddens: Gerald, an ambitious new Tory MP, his wealthy wife Rachel, and their children Toby and Catherine. Nick had idolized Toby at Oxford, but in his London life it will be the troubled Catherine who becomes his friend and his uneasy responsibility. At the boom years of the mid-80s unfold, Nick becomes caught up in the Feddens' world. In an era of endless possibility, Nick finds himself able to pursue his own private obsession, with beauty - a prize as compelling to him as power and riches are to his friends.

Trendwatcher Adjiedj Bakas over The Line of Beauty:
Begin jaren tachtig neemt Nick Guest, die zijn proefschrift schrijft over schrijver Henry James, zijn intrek in het ouderlijk huis van boezemvriend Toby. Doordat Toby's pa een invloedrijk politicus is in de partij van premier Thatcher, maakt Nick kennis met de aparte wereld van rijke, conservatieve Tory politici. 's Nachts geniet Nick van coke en hoerenjongens. En hij wordt verliefd. Dit boek deed voor mij de Thatcherjaren herleven. Extra actueel nu de huidige economische crisis onder ons is, die veel gelijkenis vertoont met die van de jaren Tachtig. Geweldig geschreven. «