These two novels (published in 1932 and 1951) introduced a rare and unusual talent.

Cheerful Weather for the Wedding describes a country wedding in Dorset -- guests eat and drink, a rejected suitor wanders around, the bride fortifies herself with rum and everybody pays tribute to the institution of marriage. As John Russell remarks, it is pure comedy, 'dealt in a particular airy and translucent manner'; and David Garnett concludes that 'this is a very small book but a very perfect one, revealing a rich sense of humour and a very great literary and dramatic skill'.

First published as The Man on the Pier, An Integrated Man is 'an historical novel: one which brings back to life a whole complex of vanished ways, vanished attitudes, vanished amenities and, some would say, vanished scruples' (John Russell). In it Ned falls in love with Aaron's wife and finally resists the temptation to stay with her alone. He knew that 'it couldn't be done' to a friend.