The Dragon in Shallow Waters

Vita Sackville-West wrote this novel directly after 'Challenge' which is sweetness and light against the darkness of 'The Dragon in Shallow Waters'. The backdrop of 'Dragon' is a dark satanic soap factory. The main characters are blind Silas Dene (a murderer), his deaf and dumb brother Gregory ('magnificent men, tall, muscular and dark'), Gregory's wife Nan and Nan's eventual lover Linnet Morgan. (Lady) Christine Malleson, who is married to the owner of the factory, is the tormenting temporary aquaintance of Silas. Silas murders his wife and is never convicted; he is cruel to animals and although he has the potential for compassion, he is ultimately irredeemable and goes on to kill again.